West Point Lake Fishing Report – March 2025

West Point: Level: 5.5 feet below 635. Temp: 50s to low 60s. Clarity: Slightly stained. The work on the dam is completed for the season, but the lake remains down, near winter pool at 4 to 5 feet low.

Bass: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Good. This March is setting up to be fantastic for fishing. We had an actual winter this year, and the fish should be hungry when the warming waters of spring start to kick in. Warming weather and a stained lake should move many of the largemouth shallow quickly, especially after a few days with temps in the 70s. The largemouth bite should be good around any shallow wood or brush, rip-rap rocks or around shallow baitfish schools. Shallow running  baits, such as the No. 7 crawfish Shad Rap, white ChatterBaits, red square-bill crankbaits and ole faithful Rat-L-Traps should work effectively. Spinnerbaits and jig ’n pigs are also producing some fish around wood and rip -rap rock. One of the main keys to this type of shallow fishing is to look for warmer stained water. A ditch or creek run sometimes helps to bring warmer water into an area, especially after a warm rain. Dark chunk rock and red clay retain heat and attract bass. Early March is a good time to catch your personal best largemouth, even though the numbers of fish can be lower early in the month. Fishing for spotted bass can be awesome, as they will start to bed in March, as well. Small crankbaits or Carolina-rigged finesse worms will catch fish on almost any gravel bank in most creeks, especially on the lower end of the lake.” 

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Linesides: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Good. The river run starts up in March, and how good it gets usually depends on weather and water conditions. What you don’t want is really nasty muddy and cold water below 50 degrees. What you do hope for is slightly stained water and water temps in at least the upper 50s. I usually start out with cut shad (even chicken liver will work at times) soaked in garlic spray in water temps around 60 or lower. Live shad usually work better in water temps of 60 or higher. Rig this up on a short Carolina rig and chunk it out downstream of your anchored boat. Big catfish are a bonus on this rig, as well. Kick back and wait. If you are where the fish are, you will get bit pretty soon. Casting curly tail grubs or Sassy Shads will work, as well, if you are on the fish. Start around Ringer Access, and follow the fish upstream as the water warms. Look for breaks in the current or bends in the river. Stripers mixed with hybrids and white bass can continue to school throughout early spring, as well on the lower end of the lake. Expect the topwater fishing to be the best very early and very late or on overcast days. The schooling fish are mostly less than 3 pounds or so, but there are some bigger fished mixed in, as well. Gulls and loons are also still out there now to help you pinpoint the schooling linesides. The mouths of Yellow Jacket, Wehadkee and Maple creeks have all been producing some fish. Downlining with live shiners will also work sometimes, even in March. Target drop-offs near the channel or the top of humps. Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits, Flash Mob Rigs, bucktail jigs and vertical jigging with spoons can  also produce hybrids and striped bass in these same areas.”

Crappie: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Excellent. A few warm days in a row in March will drastically improve the crappie fishing. Good numbers of  slab-size crappie are already being caught in the shallows on minnows and jigs under a float, especially in the afternoons and it should only get better. Blowdown trees and brushpiles in 3 to 6 feet of water are holding fish, as well. The top-three jig colors on West Point are black/chartreuse, blue/white and popsicle. Trolling for crappie has been good now for a few weeks. Trolling always seems to work better in clearer water in 10 to 18 feet of water. Whitewater, Wehadkee and Yellow Jacket creeks almost always seem to turn on this month. Some fish are being caught by drop-shotting minnows over or near deeper brush. Expect the shallow bite to turn off in the event of an extended cold snap or get even better with an extended warming trend. Hopefully the lake will fill up and stay a little stained as we move into late March. Expect many of the crappie to bed on the full moon in mid March. Overall, March is probably the best month for size and numbers.”