West Point Lake Fishing Report – September 2018

West Point: Level: 0.6 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid to upper 80s. Clarity: Light stain.

Bass: Fair. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “As the days start to get a little shorter and the temps cool just a little, expect a slow improvement in the bass fishing. A few largemouth and spots are still being caught on deeper brushpiles, ledges and roadbeds in the main-lake area, basically holding to a summer pattern. Try big deep-diving crankbaits or Texas-rigged Ol’ Monster worms. Drop-shotting can also be effective in these areas. The 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. With the unusually high water from this summer’s rains, some bass choose to remain shallow, and this pattern should improve as the water cools and we move toward fall. Topwater baits such as Rebel Pop-Rs, Zara Spooks and Spro Poppin frogs can still be effective for shallow fish, especially around grass and weedbeds. Try targeting the mouths of feeder creeks north of the 219 bridge in the Chattahoochee. Also have a jig handy to pitch into wood cover in these same areas. Slower than normal, but still fairly consistent, the 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 Zoom Shakey Tail worms or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom Finesse worm or Mini Lizard around shoal markers. Also try a small Texas-rigged worm or a pig ’n jig around blowdown trees. Actively schooling groups of fish will also hit the Flash Mob Jr. rig, a personal favorite in the early fall.”

Linesides: Fair. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “It has been a mostly disappointing summer in general for schooling topwater action on the main lake. I still expect surface schooling on the main lake at some point  this fall. These fish can generally be caught on Rooster Tails, topwaters, popping-cork rigs and Storm Swim Shad lures. Start early or stay late for the best results. Expect the downline bite on live bait to continue to improve as we move toward early fall. Trolling with a crankbait-bucktail combo should  also continue to be fairly effective. Try the old faithful areas like the railroad trestle hump and the humps out from Amity Park for good results.”

Crappie: Fair. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “The fish will typically move out and hold on deeper brushpiles and structure or under docks until the water temps drop into the low 70s or so. Try drop-shotting minnows or shooting docks in 10 to 15 feet of water for the best results. You can end up doing really do well if you find one of these schools of summer crappie. Try the cuts and coves in Yellow Jacket Creek and from Highland Marina north to Wolf Creek in the Chattahoochee. Some fish will start to move a little shallower as the water slowly cools, maybe by the end of the month. Minnows fished under a float will usually work on them. Any blowdown near deep water is a good starting point. Night fishing is still pretty good. Try under the bridges with lights.”

Catfish: “Lots of channel cat can be caught, and few anglers target them,” said guide Keith Hudson. “Live bait, cut bait and worms fished on the bottom will catch channel catfish all over the lake, as long as fairly deep water is nearby. To target flathead catfish at West Point, go to a larger bait like a 4- to 5-inch bream or a large shiner, and fish deeper channels that are north of the Highway 219 bridge. Increase the size of your rigs, as West Point flatheads in the 20- to 30-lb. range are fairly common.”