FEBRUARY FISHING REPORT FOR LAKE WEST POINT !!!
BASS : FAIR ----Things are beginning to pick up a bit as the weather improves in February. The shallow bite for bass is fair right now, but should improve quickly in February ,especially with a warm rain and extended warming trend . Stained water, higher than normal lake levels and water temps in the low 60's will turn things on quickly. Baits such as crawdad Shad Raps, Rat'l Traps and Chatterbaits will produce on these shallower fish .Try to fish these baits in coves and pockets with small feeder creeks or around schools of baitfish. . Keep a jig or shakey head handy to pitch around any wood cover . Fishing rip-rap can also produce good results this time of year. The rocks warm quickly and retain heat.Some trophy size fish are always caught in February !!! The blue back population in the lake is on the rise and that along with the Largemouth socking program seems to be helping the Lake. The number of fat and healthy bass seem to be on the uptick already this year.- --- -ON THE OTHER HAND , a snow or ice storm in February could shut the bite down completely! Water temps in the 30's and 40's make it super tough.---- If the lake stays cold and clear ,go deep!. Big schools of spots mixed with hybrids, white bass and stripers can still be caught on jigging spoons and dropshot rigs and shakey head rigs on humps and dropoffs. Target deeper offshore structures like brushpiles and old road beds in 20-30 feet of water near the mouth of most major creeks for the best results.
LINESIDES : GOOD --- The down line bite with shad or bass shiners has stayed good as the water has cooled off, and in most years ,stays good all winter . Most of the fish seem to be holding 25 to 40 feet deep except for those rare days when they are schooling on the surface. ----- Expect the topwater fishing to be very sporadic . It's usually best very early and very late, or on overcast or rainy days .Gulls and Loons are here now ,which makes it easier to pinpoint schooling stripers and hybrids . Keep your eyes open ! The popping cork rig has still been working on schooling 1- to 3-lb. fish with an occasional bigger one mixed in.-- A big Red Fin or a big Swimbait won't get many bites but could produce a 20lb fish ,------ A 3/8 or 1/2-oz. white Rooster Tail, a chrome C.C. Spoon and a number of other small shad imitators have also been producing, and as long as the water stays pretty cold ( below 60 or so )the deep bite is good.. Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits and Flash Mob Jr. rigs also continues to produce some linesides ----The mouths of most creeks anywhere south of the Highland Marina area all the way to the dam and Maple Creek have been holding fish. ------ A few fish are usually beginning to make the river run up the Hooch in late February as well . They can be caught in the mouths of most of the creeks , especially if we have an early spring. Try cut bait in water temps below 60 degrees.
CRAPPIE__: GOOD - In most years a warm - lake staining rain in February will set the crappie bite on fire. Fishing with minnows or jigs 3-4 feet under a float will catch them when they decide to move up .The bank fishing can be just as good as fishing from a boat! ---Other techniques will work as well.Guys that spider troll JIFFY JIGS do really well this time of year.. --- Try tight line fishing with minnows or a 1/16-oz. or 1/8 jig around bridge pilings, brushpiles, and blowdowns in 15 to 20 feet of water. Concentrate on trees and brush that are close to the old creek channels.-- Pitching or shooting deep water docks with small tubes or feather jigs around or under the docks can still produce this time of year as well -- You can't beat crappie on the dinner table either. TIME TO START FILLING THAT FREEZER! .- .
--- NOW IS THE TIME! Book your trip with me for the prime April , May or June striper season
, email me now to insure your day!! Hudsonsprobass@gmail.com or visit my website LakeWestPointFishing.com - THANKS!! Keith Hudson
