West Lake fishing has been doing great on shiners. Fishing the west side of the lake on
one of my guide fishing trips, my customers had 18 fish with 3 over 8 pounds. Another
guide fishing trip, fishing shiners, two days later my customers caught 14 fish, but all were
buck fish up to 4 pounds. The bass were taking the bait very slowly like a pike or mudfish
would hit it and you had to let the bass take the bait a long time. That is common for this
time of year when you have spawning fish. So that brings me to this little tip, while
fishing artificial baits, say you are fishing just out from where you know is a bedding area
with a plastic lizard, tube bait, or worm, what you want to do is keep your bait in contact
with the bottom as much as possible and fish as slow as you can. This time of year fishing
slow is the key. I have found a lot of fish in the boat cuts on the inside edge.

Good areas continue to be north and south of Shingle Creek. The west side of the lake by
the pink house and also South Steer Beach and North Steer Beach. There really is no real
set pattern. The fish are all over and I suggest just go out and fish the way you have
confidence in. With some cooler weather coming the fish will probably have a major
spawn with the next full moon.

While running your boat, please be considerate of others fishing. To often while fishing, a
boater will run wide open just yards away. It is a big lake. Swing out so as not to disturb
the other boat.

Hope you get a big one,