November 7, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

November 7, 2007 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Fishing has been affected somewhat by cold fronts and the turnover of the lake, however, fish of all species are being caught if you know what technique to use.

Walleye are being caught around the twin bridges, which are at the two main forks of the lake, the Son and the Sac river arms. The most effective technique has been slow drifting ¼ oz jig and night crawlers across the main lake points in approximately 17 feet of water. Fish are also being caught by trolling deep diving crank baits in the same areas. Walleye are being caught with these techniques along main lake bluffs south of the 215 bridge and around the bluffs across from State Park Marina.

Largemouth bass are being caught on crank baits and spinner baits in the same areas mentioned above in around 5-10 feet of water early and late. During midday when the sun is high, fish these same areas with jigs or plastic worms (which is a slower approach) in 5-10 feet of water. Fish are still feeding on shad and during the fall, as the water cools, you’ll find scores of bait balls in around 5-10 feet of water.

Good channel cat fishing has been had by fishing night crawlers in the coves around Ruark Bluff campgrounds (east and west).

White bass are being caught around the twin bridges by trolling weighted Rattle Traps or small shad imitator crank baits. A few fish have been caught in shallow water (8-10 feet) late in the afternoon, but the majority of the fish are being caught deeper (20-25 feet), which means in order to get a bait (even a deep diving bait) to this depth, I use a clip on weight system with about 1 oz of weight. White bass have acted very peculiar all year and have not shown their aggressive tendencies like they have in the past. If you troll deep, and cover enough water, you should catch them. I don’t know how white bass fishing has been on the rest of the lake, therefore my experience recently has been around the twin bridges.

Crappie fishing has picked up a little bit, and we have caught fish in the CrabTree Cove and Masters boat ramp areas by slow drifting medium sized minnows with about ½ oz jig heads. People ask me why I use such big baits for crappie, and my response is twofold: bigger fish consistently hit bigger baits and when the fish are 15-20 feet deep, and you have some wind, you need to be able to keep the bait right above the brush as you drift or troll over the strike zone. The bottom line, however, is that this has worked for me on many occasions. I would spend some time in the Turkey Creek arm around Cedar Ridge boat ramp. Some good fish have been taken out of there in the last several days.

Blue marlin: Costa Rica is the place to be right now for big Blue Marlin, for those of you who like big game fish. Just so you know.

Marty Thompson

Thompson Fishing Guide Service

www.fishstockton.com

417-424-BASS