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West Point tough for Combs

Category: article

 May 2nd, 2013 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified May 2nd, 2013 at 12:00 AM

Bassmaster Elite Series pro and winner of the Falcon Lake event earlier this season, Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, is sitting in the 13 spot of the Elite Series Angler of the Year Race. Thanks to his victory on Falcon, he is qualified for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. However, that doesn’t mean Combs isn’t on the hunt for more hardware this year as the Elite Series visits West Point Lake in LaGrange, Georgia.

	Keith Combs won the Falcon Slam in March. (Photo B.A.S.S.)

According to Combs, West Point is not the same lake it was last year.

“Practice has been tough for me,” said Combs. “It is a lot different for me anyway. Last year places you could find a good largemouth bass are only producing smaller Kentucky’s. I think the water is up about 3 or maybe 4 feet compared to last year when we were here.

“There is a lot of water to fish. They should be biting, but they are not for me.”

Combs reports the water temperatures are in the upper 60’s or lower 70’s. He also states there are many fish still spawning, but the beds are much deeper than last year.

“I’m not feeling really good going into this tournament,” said Combs. “Last year there was a morning shad spawning pattern that produced. This year, the shad are still spawning, but the bite isn’t happening for me. I think the tournament will be won with some spawning fish, but it won’t be a big visual bite.

“I haven’t caught any good fish in practice, but the water is clear enough that I have seen some good fish swimming around.”

With his next Classic appearance in the bag, Combs is focused on going for the Angler of the Year title, but also winning each event he is in.
“A big finish could move me up the Angler of the Year standings,” said Combs. “I think about that title a bit. I practice to win or at least get a Top 10 finish. I have a pattern now that I know I could cut a check, maybe catch 9 pounds per day, but I want to win. Winning early on gives me the opportunity to go for a win. I think 13-to 15-pounds per day could do it. I owe it to myself to go for it.”