Hello everyone, my dad and I are planning a fishing trip to Stockton Resevoir in Missouri from northern Wisconsin starting late next week until early the week after. While we are there we are meeting up with some of my moms side family and taking in a trip to BPS in Springfield, it’s been many years since we have been. Dad has fished Stockton, but many many years ago, I have not. Can anyone give me some friendly general insight on the lake? Water clarity, north side of lake is better than south side, find the creeks, find rocks in 15 feet of water. That type of think. We are staying at Mt. Caramel Inn. Thank you!

The spinnerbait bite should be pretty good in the backs of creeks if you can find a little breeze. It's a very pretty and solid lake in the fall.

 

I fish mostly south of the state park directly in the center of the lake. The lake is generally clear, but you can definitely run the lake towards the south to find the clarity you prefer. I would check on the Ozark angler forum for some more specifics, otherwise it's a nice lake to explore.

 

-Jared

 

Below is the Kansas City Star report from a guide at Stockton for October 12th but it is not a lot of information.  I haven't been there in a few years but it is a beautiful lake.  

 

STOCKTON: 72 degrees, clear, 2 feet low. Outlook: Stockton Lake Guide Service reports: Crappies fair on minnows over brush piles in 10 to 18 feet of water; walleyes fair to good on jigs and nightcrawlers on flats; catfish fair to good on fresh shad drifted across the flats in 5 to 20 feet of water; black bass fair on spinnerbaits in 6 to 8 feet of water.

Thanks for the responses, this helps a lot! I think we are going to start near “the wall” and try to break down some of the cuts and arms around that area. 

Here is some more good info on Stockton:

 

http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/forum/46-stockton-lake/

 

Also, since you are going to Springfield for BPS, it would be worth a stop at Lew's/Sportsmans Factory Outlet. This store isn't quite the same "experience" per se but they have a good selection (and better prices than bass pro)