Walleye fishing just keeps getting better in Missouri

Sunday, April 3, 2005

The word got out recently that the walleye were hitting at Stockton and hungry anglers have been pulling out more fish than ever thought possible a few years ago.

Jack Martin, Kansas City, has caught his limit of walleye for almost a week. "I fished from the dam to the Little Sac River and have caught more walleye than I ever did in Canada, it has been great."

Using a stick bait, Martin caught 12 keepers over the past three days including a six pound female that he released to produce more fish. "I put the big females back, but keep the smaller males," Martin said.

Since the length limit on walleye has been reduced from 18 inches to 15, more fish are legal and anglers have been enjoying some very good eating. Chad Alexander, Springfield, said, "I used to make a trip to Canada to fish for walleye, but today, I stay close to home and have as good of success than after that long drive to Canada and with the gas prices of today, it makes more sense."

Each year around the middle of February through mid-April the walleye make their spawning run and anglers line the bank hopping to hook one.

Charles Walker, Lamar, was fishing off the dam at Stockton last week when he hooked a six pound walleye, the largest he had ever landed. "I thought it might be a big drum or carp," he said. "When I saw it was a big walleye, I really got nervous, but I was able to land it thanks to a guy with a net. I had left my net at home so I really appreciated the help."

Walleye grow fast and big in the middle and southern states where they can reach 2 pounds in just a couple of years. A stocking program helps bring these tasty fish to places they weren't native.

The Missouri record walleye was a 21-pound lunker taken from Bull Shoals while the world record fish was caught in Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee that weighed 25 pounds.

Charlie Dawson, Joplin, has been fishing Stockton ever since it became a lake and said, "There's a lot of advantages to fishing close to home. Besides saving on time and gas, the fishing has been very good over the years and I think this year will top them all. I have caught more walleye already this season than I usually do all year. I also fished the Lake of the Ozarks last month and caught several big walleye and I plan on hitting some of the streams that also produce some big fish."

Paul Jackson, Kansas City, recalls that when he was in high school Lake Paho near Trenton was the only big lake that held fisheable numbers of walleye, but today he said, "You never know when you might catch a walleye from fishing for crappie at the Pomme to Longview Lake near Kansas City. This is the time to go after them. Missouri has some great walleye fishing and it seems to be getting better each season. I have caught walleye from Bull Shoals to Paho and although the fishing for them is gaining in popularity, I think it will keep getting better."

Harold Franklin, Blue Springs, hooked a 4-pound walleye while fishing for crappie at Jacomo last year. "I was really surprised to see that big fish," he said. "Anymore, nothing really surprises me when it comes to fishing. Anytime you cast a lure or bait into the water, you never know what you might catch -- from spoonbill to bluegill -- especially in the spring."

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