West Point Lake Fishing Report – March 2023

West Point: Level: 4.2 feet below 635. Temp: Upper 50 top low 60. Clarity: Slightly stained.

Bass: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Good. Big changes are in store as we move into March. Warming weather and a stained lake should move many of the largemouth shallow quickly, especially after a decent warming trend. I expect the largemouth bite to only improve around any shallow wood or brush, rip-rap rocks or around shallow baitfish schools. Dark chunk rock and red clay retain heat and attract bass. Shallow-water baits such as ChatterBaits, squarebill crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps should work effectively. Spinnerbaits and jig ’n pigs are also producing some fish around wood and riprap. It’s a good time to catch a big fish, even though the numbers are not that great early in the month. One of the main keys to this type of shallow fishing is to look for warmer stained water. A ditch or creek run sometimes helps to bring warmer water into an area, especially after a warm rain. The shad will move into this type of area and the bass will follow. Fishing for spotted bass can be awesome, as they will start to bed in March, as well. Small crankbaits or Carolina-rigged finesse worms will catch fish on almost any wind-blown gravel bank in most creeks.”

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Linesides: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Good. The river run is normally wide open in March, and how good it gets usually depends on weather and water conditions. What you don’t want is really muddy and cold water below 50 degrees. What you do hope for is slightly stained water and water temps  in at least the upper 50s. I usually start out with cut shad (even chicken liver will work at times) soaked in garlic spray in water temps around 60 or lower. Live shad usually work better in water temps of 60 or higher. Start around Ringer Access, and follow the fish upstream as the water warms. Casting small, 3- to 4-inch curly tail grubs can also be very effective around the mouth of any feeder creek. Hybrids mixed with stripers and white bass can continue to school on top throughout early spring, as well on the lower end of the lake. Expect the topwater fishing to be the best very early and very late or on overcast days. The schooling fish are mostly less than 3 pounds or so, but there are some bigger fish mixed in, as well. Gulls and loons are also still out there now to help you pinpoint the schooling linesides. The mouths of Yellow Jacket, Wehadkee and Maple creeks should still be producing some fish. Downlining with live shiners will also work sometimes, even in March. Target drop-offs near the channel or the tops of humps. Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits, Flash Mob rigs, bucktail jigs and vertical jigging with spoons can  also produce in these same areas.”

Crappie: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Excellent. A few warm days in a row will drastically improve the crappie fishing. Good numbers of slab-sized crappie are already being caught in the shallows on minnows and jigs under a float, especially in the afternoons. Blowdown trees and brushpiles in 3 to 6 feet of water are holding fish, as well. Trolling for crappie has been good now for a few weeks. Trolling always seems to work better in clearer water in 10 to 18 feet of water. Whitewater, Wehadkee and Yellowjacket creeks almost always seem to turn on this month. Some fish are being caught by drop shotting minnows over or near deeper brush, as well. Expect the shallow bite to slow down in the event of a drastic cold snap or get even better with an extended warming trend. Hopefully, West Point Lake will fill up and stay a little stained as we move on into March. Most of the crappie go on the bed on the full moon in March. Overall, March is probably the best month for size and numbers of crappie.”