West Point Fishing Report May 2015

West Point: Level: 0.7 feet above full pool. Temp: 68-74 degrees. Clarity: Mostly clear in the main lake.

Bass: Good. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Expect the largemouth bite to continue to improve around rip-rap rocks, shallow wood or brush cover or around spawning shad in the shallows. Most largemouth bass spawn as the water warms to around 70 degrees. Most good bed fisherman prefer clear water, so they can target individual fish. They can also be pretty aggravating to make bite. Shallow-water baits such as unweighted lizards, flukes and Senkos will work. A few postspawn females are already being caught, as well. Most creeks seem to be producing bass. We’re seeing a lot of blueback herring this year, which seems to explain the good production of the A-rigs. The spotted bass are biting very good. Carolina-rigged finesse worms or a Tommy Head rigged with a Zoom Shakey Head worm are good choices for these somewhat deeper mixed fish. Another option this time of year for spotted bass is simply running banks or shoal markers with a small Bandit crankbait. Usually when you catch one, there are others in the same area.”

Linesides: Good. Keith Hudson reports, “The river run is normally full bore in April. It is usually pretty easy fishing. Anchor out, and fish on the bottom with live or cut shad with garlic spray, or in a pinch chicken livers sometimes work. Sections of the Chattahoochee River north of Ringer access around Grayson’s Landing are usually a good starting place. Expect a mix of whites, hybrids and stripers, and the occasional surprise big flathead catfish. As the month goes along, you can somewhat follow the fish on up to Franklin. Use caution when running the river. Good numbers of fish are still down on the main lake. Downlining with shad or bass shiners is still fairly effective right now. Freelining a live bait will also work at times. The mouths of Yellow Jacket, Wilson and White Water creeks should continue producing some fish. Expect the topwater fishing to be best very early and very late or on overcast days. Keep a popping-cork rig ready. Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits and Alabama Rigs has also been producing in these same areas.”

Crappie: Excellent. Keith reports, “The bite slowed up some this week. A lot of the fish have spawned out, although some beds can still be found. Wehadkee, Veasey and Yellow Jacket creeks are still producing some crappie. Early morning and late evening, some fish will move shallow. Try fishing the smallest minnows you can find or a 1/16-oz. jig under a weighted float around brushpiles, blowdowns or gravel banks in shallow water about 3 to 5 feet deep. Pitching with small tube or feather-tail jigs around docks is also good on postspawn crappie. Blowdown trees and brushpiles in 10 to 15 feet of water are also holding some fish. Concentrate on trees that are close to the old creek channels. Crappie are still being caught by bank fishermen, as well. The night fishing should really pick up soon.”