Stockton Lake Fishing
A 24,945-acre Missouri reservoir in Cedar County, Dade County and Polk County.
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The facts on Stockton Lake
MDC maps Stockton Lake at 24,945 acres of open water in Cedar County, Dade County and Polk County. From the water, Umber View Heights sits about 5 miles away. The water sits inside the MDC Southwest Region.
Trailers go in at 6 mapped ramps. 650 attractor points of cedar, stumps or rock sit on its bottom. The Corps runs 12 recreation areas around it. Watch for 2 special regulations of its own.
MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines (GIS acres, region, managing area) on gisblue.mdc.mo.gov, Census 2023 places, retrieved October 27, 2026. MDC office phone: 417-895-6880.
MDC sampling notes on Stockton Lake
The 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects says this about 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. Crappie fishing should be good in 2026. White Crappie made up 73% of the fish in this year’s netting surveys. Anglers will likely notice good numbers of keeper white crappie throughout 2026. White crappie size structure was good with 45% of the fish collected in the sample over the 10-inch minimum length limit and 12% were twelve inches or longer. There also appears to be an abundance of fish in the 9 to 9.5-inch range that should provide more keepers in the future.
Fishing for black bass should be fair in 2026. 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 . Surveys conducted on both lake arms in the spring of 2025 revealed catch rates that were below the long-term average.
Walleye fishing should be good to excellent in 2026. 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. We have not missed a walleye stocking since 2011. A surplus of hatchery produced fish allowed for higher stocking rates four out of the last six years. With the increase in stocking rates, anglers might notice an abundance of keeper walleye in 2026. Electrofishing surveys conducted in the spring of 2025 produced catch rates slightly below the long-term average.
Stockton Lake is approximately 50 miles northwest of Springfield. From Springfield, expect a 50 minute drive to the south end of the lake and a 70 minute drive to the north end of the lake.
MDC, 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects (report), quoted; retrieved October 27, 2026.
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The roster for Stockton Lake comes from MDC sources; unlisted fish may also be present.
MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, MDC State Record Fish list and MDC trout program statements, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Brush piles and cover in Stockton Lake
Habitat crews mapped 650 attractor points in Stockton Lake, placed between 2010 and 2026.
A sample of one point in 4 appears on the map.
| Material | Points | Years placed |
|---|---|---|
| Cedars | 640 | 2010 to 2026 |
| Cedar-Hardwood | 10 | 2024 to 2026 |
MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.
Where to get on Stockton Lake
- Stockton Lake Management Lands (east ramp)boat ramp, parking; Missouri Department of Conservation
- Stockton Lake Management Lands (south ramp)boat ramp; Missouri Department of Conservation
- Stockton Lake Management Lands (west ramp)boat ramp; Missouri Department of Conservation
- Stockton Lake Management Lands (south ramp)boat ramp; Missouri Department of Conservation
- Stockton Lake Management Lands (west ramp)boat ramp; Missouri Department of Conservation
- Stockton Lake Management Lands (west ramp)boat ramp; Missouri Department of Conservation
Federal parks on the shore of Stockton Lake
Cedar Ridge, Crabtree, Greenfield, Hawker Point, High Point, Masters, Mutton Creek, Orleans Trail, Overlook, Ruark Bluff, Stockton Area and Stockton State Park.
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Elevation at Stockton Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton Lake Near Stockton, Mo | 862.22 ft gage height | Oct 28 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 28, 2026 7:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USACE Kansas City District, Stockton Dam; reading for October 27, 2026, retrieved October 27, 2026. Provisional; Corps water control page.
Pool data for Stockton Lake is provisional, as the agency notes.
What a Missouri angler may keep at Stockton Lake
| Species | Daily limit and length | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) | 6 a day | All year |
| Channel catfish | 10 a day | All year |
| Blue catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Flathead catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Crappie (black and white) | 30 a day | All year |
| Goggle-eye (Ozark, rock, and shadow bass) and warmouth | 15 a day; 7" minimum | All year |
| Muskellunge | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike); 36" minimum | All year |
| Northern pike | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike) | All year |
| Paddlefish (spoonbill) | 2 a day; 32" minimum (eye to fork of tail) | March 15–April 30 |
| Pickerel (chain and grass) | 6 a day | All year |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | 10 a day; 30" maximum (snout to fork of tail) | All year |
| Trout (rainbow and brown) | 4 a day; Rainbow: none; Brown: 15" minimum in streams | All year |
| Walleye and sauger | 4 a day; 15" minimum | All year |
| White, yellow, and striped bass and their hybrids | 15 a day; No more than 4 longer than 18" | All year |
These statewide rows hold at Stockton Lake unless a special regulation below changes them.
Booklet exceptions at Stockton Lake
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton Lake | Whole water | Black bass — 15" minimum length limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass; 12" minimum length limit on spotted bass |
| Stockton Lake | Whole water | Crappie — 10" minimum length limit; 15 fish daily limit |
Rules as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026) (booklet PDF, Special Regulations on Large Lakes and on Rivers and Streams); checked against the current Wildlife Code October 27, 2026.
Limits and seasons as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026), page 20 (booklet PDF); retrieved October 27, 2026.
Missouri records from Stockton Lake
| Species | Division | Weight | Angler | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo: Black | Pole and line | 55 lbs. 9 oz. | Ryan Young, Buffalo, MO | 10/13/2024 | MDC record list |
| Bass: Smallmouth | Pole and line | 7 lbs. 2 oz. | Kevin S. Clingan, Springfield, MO | 12/18/1994 | MDC record list |
MDC State Record Fish list and MDC news releases (rows marked as such), retrieved October 27, 2026. All Missouri records.
Weigh-ins at Stockton Lake
The Stockton Lake tournament page lists trail dates and weights from organizers.
Stockton Lake and the closest MDC lakes
Pomme de Terre Lake leads this group on size with 7,662 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton Lake | 24,945 | 6 | 650 | 12 | |
| Pomme de Terre Lake | 29 miles northeast | 7,662 | 0 | 838 | 11 |
| Atkinson Lake | 34 miles northwest | 434 | 1 | 18 | 5 |
| Fellows Lake | 34 miles southeast | 800 | 1 | 98 | 11 |
| Valley Water Mill Lake | 35 miles southeast | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Schell Lake | 35 miles northwest | 287 | 3 | 62 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Shops, towns and water around Stockton Lake
Neighbouring MDC impoundments to Stockton Lake
- Pomme de Terre Lake29 miles northeast
- Atkinson Lake34 miles northwest
- Fellows Lake34 miles southeast
- Valley Water Mill Lake35 miles southeast
- Schell Lake35 miles northwest
Where to stock the cooler for Stockton Lake
- Stockton State Park Marinamarina, Dadeville, 2 miles
- Mutton Creek Marinamarina, Greenfield, 4 miles
- Orleans Trail Marina Incmarina, Stockton, 7 miles
- Grand Mariner Marine Servicemarina, Stockton, 7 miles
- Don's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Fair Play, 8 miles
- Round Two Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Fair Play, 10 miles
Hired help for Stockton Lake
- Lake Stockton Guide Servicecharter, Stockton Lake, Greenfield, (417) 637-2277
- Thompson Fishing Guidescharter, Arcola, (417) 424-2277
Towns with a bed near Stockton Lake
- Stockton9 miles
- Greenfield13 miles
- Bolivar18 miles
County-by-county pages for Stockton Lake
- Cedar Countyseat: Stockton
- Dade Countyseat: Greenfield
- Polk Countyseat: Bolivar
Piscifun spinning and casting gear to pack for Stockton Lake
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Fish pictures to know before Stockton Lake
Photo: Dominic, CC BY 4.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Stockton Lake: questions Show-Me anglers bring up
Which Missouri county is Stockton Lake in?
Look in Cedar County, Dade County and Polk County, the MDC Southwest Region, about 5 miles from Umber View Heights.
What does MDC list as the size of Stockton Lake?
Roughly 24,945 acres on the MDC outline.
Can I trailer a boat into Stockton Lake?
MDC and the Corps map 6 mapped ramps; Stockton Lake Management Lands (east ramp) is one.
Does Stockton Lake have bass and crappie?
On the list: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, crappie, bluegill and channel catfish.
Which 2026 Missouri rules apply on Stockton Lake?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year. See the special-regulation table above too.
What does a fishing permit cost for Stockton Lake?
Missouri anglers 16 through 64 carry a fishing permit: $14 a year for residents, $57 for nonresidents, or $9 for a daily permit.
What motors are allowed on Stockton Lake?
Nothing on motors is published here; read the ramp signs.
Which shop on our Missouri list is nearest Stockton Lake?
Try Stockton State Park Marina, roughly 2 miles off.
Is Stockton Lake fishing well in 2026?
Stockton Lake is a 24,900-acre U. S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir located in Cedar, Dade and Polk counties in southwestern Missouri. Crappie fishing should be good in 2026. White Crappie made up 73% of the fish in this year’s netting surveys. Anglers will likely notice good numbers of keeper (MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects)
Is Stockton Lake low right now?
The level section shows the latest reading with its date and agency.
Which state record came from Stockton Lake?
Buffalo: Black, 55 lbs. 9 oz., by Ryan Young (10/13/2024).
Are there brush piles in Stockton Lake?
650 points, broken down by material above.
Hitch the bass boat and head for Stockton Lake
Read the limits above, then pick the ramp nearest your target.