The water level at Ben Wheeler west lake has fallen 12-18” since I was last there in August. I fished it today from 12:30 until about 6:30. The water temperature at trolling motor depth was 69° all over the lake, and visibility was at least 6 feet. At least half of the weeds have died back. I ended up catching 23 bass in the 6 hours I fished – along with  one crappie that hit a 5” Senko and 3 bluegill. My largest 3 bass were a 20.5” 4-02, a 21” 4-04, and a 19.75” 4-00. Three others were over 3 pounds, and the rest ranged from 10” to just under 3 pounds. I caught them on a variety of lures, too: Chartreuse Tornado buzzed and waked on the surface, Yellow Magic, #11 silver Rapala (all 3 bluegill hit that one), and 5” wacky-rigged Senkos (black with blue flake). Nothing on either Rattletrap or Zara. All of the worm bites were in 8-9’ of water out from the dam. I had several throw the lures back at me, but none were what I’d call big fish. Still, it was a nice afternoon with sun and almost no clouds or wind. The sign on Farm Road 858 for County Road 4308 is missing, so I was glad it wasn't my first trip to these lakes.