Missouri Bass Nation at Stockton Lake

Stockton Lake is not the most famous name in Missouri fishing, but anglers who have spent time on its 24,900 acres of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water know what they have. Fed by the Sac River in Cedar County, Stockton runs clear and cool, with abundant largemouth bass, spotted bass, and smallmouth bass that attract competitive fishing from across the region. From May 3 through June 7, 2026, the Missouri Bass Nation brings its annual tournament series to Stockton, with competition days running from safe light to 2:30 p.m. CST from the Aunts Creek Ramp near Kimberling City, Missouri.

Tournament fishing at Stockton Lake draws anglers who have put time into learning its creek arms, submerged ledges, and standing timber. The Missouri B.A.S.S. Nation is the state’s affiliate of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, the largest organized bass fishing body in the world. Entry is limited to current B.A.S.S. Nation members, with membership established prior to registration. Entry fees run $80 per team or boat, and 70 percent of the fee pool pays back to the top 10 percent of finishers. For serious bass anglers working the tournament trail, a B.A.S.S. Nation event on Stockton is high-caliber competition on an underrated reservoir.

What Makes Stockton Different

Unlike many Ozark reservoirs that grow heavily trafficked through summer, Stockton tends to stay quiet. The lake has a consistent reputation for clear water and healthy bass populations supported by careful management. The Aunts Creek area is one of the most productive put-in zones and has a concrete boat ramp, parking, and direct access to the lake’s main channel. Kimberling City, the nearest town along MO-13, offers fuel, basic supplies, and roadside dining.

Good to Know
Current B.A.S.S. Nation membership is required before registering. Visit the Missouri B.A.S.S. Nation website for membership and registration details. Tournament hours run from safe light to 2:30 p.m. CST each competition day.

For the Family Along for the Trip

If you are bringing family members who are not fishing the tournament, Stockton Lake’s Crabtree Cove area has picnic grounds and shoreline access for casual wading and bank fishing. Ha Ha Tonka State Park, roughly 30 miles northeast along the Lake of the Ozarks arm, is one of Missouri’s most striking state parks, with the ruins of a stone castle perched on a dolomite bluff above a natural bridge, sinkholes, and a spring cave system. The drive along MO-13 between Stockton and the Lake of the Ozarks region passes through cedar glade country and rolling Ozark farmland that is at its greenest in May and June.

Where to Stay

Kimberling City has modest motel and cabin options within a short drive of the Aunts Creek launch. For more variety, the Lake of the Ozarks resort corridor around Osage Beach is approximately an hour north and offers a full range of waterfront properties with marina access. Search Lake.com for cabin and lakefront rentals in the Stockton Lake area to find accommodations suited to the pace of a multi-day tournament week in the Missouri Ozarks.