West Point Lake Fishing Report December 2016

West Point: Level: 8.3 feet below full pool. “Be careful when running the lake as the water is getting dangerously low in some areas,” said guide Keith Hudson. Temp: Mid 60s. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “The shallow bite remains pretty good now and should be about the same unless we get some really cold weather. Also, our heavy rain chances don’t look too promising, so don’t expect a big change there. Baits such as suspending jerkbaits, unweighted flukes, Senkos and spinnerbaits are catching bass. Try to  fish these baits in or near any remaining shallow cover or around schools of shallow baitfish. Fish the open water in the pockets with 1/4-oz. Rat-L-Trap, a KVD 1.5 crankbait or an Alabama Rig. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have a jig handy to pitch around any blowdowns. On the bright side, big schools of spots mixed with hybrids, white bass and stripers can be caught on jigging spoons and drop-shot rigs on deeper offshore structures. A total of 50 to 75 mixed bag fish a day is not uncommon.”

Linesides: Good. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “The downline bite with shad or bass shiners remains very good. Freelining a live bait will also work at times. Most of the fish seem to be holding 20 to 30 feet deep and are starting to lock in with the water cooling down. While nearly non existent to this point, I still expect the topwater fishing to improve. As usual, expect the best topwater bite very early and very late or on overcast or rainy days. Look for gulls and loons diving—this makes it easier to pinpoint schooling stripers. A popping-cork rig has still been working on schooling fish. I usually throw a Redfin or Pencil Popper for bigger fish. A 3/8- or 1/2-oz. white Rooster Tail, a chrome C.C. Spoon and the Alabama Rig have also been producing. As the water cools, a bucktail jig becomes very effective, as well. The mouths of most creeks south of the 109 bridge and the edges of flats near the dam have been holding fish. Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits and Alabama Rigs can be effective.”

Crappie: Good. “Fishing with minnows or a small jig around bridge pilings, brushpiles and blowdowns in 6 to 15 feet of water remains pretty good,” guide Keith Hudson said. “West Point crappie can be caught on a straight line or with floats. Concentrate on trees and brush that are close to the old creek channels or near the few docks that are still in the water. With the low water, it can be easier to find exposed standing timber, which will also hold crappie schools. As usual, crappie seem to love shade and cover. Yellow Jacket, Wolf and Whitewater creeks are still producing.”