Lake Level:  915.00

Water Clarity:   Stained to Clear, Upper James River to Point 9

Water Temp: 74-75 degrees

 

Bass

The Bass Fishing in the James River has been pretty good and is going to get better. The cooler nights are slowly dropping the water temperature and the Corp of Engineers are releasing water (due to the large amount of rain we received in past weeks). Fish are moving from their summer deep pattern to a shallow one. There are still some deep fish being caught in 18 to 20 feet on the drop shot rig (using live night crawlers, near shad schools located on flats near the main channel). Flat points are also producing some fish in those same areas.

Main channel bluff banks, with ledges, are still producing some nice spotted bass and some smallmouth and largemouth bass on those ledges in 10 to 15 feet of water. Senko type worms, in natural colors seem to be doing the best job when fished on a shakey head. The General, The Yum Dinger, and the Yamamoto Senko to name a few.

Some fish are being caught on the points at the end of the main lake flats, and those flats near main lake channels. Crank Baits (Wiggle Warts, Strike King 5XD or 6XD, and others) are catching fish in crawfish colors and shad colors when shad or other bait fish are present. This same pattern is working in the larger feeder creeks on points and flats in those creeks, when bait fish are present.

Blue Gill

Blue Gill are still everywhere, 2 to 15 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 have been caught on some of the shallow boat docks throughout the river system. 

Crappie

The crappie are still really hard to find and hard to catch any numbers. They are holding near main lake flats and will sometimes hit minnows in those brush piles in those areas. Some of the small Crappie Crank Baits have been effective when trolling them around Shad schools in the larger creek arms. Natural shad colors seem to be most effective.

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)

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 from 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 jugs 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 from Cooksey for Cape Fair and Hideaway Marinas. Have a Blessed and Safe day on the water.

 

Cape Fair and Hideaway Marinas are open for business, 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.