West Point Lake Fishing Report – October 2023

West Point: Level: 4.8 feet below 635. North of Highway 219 up the river is pretty dangerous already so be careful. Temp: Mid to upper 70s in most areas. Clarity: Really clear in most areas, although some areas have that fall tea or brownish tint.

Bass: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Good. With the nice cool down in late September, expect a big improvement in fishing in general as we move into October. As the days start to get shorter and the temps cool, the bass will begin to feed heavily and fatten up for winter. As usual, a few largemouth  and spots are still being caught on deeper brushpiles, ledges and roadbeds in the main-lake area. Try deep-diving crankbaits or Carolina-rigged worms in 8 to 15 feet of water. Also, drop shotting can be effective in these areas. Best fishing is around brushpiles or other structure in these areas, if you can find them. Water generation always improves this bite. Downsize baits in these same areas and improve your chances for spotted bass. Later in the month, more fish will move shallow with cooler water temps. This pattern should only get better as we move later into the fall. Shallow-water baits such as spinnerbaits, flukes and Whopper Ploppers will become more effective for these shallow fish. Look for schools of shad in the pockets to attract the fish. The lake is already down this year, so there won’t be much  to cast to as far as cover goes, so submerged stumps, blowdowns and shallow brushpiles can still hold good fish. Spotted bass are still your best bet on the south end of the lake. Spots are being caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with  Speed Craws or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom Finesse worm or Mini Lizard around  shoal markers. Keep your eyes open for actively schooling groups of fish. They will crush the Flash Mob Jr. rig, a personal favorite in the  fall.”

Tournament angler and long-time GON writer Ronnie Garrison fished the Spalding County Sportsman Club tournament at West Point on Sunday, Sept. 24. Ronnie reports, “We had 13 fishermen and only three limits. It took five weighing 12.54 to win. Second was five at 8.29 pounds, and my five at 7.26 pounds came in third. A 4.28-lb. largemouth was big fish. Most bass were caught on rocky points—first and third place came from Yellowjacket Creek. I landed two largemouth on rocks on a Trick Worm early and lost a solid 2.5-lb. largemouth that hit a popper, but then just pulled off after a short fight. Two spotted bass I caught hit a 1/4-oz. green Bitsy Flip Jig with a green-pumpkin Zoom Creepy Crawler trailer. The tails of the trailer were dipped in chartreuse J.J.’s Magic. A third keeper spot also hit the jig. All were on rocky points with brush in about 10 feet of water. I found a school of 12- to 14-inch spots 20 to 22 feet deep on a pond dam in Yellowjacket Creek. Although they were fun to catch and fry up good, I left them biting since they were not helping my tournament catch. They were hitting a Carolina-rigged redbug Zoom Ol’ Monster worm with the tail dipped in chartreuse. Fish rocky points, roadbeds and pond dams with wood from 6 to 25 feet deep with a jig ’n pig, Carolina rig and shaky head for limits of spots. Early, fish a popper or Trick Worm on shallow rocks near deep water.”

Outdoor writer Ronnie Garrison fished a club tournament at West Point on Sept. 24, 2023 and placed third with 7.26 pounds. He caught three spotted bass on 1/4-oz. Bitsy Flip jig.

Linesides: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Good. It has been a  pretty good summer in general for schooling topwater action on the main lake. I expect surface schooling on the main lake to continue this fall. These fish can generally be caught by casting Rooster Tails, topwaters, popping-cork rigs and Storm Swim Shad lures into the schooling fish. Start early or stay late for the best results. Expect the downline bite on live bait and spoons to continue to improve as we move toward fall. With the best yet to come in late fall and early winter, trolling with the Flash Mob Jr. rig should  also continue to be fairly effective. Try old faithful areas like the railroad trestle hump and the humps out from Amity Park for good results. Some lone big stripers normally show back up in the river in deep holes north of the Highway 219 bridge in the fall. You probably won’t get many bites, but  you may get a shot at a 20-lb.-plus fish. Cast big plugs like the Cordell Red Fin on a cloudy day or freeline a big shad or bream in the Ringer/Graysons Landing area. Be careful since water levels are already low.

Crappie: Guide Keith Hudson reports, “The fish will typically move up and hold on mid-depth brush and structure or under docks as the water temps  drop into the 70s or below. Try dropshotting minnows or shooting docks in 5 to 15 feet of  water for the best results. You can really do well if you find one of these schools. Try the  cuts and coves in Yellowjacket Creek and from Highland Marina north to Wolf Creek in the Chattahoochee. More fish will move into the cuts and coves as the water slowly cools, especially by the end of the month. Minnows fished under a float will usually work on them when you find them. Any blowdown  or brush has the potential to hold fish, with cover being the key. Night fishing is still pretty good. Try under the bridges with lights.” For more on fishing with Keith, go to https://lakewestpointfishing.com/home-page.

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