Lake Level: 910.47
Water Clarity: Mostly Clear, Upper James to Point 9
Water Temp: 39 to 44 degrees

Bass

The bass fishing has been great on some days and extremely slow on others. The fish have moved to their winter patterns and can be caught on many different baits. One of the patterns that seem to still be working is the Drop Shot Rig. The rigs are being fished on the edge of main lake flats near the original river channel. The main baits have been live crawlers, and minnow type baits like Berkley Power Bait 2” Drop Shot minnow and Berkley Twitch Tail Minnow. Natural colors seem to be the best color offerings. The rig is being fished approximately 25 to 30 feet down around Shad Schools. The shad schools are moving and the fish are following the bait. Use your electronics to locate the shad and if possible follow the school sometimes the fish might be over 70 or 80 feet water in the areas mentioned.

 

Another active pattern is the use of jigging spoons, Dixie Jet 1/2” size in Gold, Chrome and White jigged around standing timber on lake-channel swings and main lake extended points. This bite also is working in 25 to 45 feet of water around the Shad Schools. Ice Jigs and Rapala Jigging Raps also having been working in these areas; again natural colors and pattern seem to be best.

 

Ned Rigs have been catching some isolated fish on the deeper channel ledge bluffs baited with Finesse baits, Finesse TRD, and Finesse Ned Baits. Natural colors again are the best color choice. This bite has also be occurring in the 30 to 40 foot range as the bait falls from the ledge to the original channel. Regular Jigs with brown skirts and craw trailers with some purple strands have caught some fish. Most of the fish caught on these jig patterns have been in the 3 to 4 pound range but are really spotty.

 

The A-Rig fished slowly in the 25 to 35 foot range has produced the occasional good stringer of fish. These fish seem to be following shad schools on channel swing banks and bluff points. The rigs have been baited with 3 ½” swim baits in natural colors.

 

Blue Gill

This bite has not changed a lot, Blue Gill are visible around boat docks in direct sunlight. During those sunny days the fish are holding in 8 to 10 feet of water and will still come to the bait. Marabou Jigs with nibbles attached or small J-tail jigs or live crawlers still catch the fish.

 

Crappie

There has been a really nice crappie bite going on. The fish are being caught around deeper brush piles and standing timber on main lake flats in approximately 15 to 25 feet. The best baits have been crappie jigs (Marabou in natural colors). Sometimes the anglers are tipping the jigs with a crappie nibble. Also Swimming Minnows (Bobby Garland Brand 2” size) moved around on those same locations.

 

Walleye

The Walleye bite has been really spotty, an occasional fish can be caught around shad schools while bass fishing with Rapala Jigging Raps or Ice Jigs under the Shad Schools once the Angler locates those schools.