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Overall fishing prospects for sport fish species will be good this year and crappie fishing has the potential to be excellent. Gizzard shad production has been exceptional the past few years.

Crappie Fishing - 2014 promises to be a huge year for crappie fishing. Crappies are often caught using small jigs or minnows around brush structure. The Corps of Engineers and the Missouri Department of Conservation have created and replenished a large number of fish attractors at Stockton Lake the past two years.

Bass Fishing - Largemouth bass are the most numerous black bass species in Stockton Lake, especially in the upper portions of the lake. Spotted bass and smallmouth bass are present throughout the lake, but make up larger percentages of the population in the lower portion of the lake.

White Bass - 2013 was another good year for white bass on Stockton Lake. The best white bass fishing usually occurs near or in the lake’s tributary streams from mid-March to the end of April. During July and August anglers can often find white bass chasing schools of shad in the early morning and late evening hours on the main lake open water areas. In the fall, angling efforts should be concentrated on windy main lake points or banks. Small crankbaits, rooster tails, topwater lures, and white jigs are good choices for catching white bass.

Walleye Fishing - Walleyes are stocked in Stockton Lake at 1-2 inches in size and typically grow to 15 inches in two years. In the spring and fall, walleye are often found along the dam, in coves, and in more shallow water. During the summer season, it is key to fish for walleyes at or around the depth of the thermocline. Walleye are most often caught using night crawlers or minnows bounced along the bottom in 15 to 20 feet of water during early and mid-summer. Trolling deep-running or suspending crankbaits or casting these baits along the shoreline and windswept main lake points can be equally effective at certain times of the year.

Catfishing - The upper half of the lake or large coves will usually provide the best channel catfish angling opportunities. Mid-May to mid-June, just before the spawning season, is usually the best time to fish for catfish. Trotlines or jug lines baited with live baits are the method of choice for most flathead anglers.

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