West Point Lake Fishing Report – May 2024

West Point: Level: 2.9 feet below 635. Temp: 70s and low 80s. Clarity: Clear over most of the lake.

Bass: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Good. May should be a great month to be fishing this year. The lake is near full pool, water temps are perfect, and there seems to be more largemouth showing up than in previous years because of the ongoing stocking program. The topwater fishing is usually very good in May. Baits such as Pop-Rs, Whopper Ploppers and buzzbaits can be extremely effective for shallow and aggressive fish in the backs of pockets with ditch runs. Keep your eyes open for bream beds, as largemouth love to feed on them. Another pattern that can work really well is to look for spawning shad. Try fishing rip-rap around bridges with spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and Zoom Super Flukes. In May, some big tournament sacks of largemouth are still being weighed in by guys who sight fish, targeting fish that are locked on bed. Try an unweighted merthiolate  Zoom Trick Worm or an unweighted Zlinky or Senko in the backs of spawning pockets. Easy limits of spotted bass are caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with Ultra Vibe Speed Craws or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom Finesse worm or Mini Lizard around sloping gravel banks or around the many shoal marker poles scattered around the lake.”

Linesides: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Starving, spawned out hybrids, whites and stripes show back up down lake in May in great numbers. The mouths of most of the creeks south of the 109 bridge will be loaded. Focus on humps in 25 feet of water or so. Expect the downline  bite on live bait to be awesome. A few fish have started  schooling  on the main lake and  can be caught on small crankbaits, topwaters, popping-cork rigs and Gotcha Swim  Shad lures. Also some fish can be caught trolling. This is usually the best month of the year for lineside fishing.”

Crappie: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Spawned out fish will typically move out and hold on deeper brush and structure or under docks for a while to recover. Shooting or pitching under the shade of covered docks or on bridge pilings is the way to go. The crappie almost always like the shade on a sunny day. There are also lots of fish on 10- to 15-foot deep brushpiles. Night fishing is usually awesome in May, as well.”

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Bream: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Good. The shellcracker population over the last few years has exploded with some really nice-sized fish and good numbers being caught. They seem to really love worms fished on the bottom. Finding an active bed can take a little effort, but when you do, you can have a ball! Bedding usually takes place on the full moon cycle in May. Look for shallow cover in the backs of pockets. Sandy flats and stump beds tend to draw the fish like a magnet. Use live worms, crickets and small jigs for the best results.”

Catfish: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Good. Lots of channel cats are being caught by the few anglers who target them. Live bait, cutbait and worms fished on bottom will catch cats all over the lake, as long as fairly deep water is nearby. Jug fishing is also fun and productive. To target flatheads, go to a larger bait, like a 4- to 5-inch bream or large shiner, and fish the same areas. Be sure to increase the size of your rigs as fish in the 20- to 30-lb. range are fairly common. Most of the big flatheads are caught in the Ringer/Grayson’s Landing area north of the 219 bridge in the Chattahoochee and the mouth of the smaller feeder creeks in that vicinity.”