West Point Lake Fishing Report – January 2023

West Point: Level: 5.3 feet below 635. Temp: The temperature is in the middle 50s but will drop to the upper 40s next weekend. Clarity: There is a medium stain on the Hooch down to the railroad trestle. It’s still pretty clear down the lake.

Bass: Guide Keith Hudson  reports, January is typically a slow month for bass fishing in general. The shallow bite for largemouth is only fair right now but could improve quickly in late January, especially with a warm rain and extended warming trend. Stained water, higher-than-normal lake levels  and water temps in the low 60s will turn things on quickly. Baits such as crawdad-colored Shad Raps, Rat-L-Traps and ChatterBaits will produce on these shallower fish. Try to fish these baits in coves and pockets with small feeder creeks or around schools of baitfish. Keep a jig or shaky head handy to pitch around any wood cover. Fishing rip-rap can also yield good results this time of year. The rocks warm quickly and retain heat. Yellowjacket and Whitewater creeks should continue to produce. On the other hand an extended cold snap,  snow or ice storm in late December or January could shut the shallow bite down completely. Water temps in the 30s and 40s normally make it super tough. If the lake stays cold and clear, go deep. Big schools of spots mixed with hybrids, white bass and stripers can be caught on jigging spoons, drop-shot rigs and shaky-head rigs on humps and drop-offs. Target  deeper offshore structures like brushpiles and old roadbeds in 20 to 30 feet of water  near the mouth of most major creeks for the best results.”

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Linesides: Guide Keith Hudson  reports, “Good. The downline bite with shad or bass shiners has improved as the water has cooled off. In most years, the fishing stays good all winter. The 1/2- or 3/4-oz. chrome C.C. Spoon and a number of other small shad imitators have also  been producing, and the colder it gets, the better the fishing usually is (within reason of course). In cold water, casting a bucktail jig becomes very effective, as well. The mouths of Yellowjacket and of most creeks anywhere south of the Highland Marina area all the way to the dam and in Maple Creek have been holding fish. Trolling with Shad Rap crankbaits and Flash Mob Jr. rigs also continues to produce some linesides in these same areas. Most of the fish seem to be holding 20 to 30 feet deep when they are down. Expect the topwater fishing to be sporadic at best. It’s usually best very early and very late, or on overcast or rainy days. Gulls and loons are here now, which makes it easier to pinpoint schooling stripers and hybrids. Keep your eyes open.”

Crappie: Guide Keith Hudson  reports, “Fair. Try tightline fishing with minnows or a 1/16-  or 1/8-oz. jig around bridge pilings, brushpiles and blowdowns in 15 to 20 feet of water. Concentrate on trees and brush that are close to the old creek channels. Pitching or shooting deep-water docks with small tubes or feather jigs around or under the docks can still produce this time of year. As usual, crappie seem to love shade and cover. Yellowjacket, Wehadkee and Whitewater creeks are still producing some crappie. Spider-rig trolling usually works well in January. If January turns unusually warm and wet, the crappie can show back up surprisingly shallow very quickly.”