Lake Level: 914.26
Water Clarity: Mostly Clear, to Clear, Upper James to Point 9
Water Temp: 79 degrees on the surface

Bass

The cooling night temperatures are beginning to help the bass bite. The fish are still relating to a deep pattern for the most part. The best way to catch these fish is still the drop shot, but other shallow patterns are beginning to form, especially when there is overcast conditions. The best bait for the drop shot is still live night crawlers. This presentation needs to be on long extended main lake points or secondary points in the first third of creeks or deep longer coves. These fish seem to be relating to schools of active shad. An angler needs to locate these shad between 12 and 25 feet of water. You can count on catching a lot of small fish mixed in with the keeper size bass. These fish are usually Kentucky Bass with scattered Large Mouth. There have been fish taken on artificial baits (while fishing a drop shot), such as, Berkley Flat Worm or Yum Sonar Minnows in natural colors.

There also have been some nice fish being taken on 10” and 12 “ worms, rigged Texas Style. The best colors seem to be (red with gold flakes, and dark purple or black grape). These baits are being fished on main lake channel bend bluffs with ledges between 15 and 25 feet deep, by pulling the baits from ledge to ledge. Other baits catching fish in those same areas are Shakey Head Rigs using Zinker 5” Worms in PB&J or Goby and Sinko Worms (natural colors).

Another Pattern working early morning (before complete sunrise) is top water fishing. Zara Spooks, Whopper Ploppers, Chopo’s, Buzz Baits or Jerk Baits seem to be working. The best colors are natural frog or shad and these should be fished on main lake flats or flat points where shad or active.

Blue Gill

Blue Gill are still everywhere, they can be caught around almost any boat dock and around standing timber. They are feeding always when a bait is presented. They seem to be around 10 to 15 feet deep on sunny days and shallow when overcast. The best baits have been live night crawlers, red worms or meal worms, and sometimes blue gill bites on small jigs.

Crappie

The Crappie bite has not changed much. Fish are still being taken from brush piles that are located on main lake flats (near the river channel or creek channel banks) or on lay downs in those same areas. The best baits have been minnows and crappie jigs. Some fish have been taken trolling Head Hunter Crappie crank baits thru schools of active shad.

Walleye

The Walleye bite has improved in the James River Arm, where the water is clear. The flats points near Hideaway Marina in 20 to 25 feet, and further toward Point 9. Some are being taken on rocky points and bluff while dragging a live night crawler on a drop shot rig or using Walleye Rigs baited with worms.

Catfish

The Catfish bite has started to improve. The fish are being caught near boat docks located in 15 to 20 feet of water by the use of jigging spoons, (gold or silver colors. Jug fishing has begun to improve, when floating cut bait over flat points, near deep water, close to the main channel banks. Bottom fishing those areas with prepared baits, such as Magic Baits (night crawler or Liver and Chicken Blood).

Cape Fair Marina and Hideaway Marina are both fully operational. Our hours after Labor Day will be 10 am to 4 pm (week days and 10am to 6 pm on weekends).

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. Be careful and watch for swimmers and jet skis while running on the lake.