West Point Fishing Report – May 2020

West Point: Level: 1.4 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 60s. Clarity: Stained except down in the dam area.

Bass: Good. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Largemouth are being  caught on several different patterns. Topwater baits such as Pop Rs, Zara Spooks and buzzbaits can be extremely effective for shallow and aggressive fish, especially around bream beds in May. A second pattern that works really well is to look for spawning shad. Try fishing rip-rap around bridges with spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and Zoom Super Flukes. Lots of spotted bass are caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with shaky-tail worms or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom Finesse Worm or Mini Lizard around sloping gravel banks. These tactics normally work well for numbers.”

Linesides: Excellent. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Spawned-out hybrids and stripes show back up down the lake in May. Expect the downline  bite on live bait to be awesome! Some fish starting surface schooling on  the main lake and can be caught on small crankbaits, topwaters, popping cork rigs and Storm Swim Shad lures.”

Crappie: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Spawned-out crappie will typically move out and hold on deeper brush and structure or under docks for a while to recover. Night fishing should also improve in May.”

Bream: Keith Hudson said, “Don’t forget about West Point’s bream and shellcracker. Finding an active bed can take a little effort, but when you do, you can have a ball! Bedding usually takes place on the full moon cycles in May. Look for shallow cover in the backs of pockets. Sandy flats and stump beds tend to draw the fish like a magnet. Use live pink worms, crickets and small jigs for the best results.”

Access decades of archived West Point fishing articles at GON’s West Point page.