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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. All seminars are the last Saturday of the month. All seminars are
subject to change without notice.
See samples of the
New Lowrance HDS Structure Scan Down S
can at this address:
http://havefunfishing.com/fishingreports/lowrance.htm
Be
sure to look at www.bassminder.com for
some great bass fishing products. We use these products daily.
WEST POINT
ANGLERS:
We provide all anglers with a
Fishing Hot Spots West Point Lake map and bass fishing locations with GPS
coordinates.
Send us an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net for cost and details.
A marked Fishing Hot Spot Map and
GPS locations are included.
Our DVD, Rods, Reels
and Lures for Bass is now on sale for only $25.00 including shipping. Send a
check payable to Southern Fishing Schools Inc., to Southern Fishing Schools Inc
to 106 Hickory Ridge Drive, Cumming Georgia. Please allow 14 days for delivery.
May 17, 2013
WEST POINT LAKE IS FULL CLEAR & 77 DEGREES
Bass fishing for both spots and largemouth has been very good. Largemouth bass
are ready to spawn next week as well as their spotted bass cousins. Fish for
both on primary and secondary points, coves and pockets in the major creeks. Use
the Strike King Redemption 3/8 ounce and Bass Pro buzz baits shallow. On the
spinnerbaits the double willow blade combination. Slow roll the spinnerbait
around any cover on the points and in the coves and pockets. The important thing
is to cover a lot of water. Fish shallow using very large baits in bright
colors. Spots are still spawning and shallow. The spots are holding on shoal
markers, humps, and underwater roadbeds in 0 to 5 feet of water. Several good
baits are a green pumpkin or June bug lizard, rigged Carolina style and trick
worms. Top water action is starting using a Bang O Lures, Rapala’s, Pop R's. The
bass will be shallow for at least two weeks and then they will head to the 10 to
12 foot depths on humps and road beds up in the creeks.
Line sides both the hybrids and whites are back into the main lake and starting
to bunch up in 18 to 22 feet of water. Best bait is a down line live shad. The
hybrids and whites are also starting to school so look for some surface
activity. Best areas are mid lake down to the dam.
Crappie are biting. They are everywhere from shallow banks, under the bridges at
night with lights, and in brush piles. Use crappie minnows or jigs to catch
them. They are suspended around bridge pilings in 10 to 12 feet of water.
We provide tournament anglers
with a West Point map and bass fishing locations. Send us an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net for cost and details. Map and GPS locations
included.
Try the new Wave Away Screen Cleaner
www.waveaway.com
and put Ken Sturdivant in the referral box.
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. All the books are $39.00 total.
Check or money orders ONLY, NO CREDIT CARDS. Make the payment to: SOUTHERN
FISHING SCHOOLS INC, 106 HICKORY RIDGE DRIVE, CUMMING GEORGIA 30040. Please
allow 14 days for delivery.
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 1˝ 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 1˝ 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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