Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Stockton 09/12/04 :

Main Lake: The main lake remains tough but it is getting better, fish bluff ends and deeper points with an Eakins' jig or Jewel 5/8 oz. football jig in brown purple flash with a green pumpkin trailer. Go back into some of the bigger creek arms and look for schools of shad working their way back into the cove, once found fish around the schools of shad with a lucky craft Sammy first thing in the morning, then a bandit 100 as the sun comes up. Eventually these fish will move to the backs of the creeks and be easier to catch.

Above The Bridges: The best bite is above the bridges, white and chartreuse spinnerbaits fished around wood cover will produce several fish, as will an Eakins' jig in brown or Missouri craw fished around the same cover an on channel swing banks. The shad up the rivers has already moved toward he backs of the creeks and it is making the fishing allot more predictable and the fish much more aggressive.

Crappie fishing is getting better but is still tough, minnows fished over wood in 15' - 25' is the most productive pattern.

Walleye fishing is really good, the fish seem to be just about everywhere but the bigger fish are on flats near deep water and can be caught trolling mid diving crankbait in shad patterns or crawler harnesses with gold blades.

White bass fishing is picking up, look for shad near the surface on main lake points and fish a 1/2 oz. white spoon or 1/4 oz. Rooster tail under them.