West Point Fishing Report – October 2006

West Point: Level: 4.2 feet low. Temp: 81 degrees. Clarity: Slight stain.

Bass: Good. Guide Paul Parsons has been catching a lot of spotted bass in two to eight feet of water on small Carolina rigs. “Green pumpkin Zoom Finesse worm is working best,” said Paul. This month look from main-lake points back to the secondary points. Spots should key on rocks, and largemouths will likely head toward wood cover where shad is abundant. Paul likes topwater early, Zara Spooks and Pop-Rs. Rat-L-Traps are good throughout the day.

Crappie: Great. Guide Bobby Wilson said they’ve been catching a lot crappie on minnows in 10- to 25-foot brush, but the fish are small. This pattern will hold in October; fish right above the brush. A trolling bite will begin in two to 10 feet of water in the backs of the coves and creeks. Bobby sometimes has to troll a 1/32-oz. jig. Good colors are black/green/chartreuse, chartreuse and blue/chartreuse. Look in Wehadkee, Whitewater, Yellowjacket and Beech.

Hybrids: Good. Paul said that he’s been catching hybrids on live bait 25 to 30 feet deep on main-lake flats and roadbeds around Wehadkee Creek. When the lake turns over expect the topwater bite to fall off, but fish should start moving shallow and will be scattered. Bass fishermen will start catching them on crankbaits this month. Bobby said he’s been catching spotted bass and hybrids trolling Bandits and Rat-L-Traps on points and flats.