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Ken Sturdivant, Lowrance Professional Fishing Staff will be conducting FREE!
Sonar Seminars at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Lawrenceville Georgia. The
2009 Sonar Seminar dates: November
28 and December 26, 2009. All seminars start at 2pm and are subject to change
without notice.
See samples of the
New Lowrance HDS Structure Scan Down Scan at this address:
http://havefunfishing.com/fishingreports/lowrance.htm
The New DVD,
“FINDING FISH WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY”
is now on sale!
Check out the free sample.
November 6, 2009
WEST POINT LAKE IS 3.8 FEET, STAINED & 70 DEGREES
Largemouth and spots are holding in shallow water in the backs of selected
coves. Fish spinner baits, Sebile Swimmers and Shad Raps around shallow stumps
in 2 to 3 feet of water. Up lake the fish are in 3 to 5 feet of water around
blow downs and junk piles. Good baits to use have been 1/2oz White
Chatterbait,1/8oz Shakey Head, and a spinnerbait when the wind starts to blow.
Top water is still strong around the grass in the coves and around the banks
with chunk rock. Down lake the fish are biting in 8-10ft deep and Texas rigged
BIG worms has been the go to bait. Spots up to 4lb are being caught regularly!
Look for steep banks with structure and fish your bait out to the deeper water
for some great action. Bass are also holding on medium to deep roadbeds and
small worms rigged Carolina style are the best bait. The best colors are gourd
green and translucent colors for clear water. Look for the fish to start moving
out on the points as the lake level drops. Use a Rico top water bait early and
late.
Hybrids and whites are still scattered and moving and the best bite is still to
come. Colder weather is the key to turning on the hybrids and we have not had
enough cold weather yet. Rooster tails or sassy shads or buck tail jigs are the
best baits. Fish with live bait for hybrids in 18 to 20 feet of water over the
trees.
Crappie fishing is fair around the bridge pilings in 12 to 15 feet of water.
They are still biting at night under the bridges using lights. Minnows and
crappie jigs are the best bait.
Chris Brackett's Sponsors:
Sea King Boats, Yamaha, Driftmaster, Highland Marina Resort and St. Croix rods
TOURNAMENT
ANGLERS:
We provide tournament anglers with a
Fishing Hot Spots West Point map and bass fishing locations.
Send us an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net for cost and details.
A marked Fishing Hot Spot Map and
GPS locations are included.
If you would like to have a free set up sheet for your sonar, send me an e mail
to kensturdivant@earthlink.net and ask for the “Sonar Setup Quick List”.
We have these books for sale: "BASS FISHING LAKE ALLATOONA", "BASS FISHING ON WEST POINT LAKE”, “BASS FISHING
LAKE RUSSELL”, “BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE” and “BASS FISHING LAKE HARTWELL”.
Each one has lots of
locations exclusively for bass and covers every week of the year. Each book
$39.00. If you would like a sample of any book, send us an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net. Our mailing address is: Southern Fishing Schools
Inc. 106 Hickory Ridge, Cumming Georgia 30040.
We teach “ON THE WATER SCHOOLS”: “Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass or Maps and
Depth Finders. Call 770 889 2654 for details or see the web site:
www.havefunfishing.com.
West Point is a 25,900 acre reservoir
operated by the Corps of Engineers (COE) on the Chattahoochee River at the
Georgia Alabama border. The recent drought has reduced water levels well below
average making some boat ramps inaccessible. Anglers should contact the COE
office at 706 645 2937 with any questions on current open ramps.
Excellent facilities, close proximity to Atlanta and a special 21 regulation on
largemouth bass contribute to the popularity of this reservoir. The 14 inch
minimum size limit on largemouth bass and an abundant spotted bass population
combine to consistently produce quality bass angling. Total black bass abundance
is typically somewhat higher than that of other middle Georgia reservoirs. The
population continues to maintain a healthy overall condition. Over 35 percent of
the largemouth bass population is within the preferred 15 20 inch category with
an average weight of about 1½ pounds Concentrate on warmer areas, like protected
coves, using shallow running crank baits and spinner baits for early spring
action. Fish deeper main creek and river channel structure with deep running
crank baits and worms during late spring and summer. Also, try fishing under the
tree canopy near the upper ends of major creeks. Blow downs are another popular
largemouth hiding spot in the warmer months. Winter action is found deep, near
main channel structure, and preferred lures are deep diving crank baits, jigs
and worms.
Good spawning success in the last several years has resulted in a substantial
increase in spotted bass numbers and they now comprise around 50 60 percent of
the total black bass population. However, the two species seem to have reached
equilibrium in the last couple of years. Most spotted bass are presently in the
6 12 inch range. Remember that there is no size limit on spotted bass on this
lake and with the recent increase in abundance, anglers are encouraged to remove
spotted bass from West Point.
The abundance and average size of crappie continue to indicate a healthy and
stable population and 2008 should be no exception. About 20 percent of the
population is between 9 12 inches and over 20 percent are in the 8 9 inch range.
Average weight will be just less than 1/3 lb. The best crappie action is usually
found by trolling jigs in the traditional spring hot spots in the upper portions
of Beech, Whitewater, Wehadkee and Stroud creeks. Crappies are also found around
bridges.
Over the years, West Point has maintained an excellent reputation for hybrid
fishing because of a combination of high stocking rates and lake characteristics
that produce good survival and growth. Total hybrid numbers will be good in
2008, and the typical fish will weigh 1½ pounds Hybrids are found in abundance
below the shoals in Franklin in the spring and scattered along the main river
and tributary channels throughout much of the year. Gulf race striped bass were
last stocked into West Point Lake in 2004. A few larger striped bass in the 20
pounds range have been caught in the past years. Because of the limited natural
reproduction, total striped bass numbers have declined in recent years. These
numbers should increase greatly with the revitalization of the striper stocking
program. Many 12 inch+ stripers are being caught and sizes should only increase
as the smaller fish grow. The white bass population has declined slightly due to
the relatively weak classes produced in the last several years. Over 25 percent
of the population is currently in the preferred 12 15 inch range and exceptional
fishing can be found during the spring in the upper reaches of the Chattahoochee
River arm in Franklin.
West Point is probably the best channel catfish lake in middle Georgia with many
15 24 inch quality sized fish. As on most large reservoirs, bream are
overpopulated and few reach catchable size. Average length for bluegill is about
4 to 6 inches and the less abundant redear (shellcracker) average 7 8 inches.
Visitors to West Point should be aware of ongoing efforts to improve fish and
wildlife habitat as well as general aesthetics. The COE, WRD and West Point Lake
Coalition have planted maidencane and cypress trees at several locations. Since
the late 1980s, larger cypress trees have been planted on shoals and other high
points to serve as markers and provide fish habitat. A limited number of larger
cypress trees were planted in coves with additional plantings planned for the
future. These plants should provide benefits to the lake in the years to come.
In addition, night fisherman will be pleased to know, the COE has installed
flashing lights on the main channel buoys. The COE continues to replace the
triangular wooden shoal markers with 6 inch PVC shell markers to improve
visibility and safety. It should be noted that a permit is no longer required to
construct fish shelters on West Point using Christmas trees, but the COE Project
Manager Office (706 645 2937) should be notified if more than 10 20 trees are
used. Finally, fishing has been improved at the Rocky Point and McGee Bridge
piers with the addition of PVC fish shelters.
WRD undertook a major habitat enhancement project with the construction of 10
large fish attractors. Each of the attractors is constructed of numerous plastic
peach crates anchored to the bottom and they are distributed widely over the
entire lake below Highland Marina as well as in Yellow Jacket Creek. The
locations of all the attractor sites can be obtained by contacting the WRD
Fisheries Management office in LaGrange (706 845 4180). In an effort to create
additional largemouth bass and crappie habitat, WRD and the COE will continue to
improve shoreline fish habitat by cutting trees at suitable locations and
anglers can expect exceptional fishing in these areas for years to come.
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