West Point Fishing Report December 2012

West Point: Level: 11.4 feet below full. Temp: Mid to upper 50s. Clarity: Light stain.

Bass: Good. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “With very little rain, the lake continues to remain clear and to fall dramatically. Surface temps continue to cool with the beautiful fall weather. A few largemouths and nice spotted bass are still shallow and being caught on crankbaits and Zoom Super Flukes. The schoolie-sized spotted bass are starting to show up on some of the deeper wintertime holes and can be caught with a jigging spoon or a drop-shot rig. The usual places­—roadbeds, humps and ledges near the mouths of the major creeks—are holding fish.”

Linesides: Good. “The stripe bite has improved tremendously over the last couple of weeks,” Keith said. “We have been catching 40 to 50 mixed fish per day on my live-bait trips in recent days. We’re still catching a few stripes in the 15- to 20-lb. range, but the average good fish has probably been around 6 to 7 pounds. Some striped bass with a few hybrids and white bass mixed in are starting to school on top, especially on overcast days. The bigger stripes have been down near the dam and at the mouth of Indian and Wilson creeks; it’s an early and late bite. Have a Zara Spook, a swimbait or one of Russ’ hand-tied bucktail jigs ready in case you see schooling activity on the surface.

Lake Level Update: Keith reports, “Use caution as a lot of new stickups were exposed this week, and there are others just under the surface. The boat ramps at Yellow Jacket, Horace King Park and the mega ramp at Pyne Road Park are all recommended. The dock at Pyne Road Park is still usable, but if you put in at the ramp, be careful because there is a large pile of gravel at the end of the ramp, and you will tear up your prop if you aren’t cautious. You can call (706) 645-2929 for the lake level and generation schedule.”