West Point Lake Fishing Report – August 2023

West Point: Level: 1.3 below 635. Temp: Upper 80s. Clarity: Mostly clear.

Bass: Guide Keith Hudson said the fishing is fair. “August is usually a tough month for bass fishing on most lakes, and West Point is no exception. We have had a tremendous hatch of baitfish this year, and the bass can be difficult to catch with so many easy targets available. There are a few patterns that can still produce. Try pitching jigs or Texas-rigged worms around blowdown trees or under boat docks. This pattern seems to work best when the sun is out. The fish like the shade and coverage just like we do. Old roadbeds and pond dams, especially those with cover or man-made brushpiles, can produce some good fish. Try big diving crankbaits or Ole Monster worms dragged  through  the thickest cover you can find. Some decent fish can still be caught above the 219 bridge in the Chattahoochee by fishing the grassbeds, especially if the lake remains near full pool. Try a frog-style bait or a jig around thick cover or aquatic grasses. Supposedly the Corps of Engineers is going to pull the water down for repairs to the dam this fall, so expect the water to come down a good bit by late August.”

Linesides: According to guide Keith Hudson the fishing is good. “I am expecting a really good topwater bite this August because of all the newly hatched shad. Have a popping cork or a 3/8-oz. Rooster Tail  ready and watch for schools of fish on the surface. If we have a tropical depression come through, they usually go nuts on top! Trolling big plugs with a bucktail in front,  especially in the late afternoons during periods of water generation, can be very effective, as well.”

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Crappie: Guide Keith Hudson said the fishing is good. “Good catches of crappie should continue all summer. Most people kind of forget about them this time of year, but the guys who do their homework, putting out brushpiles and downlining with live minnows in the thick brush, do very well. Another pattern that works is shooting docks or pitching to docks. Crappie like the shade and often a single dock can produce a limit of fish. Also, night fishing is normally very good during the summer months, and it keeps you out of the heat.”

Catfish: According to guide Keith Hudson the fishing is good. “Although they’re kind of overlooked, catfish provide a steady bite all summer. Try using live worms, cut bait, chicken liver fished on bottom. Jug fishing is also really productive and a fun way to get the whole family involved. Best of all, catfish are really tasty!”