Fishing Report For Stockton Lake, MO

By Rick Seaman

May 15, 2025

Popular Fish Species Reports
Stockton Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Today's Weather & Forecast
Fishing Boat Rentals
Boat Launch Ramps
Marinas
Fishing License
Map
Contact Info

Fishing Report Stockton Lake, MO

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Stockton Lake, MO

White Bass

Uncle Buck's Panfish Creatures Curly Tail Minnow Rigged

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

White bass just completed their spawn run, and water temperature are in the mid 50's, and rising. White bass are now moving down stream into the main lake where they will remain until Winter. Successful anglers are using swimbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that looks like baitfish. Once you locate a school, and stay with it, the fishing is fast-action.

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

Largemouth compete here with both smallmouth and spotted bass, for food and cover. The fishing has been good lately as the bass are consumed with the spawn. They are holding just outside shallow pockets and bays with cover, feeding up for the grueling spawn. Most any lure in your tackle box is catching nice largemouth bass now, but many local anglers are sticking with basics using vibrating jigs, spinnerbaits, stick worms and crankbaits. Bass are being caught all over the lake, but better concentrations seem to be found tn the upper reaches of the three major arms of the lake.

White Crappie

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

Crappie fishing reports have been quite good lately at Stockton Lake. Spring has arrived and the crappie are focusing on the spawn. This is the prime time to be on the water as crappie move into shallow, rocky areas with cover, to spawn. Expect to find crappie in 3 to 6 feet of water. Brush, wood and vegetation are all good places to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Once the spawn is over, and the hot Summer sun warms the shallows, crappie retreat to depths of 20 to 25 feet, or deeper. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal. Fish finders and forward facing sonar help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill and white bass at Stockton Lake in Missouri.

Stockton Lake is a 25,000 acre impoundment with 300 miles of shoreline offering great fishing. Bass, catfish, white bass, crappie, walleye and bluegill all get attention from anglers here, and the fishing has been decent for several years. Fishing from the bank is an option at numerous spots around the lake.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

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Marinas

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Fishing License

Click here for a Missouri Fishing License.

Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".