West Point Fishing Report October 2012

West Point: Level: 8.5 feet below full pool. Temp: Low 80s. Clarity: Stained.

Bass: Poor. Chris Bell reports, “Fishing has been day-to-day as fish continue to be scattered. We currently have two variables affecting fish. We have temperatures beginning to drop with longer nights and a continuation of low water levels. As fish begin to pull up, they are finding many of their favorite fall hotspots with less water. The key right now is finding the bait. Lakewide, search as many pockets as you can looking for signs of shad and other forage. Once you have located bait, there are many bait options that will produce depending on the conditions at hand. On cloudy, windy days the spinnerbait bite is slowly beginning to heat up. The best spinnerbait has been a 3/8-oz. with double silver willowleaf blades and a white skirt. Conditions for this bait have to almost be perfect right now. Other baits during slower periods can be narrowed down to a 1/8-oz. shaky head with a Trick Worm or a 3/8-oz. All-Terrain jig. Green pumpkin has been the best color for all soft plastics and the jig.”

Linesides: Fair. Chris reports, “We are beginning to see more fish relating to schools of shad cruising the surface. This has been making for some great schooling action. Fish have been located at the mouths of Wehadkee and Wilson creeks. The three best baits have been a Mepp’s in-line spinner, 1/4-oz., a Rat-L-Trap in blue chrome and a small Rebel Pop-R in a shad pattern.”

Crappie: Chris reports, “Crappie are still scattered. There are still catches coming from bridge columns at night under lights. Downline live bait beneath lights 10 to 12 feet deep. If fishing during the day is your only option, look for brushpiles in 12 to 15 feet of water along the main lake.”