Stockton Lake

Stockton Lake is a 24,900-acre U. S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir located in Cedar, Dade and Polk counties in southwestern Missouri.  Fishing prospects for sport fish species will be good this year.  Multiple years of ideal spawning conditions along with excellent gizzard shad production should continue to support quality sport fish populations. 

Crappie fishing should be good to excellent in 2023.  This is primarily due to a large 2019-year class of white crappie in the 11”-12” range.  White crappie made up nearly 70% of the fish in this year’s survey.  Anglers will likely notice an abundance of quality keeper white crappie throughout 2023.  White crappie size structure was excellent with 62% of the fish collected in the sample over the 10” minimum length limit and 16% were twelve inches or longer.  There also appears to be a decent 2021-year class of fish that should provide catch and release opportunities for anglers in 2023.  Anglers will likely notice an abundance of quality keeper black crappie in 2023.  Many of these fish are in the 10”-11” range.  Black Crappie size structure was excellent with 56% of the fish collected over the 10” minimum length limit.  Crappie 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 over 400 fish attractors at Stockton Lake.  In early March of 2022 several fish attractors were created or replenished from out of Mutton Creek North boat ramp.  These, along with all other maintained fish attractor locations, can be found at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/43V.  Some of the attractors are marked with signs on the lake shore.  For those without GPS technology, attractors can be found using a sonar fish finder in 20 feet of water (at lake water elevation of 867) just in front of signs.

Fishing for black bass should be fair to good in 2023.  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 (closer to the dam).  A new regulation went into effect on March 1, 2019; the spotted bass minimum length limit was changed from 15 inches to 12 inches.  In 2022, spring black bass surveys were not completed due to flooding conditions.  In 2021 largemouth bass catch rates were down and below the long-term average on both arms of the lake.  Size structure was good with 24% of the fish collected on the Big Sac arm and 31% of the fish collected on the Little Sac Arm greater than the 15” minimum length limit.  In recent years anglers have reported an improvement in smallmouth bass fishing on the lower end of the lake.  Recent fall electrofishing surveys have produced decent catch rates of smallmouth bass.  Size structure has been poor, however fish up to 18” have been sampled in surveys. 

Walleye fishing should be excellent in 2023.  Walleyes are stocked in Stockton Lake at 1-2 inches in size and typically grow to 15 inches in two years.  In 2012 the Stockton Lake walleye stocking regime was changed from a biennial (every other year) stocking to an annual stocking.  Thus, walleye have been stocked in each of the last eleven years.  Fortunately, we have experienced several years of good recruitment on Stockton. This should provide anglers with plenty of keeper fish.  A surplus of hatchery produced fish allowed for higher stocking rates in 2020 and 2021.  With the increase in stocking rates, anglers might notice an abundance of legal walleye in 2023.  Electrofishing surveys conducted in the spring of 2022 revealed catch rates below the long-term average.  However, sampling conditions were hindered by unusually cold-water temperatures.  Size structure was decent with approximately 82% of the fish sampled at least 15” or longer and 9% of fish at least 20” or longer.  Electrofishing surveys in the fall of 2022 produced good catch rates of juvenile walleye.  These fish should provide catch and release fishing opportunities in 2023 and good fishing down the road.  Techniques used for walleye angling depend upon the time of year and the confidence anglers have with different methods.  In the spring and fall, walleye are often found along the dam, in coves, and in shallow water. Walleye are often caught on suspending jerk baits in these areas.  During the summer season, it is important to fish for walleyes at or around the depth of the thermocline.  Walleye are often caught using nightcrawlers or minnows bounced along the bottom in 15 to 20 feet of water during 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.  Be sure to use good release practices on sub-legal fish, which will increase the chances of the fish’s survival.

According to angler reports, white bass fishing was good on Stockton Lake in 2022.  White bass fishing in 2023 should continue to be good, as white bass recruitment has remained consistent throughout the last few years.  Spring white bass spawning runs occur 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.  Shallow crankbaits, rooster tails, swimbaits, and white jigs are good choices for catching white bass.  Both flathead and channel catfish are present in the lake and at times will provide good fishing.  Channel catfish are abundant and size structure appears to be excellent.  Flathead catfish are much less abundant and more difficult to catch.  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.  Bluegill fishing should be good on Stockton in 2023.  Good numbers of 6 to 8-inch bluegills are common.  Bluegill fishing is usually best during the summer months using small portions of nightcrawlers or crickets around structure 15 to 20 foot deep.  The many bridge pillars throughout the lake are a great place to escape the summer sun and get into some good bluegill fishing.