West Point Fishing Report – July 2006

West Point: Level: 4.7 feet low. Temp: 86 degrees in main lake. Up the river it’s 72-76 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good using big worms and crankbaits, said guide Paul Parsons. There’s also a good topwater bite for about an hour after daylight. Paul has been running main-lake flats in about 15 to 30 feet of water. “I’ve been throwing Zara Spooks and Pop-Rs,” said Paul. “You can see them schooling on top.” For most of the day Paul will drag a Zoom Mag II or Ol Monster worm around humps and roadbeds. For the clear water try watermelon seed. James Scogin said his bass are still shallow. “The fish we’re catching are in five feet of water,” said James. “We’re catching them on blowdowns and around shallow brush and rocks above Ringer. In July look for fish to pull out to 15- and 18-foot brush. “I’ll throw an Ol-Nelle buzzbait early around blowdowns and wood cover washed down during the week,” said James. “For deeper fish, I’ll throw a DD22 and a jig.” James prefers two different-colored Norman plugs, one has a blue back with bone sides and the other is solid chartreuse. He likes a 1/4- to 3/8-oz. black/blue jig with a green-pumpkin Paca Craw trailer.

Crappie: Great. Guide Bobby Wilson said they’ve been catching good numbers of crappie downlining around bridge pilings. “You’ll want to fish 10 to 15 feet down. Fish minnows or small threadfins on a No. 2 hook.” You can catch them at night, but Bobby does most of his fishing during the day. Try Yellowjacket, 109 and the railroad trestle bridges.

Hybrids: “They’re biting real good in the mornings,” said Bobby. “We’re seeing few on top, but not many. A few are coming up in the afternoon with the cloud cover from the afternoon thunderstorms.” Bobby has been downlining shad in 15 to 20 feet of water over flats and roadbeds in 20 to 35 feet of water. Try the mouth of Wilson Creek. Paul Parsons said his boat caught 20 on June 22. “They were all between three and five pounds, but we’ve been catching them up to nine pounds. Paul said to try the hump at the railroad trestle and the long ridge that runs south from the mouth of Wehadkee Creek. “It tops out about 20 feet and drops into 40 feet of water,” said Paul. “It’s about 75 yards off the bank.”