Crappie, 10-7

[Sam]

My partner and I have been crappie fishing once or twice a week all this year, but I think it's about over for now.

We had the strangest trip out of State Park on Wednesday, 10-7.  We caught the most crappie ever, I'd guess we caught and released 90 to 100 crappie between us - and almost all of them were less than 10" long.  We brought 5 keepers home, total, and they were about 10 1/2".  Our many, many short fish were both black and white crappie and lots of them measured 9 7/8" - from there down to as little as 7".

We're using minnows and ultra-light tackle on brushpiles, of course, and we tried lots of brushpiles - from a depth of 12' down to 27' or so.  There were two completely dry holes, but mostly the story was the same regardless of depth - lots of short crappie, no keepers.

I think the cause is fishing pressure, and we're responsible for that as much as anybody.  It's the same deal on walleyes - I've got to wonder how many trolled lures or baits the average Stockton walleye has seen go by its' nose every day this year.  A whole bunch, that's for sure.

Well, we've had a good time and at least we know that there are lots of small crappie in Stockton for future seasons.  I think we'll target white bass for awhile, then hunt some deer.

[Johnsfolly]

Nice trip! Looks like a strong year class for next years keepers.

[straw hat]

As I just posted on another thread our crappie fishing is down as well. We fish out of CC. Hardly ever catch more than a couple keepers and just got tired of dragging the boat around for so little. A ton of very small (3-5") black crappie but that is about it. Called it quits about 2 weeks ago. Very disappointing.

[MrGiggles]

I went over to Pomme last night. I did have 6 keepers after two hours, and must have sorted through 50 dinks to get them. They were biting ridiculously good.

I haven't been over to Stockton in a little while, but was finding pretty much the same thing. 

[Lifes2Short]

10 hours ago, MrGiggles said:

I went over to Pomme last night. I did have 6 keepers after two hours, and must have sorted through 50 dinks to get them. They were biting ridiculously good.

I haven't been over to Stockton in a little while, but was finding pretty much the same thing. 

 

22 hours ago, Sam said:

My partner and I have been crappie fishing once or twice a week all this year, but I think it's about over for now.

We had the strangest trip out of State Park on Wednesday, 10-7.  We caught the most crappie ever, I'd guess we caught and released 90 to 100 crappie between us - and almost all of them were less than 10" long.  We brought 5 keepers home, total, and they were about 10 1/2".  Our many, many short fish were both black and white crappie and lots of them measured 9 7/8" - from there down to as little as 7".

We're using minnows and ultra-light tackle on brushpiles, of course, and we tried lots of brushpiles - from a depth of 12' down to 27' or so.  There were two completely dry holes, but mostly the story was the same regardless of depth - lots of short crappie, no keepers.

I think the cause is fishing pressure, and we're responsible for that as much as anybody.  It's the same deal on walleyes - I've got to wonder how many trolled lures or baits the average Stockton walleye has seen go by its' nose every day this year.  A whole bunch, that's for sure.

Well, we've had a good time and at least we know that there are lots of small crappie in Stockton for future seasons.  I think we'll target white bass for awhile, then hunt some deer.

I too am experiencing the same with the crappie.  We were out Friday and must have caught 50+ crappie and only had 6 keepers.  For the last 2 years it’s been just the opposite.   Hopefully the bigger ones are still out suspended over deeper water.  Fall of 2021 and later should find excellent fishing!!!

[MoCarp]

I would love to see the bag limit reduced to 10 and 12” on length....and walleyes back to 18” and an effort to stock more of the native river strain that get far bigger....in the past the state stocked Mississippi silversides to expand forage possibilities....Stocking yellow perch, redear sunfish And more Smallmouth could round out opportunities even more...bass regs should push SMB to 18” and no more than two per limit...yellow perch would do well in Stockton, the bazillions of tiny shad could be better utilized, while The  perch could Also diversify the prey species...Fishing pressure is only going to get worse..and some brutal enforcement is needed...many people keep far more than allowed in their freezers....pressure could be reduced by another pay wall say a stamp to fish the lake, with funds to enhance stocking

.spending My fishing lifetime on Stockton, I have seen fishing wax and wain over the years...the biggest dip was after the big drought that caused table rock people to flood to Stockton, ramps where all but useless at the rock...bass tourneys buzz all over the lake...like much of the Ozarks..Stockton is getting loved to death 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

If you are on the Stockton facebook page you would be amazed there is even a fish left in that lake. People post pics of limits after limits on there constantly. 

[straw hat]

Hey MoCarp

I really liked your post and the comment on the river strain of walleye. I fully agree. I have had talked with some of the fishery biologists and they say they have no knowledge of them ever being stocked in Stockton and a couple said there was no such thing as river run walleye. That is quite remarkable because I worked on a river run walleye strain when I got my Master's in Fishery Biology. I have searched on the internet though and can find no reference to this bit of history. I am glad you mentioned it. I was beginning to think I was nuts (which I probably am!!)

[Sam]

It's the high water levels on Bull Shoals that have driven us to Stockton the past few years.  I'd much rather fish Upper Bull Shoals for crappie and walleyes like I used to - one big reason is that K Dock is 35 miles from my house and any place I can launch on Stockton is 70+ miles, plus I have to drive through Springfield traffic to get there.

But the past few years the Corps has kept Bull Shoals 30-40 feet higher than normal and I can't catch a crappie when they're out in the woods somewhere.  My trolling places for 18"+ Bull Shoals walleyes have mostly been under 50+ feet of water, so walleye fishing there is a bust too. 

But if they ever, EVER let the Bull Shoals water level get back to something near normal and fishable, I'll gladly spend my time there instead of at Stockton.

[jdmidwest]

I thought they were all "river strains".  That is where the walleye in this state came from, Mississippi or Missouri River drainages. The have been raised and stocked since then to replenish, but the brood stocks were caught from streams.

MDC Walleye River Program

Never gave it a thought about where the lake ones came from.