Lake Level:  917.00

Water Clarity:   Clearing, Upper James to Point 9

Water Temp: 84.0 degrees

 

Bass

The Bass Fishing in the James River has been good, the bass have moved to their summer depths. If you are in the right area, you can really catch some quality fish; also multiple different   types of fish in the exact same location. It’s not uncommon to catch Blue Gill, Large Mouth Bass, Small Mouth Bass, Walleye, on the same cover. The best bait has been night crawlers fished on a drop shot rig on long main lake points (with a combination of gravel and rock) in 20 to 30 feet of water. Fishermen should look for schools of shad that are in the area of the point, or on the point. The fish are moving back and forth between 20 to 30 feet.

Some Bass are also being caught on Main Lake and Secondary points in early mornings or on overcast days with no direct sunlight (if shad or other bait fish are present). The best baits have been natural colored top water baits fished slowly on top from 4 to 10 feet of water (Zara Spook or similar type baits).

A Shakey Head bite has also started on Main Lake Channel Swing banks, using worms or Senko Type Worms (in varying sizes). Natural colors seem to be the best, Green Pumpkin and Green Pumpkin Goby (5” Zman Baits are working also when dropped off ledges in those same areas).

 

Blue Gill              

Blue Gill are still everywhere, 5 to 25 feet deep, and still will bite live bait, if presented to them. They can be found around deeper docks or standing flooded timber, lay down logs on bluff banks near rock cover. A lot of really good sized Blue Gill are being caught while anglers are fishing for Bass over deep cover on Main Lake and Secondary Points where shad schools are present.

 

Crappie

The crappie are still really hard to find and hard to catch any numbers. They are holding near main lake flats and will hit minnows when soaked deep in standing timber. Some have been caught using small spoons and minnow type baits fished deep.

Walleye (no change)

Walleye have been caught while fishing live night crawlers on a drop shot rig in 20 to 30 feet of water while fishing for bass. Some have been a really nice size. These fish have been coming on flats around standing timber with the rig fished on the bottom. The deep flats around Hideaway Area have produced some better fish. This pattern is also netting a lot of Kentucky Bass (some 2 to 3 pound class) and some nice Smallmouth Bass also.

 

Catfish

Catfish are becoming really active, they are being caught on bluff and gravel points (near channel bends and their adjacent points). This bite has been working in the upper James River to Point 15 and below to the Cape Fair Area. This best bait has been cut bait and some pre-made bait fished on Jugs. Fisherman have been drifting the in the described areas with the bait suspended over structure. A lot of 5 &6 pound fish are being taken in those areas. Bluff Banks are also working with this pattern and stationary trot lines fished down to the area of the first ledge (10 to 20 feet deep) are catching some good Channel Catfish).

The Spoon Pattern is also catching some nice fish near or under some of the larger boat docks (where permitted). The best colors seem to be white and silver; the bait is dropped to the bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water, raised about a foot of the bottom and fluttered up and down, slowly.

 

Cape Fair and Hideaway Marinas are fully opened for business, for operation hours please contact the information telephone number at either marina.

 

Note to friends: Thanks for your patronage and please wear a life jacket, at all times. This report has been prepared by Don Cooksey for Cape Fair and Hideaway Marinas. Have a Blessed and Safe day on the water.