West Point: Level: 4.9 feet below full pool. Temp: Low 50s. Clarity: Stained.
Bass: Good. Chris Bell reports, “With recent warmer daytime temperatures, fish pulled up a little following bait seeking warmer temperatures. I have been covering as much water as possible throwing small shallow-running crankbaits in a shad pattern. With the clearing water, fish have preferred tighter-wobbling crankbaits like a Rapala Glass Shad Rap in shad pattern. Using long casts as close to rocky banks, make about five turns with the reel and pause. Repeat this cadence all the way back to the boat. My best success has been on the northern end of the lake because of the stained water warming faster. Focus on rocky points closest to the main river channel.”
Linesides: Slow. Paul Parsons reports, “Some small to medium stripers are being caught on downlined live shad and spoons on the main-lake humps and flats.” Chris reports, “Some fish have pulled up following shad, but the majority of the fish are still deep. Drop live shad on humps and roadbeds for fish relating to bait. Fish are not relating as deep to structure as they were a couple of weeks ago, so look for depths in 18 to 20 feet.”
Crappie: Good. Chris reports, “Fish have pulled shallow this week in major creeks and pockets. Troll minnow-tipped Jiffy Jigs in pink/white or black/chartreuse combinations. Focus on depths in 10 feet of water and trolling your baits in 6 to 8 feet of water. The best creeks have been Whitewater and Yellowjacket.” For a feature on West Point crappie, see page 10.
