West Point Fishing Report – October 2020

West Point: Level: 1.1 feet above full pool. Temp: Mid to low 80s. Clarity: Various stained conditions throughout the lake.

Bass: Good. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “October usually marks a big improvement in fishing in general. As the days start to get a little shorter and the temps cool, expect a drastic improvement in the bass fishing. As usual, a few largemouth and spots are still being caught on pond dams, ledges and roadbeds in the main-lake area, especially early in the month. Drop-shotting can  also  be effective in these areas. Best fishing is around brushpiles or other structure in these areas, if you can find them. Water generation always improves this bite. Downsize baits in these same areas and improve your chances for spotted bass. More fish will move shallow with cooler water temps, and this pattern should improve as the water cools and we move into fall. Topwater baits such as Rebel Pop-Rs, Zara Spooks and Spro Poppin’ frogs will become more effective for shallow fish, especially around grass and weedbeds and wood. If they decide to pull the lake down, it can really stack fish up around the shallow cover that is still in the water. Try targeting the mouths of feeder creeks north of the 219 bridge in the Chattahoochee. Also have a jig handy to pitch into wood cover in these same areas. Spotted bass are still your best bet on the south end of the lake. Spots can  caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with Zoom Trick Worms or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom Finesse worm around shoal markers. Also, try a small Texas-rigged worm or a jig ’n pig around blowdown trees. If it should cool down early, we could even  get a good bite on spoons by the end of the month. Surface schooling groups of fish will also hit the Flash Mob Jr. rig, a favorite in the fall.”

Linesides: Good. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “After a good summer in general for schooling topwater action on the main lake, I expect surface schooling on  the main lake  to continue into this fall. These fish can generally be caught on spoons, topwaters, popping-cork rigs and Storm Swim Shad lures. Start early or stay late for the best results. The mouths of Maple and Whitewater creeks will usually produce. Expect the downline bite on live bait to continue to improve  as we move toward fall, with the best yet to come in late fall and early winter. In most years we are catching a good mixed bag of whites, hybrids, stripers and spotted bass on vertically jigged spoons by the end of the month. Humps and old roadbeds near the mouth of most major creeks will generally hold fish.”

Crappie: Fair. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “The fish will typically move shallower and hold on mid-depth brush and structure or under docks as the water temps  drop into the 70s or below. Try drop-shotting minnows in the brush or shooting docks in 5 to 15 feet of  water for the best results. You can really do well if you find  one of these schools. Try the  cuts and coves in Yellow Jacket Creek and from Highland Marina north to Wolf Creek in the Chattahoochee. Some fish will start to move a little shallower as the water slowly cools, maybe by the end of the month. Minnows fished under a float will usually work on them, when you find them. Any blowdown near deep water is a good starting point. Night fishing is still pretty good. Try under the bridges with lights. ”

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