July 11, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

July 11, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Walleye: During the summer months, the walleye will move continuously following the shad. They may bite like crazy one day at the dam, and the next day you won’t be able to find a fish with a stick of dynamite. I have been catching walleye by trolling deep diving crank baits approximately 1.5 mph off the main lake points. Shad colored deep diving cranks seem to be your best color, and you’ll need to fish them around 12-15 feet deep. Jigs and minnows have also been productive when you find the fish; bounce the ¼- ½ oz jig head tipped with a minnow off the bottom. When the fish move from that location, troll the crank bait until you find them again. Repeat as necessary. The best area that I can tell you to start your quest is off any main lake point; remember one thing: the fish move a lot so you’ll have to move a lot.

Largemouth bass have picked up a little since the weekend of the 31st when the lake rose 3 feet and cooled 8 degrees in a two day period. Here’s a fact that I have learned on Stockton Lake: consistent weather, whatever it is, will result in consistent bites. A change in weather seems to blow these fishes’ minds, whether they are smallmouth bass or walleye and they’ll shut down on you. 3 days of consistent weather is idea for getting consistent bites on Stockton Lake. Crank bait fishermen have been catching some legal fish by fan casting the shore in 8-10 feet of water. Crank bait colors include crawdad, or shad imitators. A few fish are being caught on top water, but that is what we call “slow” in fishing guide school. Jigs and plastic worms have been catching bigger fish off of main lake points (20-30 feet deep). Spinner baits are hit and miss.

Crappie fishing is still good. My big fish are being caught in deeper water (as usual)…20+ feet. Look for secondary points with brush or structure. Deep diving crank baits trolled across these areas have been producing fish as well as a minnow and jig combination. Night fishing under a crappie light is a good bet around Cedar Ridge.

White bass fishing for me has been best after dark. The fish have been caught from time to time during the daylight hours, but after dark is better. Cedar Ridge is the place to go; these fish can either be caught under a crappie light or slow trolling Rattle Traps across main lake points.

Cat fishing is really good just about anywhere you choose to go if you are looking for channel cats. Because the lake is approximately 10 feet high, a boat is about your only option because the only accessible banks are those around the boat ramps. The backs of main lake coves are good places to fish for channel cats after dark. If you have running water in the back of the cove, that is even better. Anchor in deeper water (15 feet or so) and cast your bait towards the bank in about 5 feet of water; when the sun goes down, these channel cats come up into the shallows to feed. Any assortment of baits (chicken wienies to night crawlers) will work if you can find the fish. Try slow drifting the flats (across the lake from Mutton Creek) and you’ll catch fish. Drift in about 15 feet of water and try not to stomp too many times on the bottom of the boat. Follow this procedure and your wife will be frying you catfish and hushpuppies for your next dinner.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS