Lake Level: 915.43  

Water Clarity:  Mostly Clear, Upper James to Point 9

Water Temp:  53 to 55 degrees on the surface

 

Bass

Bass fishing has begun to stabilize, as the winter patterns have started. The best pattern on the lake has been the drop shot rig. The best bait has been live night crawlers. The normal pattern has been to locate large schools of shad; usually on main lake and some extended secondary points. The fish (usually Kentucky Bass) will be located just behind or below these shad schools. An angler will have to sort through numerous small fish before catching some nice keepers. While fishing these schools you can catch a variety of other fish (white bass, an occasional Large Mouth Bass, walleye, and Blue Gills (some really nice size).

The spoon bite has also been producing some nice fish, bass of all species, with a lot of nice keepers. The pattern is much the same as mentioned above. An angler must find larger schools of shad and fish below that school with a spoon. This bite has been active near Hideaway Marina and below toward the main lake (Point 9 and below). The best spoon for me has been the Dixie Jet in Silver, White and Coleslaw. The shad are on longer gravel points between 18 to 25 feet, or in the mouth and some secondary points in longer creek systems.

In the upper James River, Point 15 and beyond, the bass are still biting small stick worms and some tubes. The best colors are green pumpkin and brown combinations. The General, Z-Mann TRD, all rigged with a Shakey Head Jig and fished on Channel Bends and river points in 8 to 20 feet of water. The jig bite (small natural colored jigs with trailers) has started producing fish in those same areas.

Blue Gill

Blue Gill have moved deeper, between 15 and 20 feet of water. The deeper docks in the upper James River have produced the better size. They are still hitting live night crawlers and seem to be a little more active during sunny days.

Crappie

The crappie have started to bite well if you find the correct brush pile. They are holding in 10 to 20 feet of water, close to the brush piles. The brush plies need to be close to the channel in the river or where the river meets a flat point. They are being caught on crappie jigs (natural colors), sometimes tipped with a live minnow

Walleye (no change)

Some Walleye have been caught while fishing live night crawlers on a drop shot rig in 10 to 20 feet of water while fishing for bass. These fish are few and far between and are usually not of keeper size, but a good fish will bite occasionally. A lot of nice Bluegill have also been caught while fishing main lake flats in the Hideaway Marina Area of the James River.

Catfish

The catfish bite has slowed a lot. The majority of the fish are being caught under and around the deeper boat docks. Some may hit a big bait of live night crawlers when fished in the area of these deeper docks on the bottom.

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 and fluttered up and down for the strike. The fish don’t hit the bait very hard, they just move slowly away and the spoon will just feel heavy.

 

Cape Fair and Hideaway Marinas are open for gas, for hours of operation please check the information telephone line 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.