Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Stockton 02/09/07

Main Lake: Most of the ice is gone from the main lake while there is still some in the backs of the creek arms and pockets. Most of the fish seem to be holding tight to steep banks and bluffs. The best two tactics have been either fishing a Jewel ½ oz. Heavy Cover Finesse Football Jig in PB&J or Missouri craw with a green pumpkin Zoom Super Chunk Jr. or a Smithwick Rogue or Lucky Craft Pointer in American Shad or Chrome / blue. With either bait position your boat close enough to the bank to make a series of parallel casts, make casts from tight to the bank out to in front of the boat and work your bait of choice slowly back to the boat.

Above the Bridges: There is a lot more ice in the river arms, while the main channel is clear a number of the creeks and pockets are still iced in, be careful running as large chunks of ice have been floating in the channel as well. Due to the ice most of the fishing is happening in the main channel on points and swings. Most effective baits have been Smithwick Rogues in chrome / black and clown, Lucky Craft Pointers in American shad and chartreuse shad or either an Eakins’ jig and craw combo. Regardless of the bait you use focus on fishing as slow as possible to be effective.