West Point Fishing Report May 2011

West Point: Level: 1.2 feet below pool. Temp: Low 70s. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Excellent. Chris Bell reports, “Bass fishing is excellent. Fish are in all phases. With the stained water, seeing bedded fish will be difficult. The best pattern in these conditions seems to be pitching 3/8-oz. black/blue jig with a Z-Man black-with-blue-fleck Chunkz. My other bait has been a Zoom green-pumpkin 8-inch lizard on a 1/8-oz. Texas rig. In the backs of pockets and creeks, pitch baits to isolated pieces of cover watching your line closely for the bite. The best areas have been mid lake between the 109 bridge to Yellow Jacket Creek.” As more postspawn fish start to move out, topwater will become increasingly more important. A Pop-R or Rico in bone or baby bass colors should work well around the spawning pockets. If you can’t get them on top, move out a little farther and fish points and brush for postspawn fish, and keep an eye open for spawning shad around bridges and rip-rap. Crankbaits, Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits are all good ideas for fishing the shad spawn.

Linesides: Good. Paul Parsons said the spring run on, and it should only get better over the next couple weeks. Chris reports, “The best fishing has been north of Ringer access. Drop live shad and cut bait in deeper holes in the river. The bite has been the best when current is present, so check generation schedules before heading out.” Generation should be less of an issue upriver.

Crappie: Very good. Paul reports, “The trolling season for crappie is winding down. Fish the pockets back in the major creeks with minnows or jigs under bobbers in 2 to 3 feet of water.” Chris reports, “Fish have been caught in two ways. There are a few beds left, but most have left to stage on docks and brushpiles. Use live minnows below corks approximately 2 to 3 feet deep. The best creeks have been Whitewater and Wilson creeks.”