February 7, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

[Thompson Fishing Guide Service]

February 7, 2006 Stockton Lake Fishing Report

Walleye: Spawners are showing up in the Sac River arm around the Greenfield boat ramp on CC. Trolled or cast jerk baits are producing fish; shad colors seem to be the most popular imitators. White or chartreuse jigs tipped with night crawlers are also catching fish in this area. Fish are staging on the points in the Sac arm, anywhere between the 160 bridge area and Birch Branch. If you don't want to wrestle the timber in low water, shore casting is also a good technique, particularly after dark. Fish are also being caught off the main lake points around State Park boat ramp trolling crank baits such as Husky Jerks in shad colors or fire tiger, along with Wiggle Warts, deep diving Rapalas, etc. If they seem hesitant to take a trolled crank bait, slow drift bottom bouncer rigs/crawler harnesses.

Black bass: Suspended jerk baits are still working well on your secondary points, particularly if you can find cover. I like to fish Pig n Jig combos (dark greens, blues or blacks) in deeper water off those same points later in the day. Spinner baits (experiment with colors) are productive in your coves on the southwest facing shores where the shad congregate due to warmer water temperature. If there is a breeze, that's even better. If you're a worm fisherman, finesse or drop shot are good choices for creek bends from about 15 feet to 25 feet; white, chartreuse or clear with silver flecks are good colors.

White bass: If you can find a cove with water temperatures 48 or 50 degrees, you should catch white bass; make sure the coves have shad. Small white spin type jigs work well. The best place to start is the Sac River arm because they will have spawning on their minds. Trolling small, deep diving crank baits on the points in the twin bridges area in around 20 to 25 feet of water has been producing some decent sized fish The mouth of Maze Creek and further up the Turkey Creek arm are also good spots to try.

Crappie: Some crappie have been caught in timbered coves where the water temperature has reached 50 degrees. These fish can be caught in the mouths of the coves in 25+ feet of water or in the backs of coves in 5 feet of water. Wind direction plays a role in which end of the cove they'll be at; the wind blows the microorganisms towards the backs of coves, which in turn draws shad and, you guessed it, crappie won't be far. White feather, buck tail or plastic jigs work best in the backs of the coves. For the deeper (15-30 feet) timbered areas of the coves, minnows work best. Don't overlook the Turkey Creek arm.

Whatever you fish for, look for warmer water temperatures (48-52 degrees); at this time of year, this is very critical. When the water temperature reaches 50 degrees, the fish know Spring is not very far. Trivia: What world record fish and what Missouri state record fish were both caught on Stockton Lake? For the answers, email me at www.fishstockton.com.