Lake Level: 911.47
Water Clarity:  Mostly Clear, Upper James to Point 9
Water Temp:  43 to 47 degrees on the surface

Bass

Bass fishing has really changed quickly. The high blue bird sky’s and the unseasonable warmer weather have slowed down the bass bite all over the lake and the James River for sure. The majority of the bass seem to be suspended and are not really very aggressive. Some smaller Kentucky Bass have been caught on the drop shot; still using live night crawlers in 12 to 25 feet of water, on main lake and secondary lake points (in creek arms). The points that seem to be holding larger schools of shad are those that transition between flats and bluff points, and some of the gravel points that extend into the main river channel. The fish are under the schools of shad on the bottom. When the drop shot rig is presented to the shad and goes below the school; the bass just seem to raise up to the bait. Sometimes they hit the bait, and other times, they just look and drop back toward the bottom.

In the upper and middle James River, the fish seem to be located on channel bends on the edge of the old river channel and suspended. Crankbaits like the Strike King 6XD and 8XD seem to be catching some of these suspended fish, but the bite is still slow. The best colors have been chartreuse shad and normal shad colors fished slowly in and around shad schools.

Another bait fished slowly in the middle to upper James River that is producing some fish is the A-Rig, the best colors are natural shad colors and the 3” boot tail bait is the best bet. The rig should be fished slowly from the bank to the old river channel edge. All of the mentioned methods should get better, as the weather gets colder.

Blue Gill (no change)      

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. Trolling a crappie crankbait, in natural shad colors, in the middle of the longer creek arms, where shad are active near the waters top are netting some really nice crappie.

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 (no change)

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.