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West Point Lake Fishing Report January 2017

GON Staff | December 22, 2016

West Point: Level: 6.8 feet below full pool. Temp: Upper 40s and low 50s Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Fair. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Baits such as suspending jerkbaits, unweighted flukes, Senkos and spinnerbaits are still catching a few shallow largemouth bass. Try to fish these baits in or near any remaining shallow cover or around schools of shallow baitfish. Fish the open water in the pockets with 1/4-oz. Rat-L-Trap, a  KVD 1.5 crankbait or an Alabama Rig. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have a  jig handy to pitch around any blowdowns or wood cover. Big schools of spotted bass mixed with hybrids, white bass and stripers, and even the occasional largemouth, can be caught on jigging spoons and drop-shot rigs on deeper offshore structures. A total of 50 to 75 mixed bag of fish a day is not uncommon when fishing jigging spoons this time of year.”

Linesides: Excellent. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “The downline bite with shad or bass shiners remains very good. Freelining a live bait will also work at times. Most of the fish seem to be holding 20 to 30 feet deep and are starting to lock in with the water cooling down. While still nearly nonexistent to this point, I do expect the topwater fishing to improve. As usual, expect the best topwater bite very early and very late or on overcast or rainy days. Look for gulls and loons diving—this makes it easier to pinpoint schooling stripers. I usually throw a Redfin or Pencil Popper for bigger fish. A 3/8- or 1/2-oz. white Rooster Tail, a chrome C.C. Spoon and the Alabama Rig have also been producing. As the water cools, a bucktail jig becomes very effective, as well. The mouths of most creeks south of the 109 bridge and the edge of  flats near the dam have been holding fish. Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits and Alabama Rigs can be effective, as well.”

Crappie: Fair. Guide Keith Hudson reports, “Fishing with minnows or a small jig around bridge pilings, brushpiles and blowdowns in 6 to 15 feet of water will still produce a few crappie in January. Fish can be caught on a straight-line or with floats. Concentrate on trees and brushpiles that are close to the old creek channels or near the few docks that are in the water. With the low water, it can be easier to find exposed standing timber, which will also hold crappie schools. As usual, crappie seem to love shade and cover. Yellow Jacket, Wolf and Whitewater creeks are still producing. Some trolling usually begins in January, as well.”

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