West Point Fishing Report July 2011

West Point: Level: 2.7 feet below full pool. Temp: 86 degrees. Clarity: Stained on main lake; clear up the creeks; stained up the river.

Bass: Fair. Chris Bell reports, “The topwater bite has slowed. Most fish are coming from deep-water roadbeds and humps. Use Carolina rigs and shaky heads worked slowly. My best colors have been watermelon and green pumpkin. You will have to wade through several smaller fish to get the quality bites, but this pattern can produce some really big fish. If current is present, then use a deep-diving crankbait in a shad pattern. You will not get as many bites, but these should be larger fish.”

Linesides: Good. Paul Parsons reports, “Striper fishing on the main-lake humps and flats with live shad is getting really good. We have been catching lots of stripers from the railroad trestle all the way to the dam. Topwater action should get going soon. Fifty-plus fish days are common.” Chris reports, “Fish are schooling lakewide over the tops of humps and roadbeds, following shad on the surface. The action will be fast, so use fast-moving shad-imitating baits. Use Rat-L-Traps and Pop-Rs. Work baits quickly. Once topwater action slows, use live bait over the same humps and roadbeds that produced with topwater earlier in the morning.”

Crappie: Good. Paul reports, “Crappie fishing under the main-lake bridges at night is starting to pick up. The Cameron Mill Road bridge in Yellow Jacket Creek is a popular bridge for night fishing. The railroad trestle and 109 bridges are also good bets for catching a cooler full of slabs. Live minnows are the best bait.” Chris reports, “With lower water levels, fish have pulled out to their normal summertime areas. Use live minnows around deep brushpiles, docks and bridge pilings. Fish are positioned in depths from 10 to 15 feet deep. The best pilings are the Yellow Jacket and Half Moon bridges.”

Catfish: With warming water temperatures, the flathead bite is picking up in the deep holes up the Chattahoochee. The best way to catch them is to sink big live baits.