West Point Fishing Report July 2012

West Point: Level: 4.7 feet below full pool. Temp: 84 degrees. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Fair. Chris Bell reports, “Most fish are coming from deep-water roadbeds and humps when current is present. Use Carolina rigs and shaky heads worked slowly. When generation is at its strongest and bait is present, use deep-diving crankbaits in shad patterns. My best colors have been watermelon and green pumpkin when using a Carolina rig and deep crankbaits in a shad pattern. There is an early morning topwater bite on schooling fish before the sun tops the trees. For these fish, use a popping cork and fly. The best locations for these schooling fish have been on the southern end of the lake, south of Wehadkee creek.”

Linesides: Good. Chris reports, “Hybrid and striper fishing is fair. 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 a 1/4-oz. Rat-L-Trap and a Pop-R. Work baits quickly to resemble fleeing shad. Once topwater action slows, use live bait over the same humps and roadbeds that produced with topwater earlier in the morning. The best locations are on the southern end of the lake.”

Crappie: Fair. Chris reports, “Fish have not moved much over the last few weeks. Do not look for other major movements until temperatures begin entering a fall pattern. Fish have fully committed to deeper water. Look for deep brushpiles near main lake during daytime hours. Best fishing has come from bridge pilings at night. Downline live bait 12 to 15 feet deep.”

Catfish: Excellent. Paul reports, “Blue and channel catfish are biting good all over the lake. The best bait is cut shad. Fishing for flathead catfish is excellent upriver. The best bait for flatheads is live gizzard shad fished in the deep holes.”