West Point Lake Georgia

[CaptainMorgan!]

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is studying the possibility of stocking striped bass into West Point Lake for the first time in more than a decade and for only the third time ever. DNR officials believe the plan could have positive effects ecologically, recreationally and economically.

"There is a restoration effort under way for the gulf race of striper," said DNR fisheries biologist Brent Hess. "Stocking them into West Point would create a source of brood fish for that effort. It would provide something else for the fishermen, and it could certainly have positive economic effects on the surrounding communities if more fishermen are drawn to the lake."

Minimal impact

Though West Point has received annual stockings of hybrid bass for several years, striped bass have only been stocked into the lake twice -- in 1990 and 1992. The program was considered purely experimental and was discontinued largely over concerns that the striped bass would ruin the trout fishery on the upper end of West Point below Buford Dam.

Studies have since proven that striped bass had little or no impact on the trout. Now, many people who fish West Point believe the lake has plenty of room for big gulf striper.


Striped Bass are best here November thru March

[Fish2DMax]

This is great news, though I've not heard it at a local level.

Originally the State of GA DNR experimented with stocking both Hybrid and Stripers into reservoirs to see which prospered in what reservoir. The decision, at that time, was that West Point supported a better chance for the Hybrids. There was additional rumblings from the trout front that the Stripes would run up the 'Hooch to Atlanta and eat all of the trout, which is, as we know, unfounded.

At one time it was determined by the DNR that the deep clear water of Lanier supported Stripers better and that there was a "warm water tolerant" species in Seminole. This is what you refer to as the "gulf race of striper". They've now made some springs off-limits during the summer time at Seminole to help the population there. The idea that the gulf race of striper would seek out the cooler spring water (for comfort) during warm water conditions made them overly vulnerable to the angler that had figured this fact out.

Other lakes such as Oconee, Sinclair and West Point once were given over to Hybrids. Interesting point - the lakes adjacent to South Carolina seem to have both Hybrids and Stripers as both GA and SC stock fish populations into the 3 reservoirs, Hartwell, Russell and Clark Hill (Thurmond). The TVA lakes seem to have spotty populations, perhaps due to the extreme winter drawdown levels. It seems that the Hybrid has done better in Chatuge and I had a gentleman tell me one time about light tackle Stripers in Nottley. Sound interesting?

Personally, I've caught Hybrids in excess of 5 pounds in West Point and can testify that they'll give you a run for your money. I'm not sure where the State of AL stands on stocking Stripes, Hybrids and Whites. It would be interesting if someone could provide insight there.

All in all - I really should have been a fisheries biologist.. :)

[slo-ride]

a couple of interesting links on Al. striper stocking

http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/educatio...dbasscoosa.cfm

http://www.southernco.com/alpower/hydro/pdfs/E11_IAG_Meeting_Notes_2003.pdf#search='alabama%20striped%20bass%20stocking'

there's also a very healthy population of striped bass (salts and hybrids...whites are EVERYWHERE) below the TVA dams...fish in the 40 lb. range are now being caught with 15- 20 lb.ers fairly common.
supposedly the Al. dcnr hasn't stocked the Tennessee river in years...it seems the salts are having some luck at reproducing..doesn't hurt my feelings at all :D

[Striperjim]

Hey guys great info.

I was doing a little research on the gulf race striper myself for a question from a guy in Raystown lake up North in Pa. here is the thread.
https://stripers247.com/phpBB2/viewto...light=raystown

In the Coosa system as you guys pointed out apparenty some of these fish are reproducing. And its the "gulf race strain" . I've heard about tail water spawning and river spawning but I wonder if its possible in an closed impoundment. Now the gulf strain appears more adaptable to this environment. Constantly stocking lakes becomes a burden to the striped bass club in Raystown. They are expensive. But a brood stock would be great there and other places.

[slo-ride]

they're also reproducing below the tennessee river dams...we've been catching juvey salts for a few years now. :D

[gotcha]

The striper stockings will begin again this spring at West Point and Hybrid stockings will continue as well. If the fry are available 10 of each per acre could be stocked. This is a very good number but still lower than the 50 hybrid fry per acre the lake saw in the 80`s. There has been some limited natural reproduction of that early 90`s stocking of Gulf Coast stripers as well. In 1990 26,000 were stocked and in 92 126,000 were stocked. The lake record is appox. 34.5 lbs and a 33 was caught last spring up the river. This is all great news for fisherman and for the gulf coast strain of fish which is differant from that used in cooler climates.

[Striperjim]

Sun, Jan. 23, 2005
Striped bass stockings

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, held an open house Thursday night at the LaGrange/Troup County Chamber of Commerce to dispense information about a plan that may soon add striped bass to three Chattahoochee Valley lakes.
Tentative plans call for striped bass to be stocked into West Point Lake, Goat Rock Lake and Lake Oliver by the spring of 2006. The striper stockings at West Point may lead to reduced stockings of hybrid bass, which have flourished in the lake for years.
Since striped bass behave similarly to hybrids, DNR officials believe anglers should be able to catch just as many stripers as they have hybrids and in many of the same areas. They also believe that stocking stripers into West Point Lake will help with a project aimed at restoring the fish to their once-plentiful status in the Chattahoochee.

"Striped bass stocked into West Point Lake will produce a much-needed brood fish source for Georgia's restoration efforts for the Chattahoochee River system," said WRD fisheries biologist Brent Hess .

Gulf-race striped bass, which often reach weights of 20 pounds or more, are born in salt water and migrate into freshwater river systems to spawn. They once migrated up the Chattahoochee River through Apalachicola Bay. But the many dams along the river now make that migration impossible.

The fish are already present in Lake Lanier, north of West Point, and in Lake Harding, below West Point Dam.

[Striperjim]

I understand that its the Atlantic strain of striper found in Georgias Lanier. Lake West Point is the northern most stocking point in Georgia for the Gulf Coast Strain. Alabama stocks only the Gulf Coast strain in all it`s lakes.