Lake Level:  917.00

Water Clarity:   Clearing, Upper James to Point 9

Water Temp: 75-84 degrees

 

Bass

The Bass Fishing in the James River has been pretty good. There are three different patterns currently working in the James River and below point 9. The first is the deep bite (between 18 and 30 feet), and has been best with the drop shot rig baited with live night crawlers. The best location for this bait has been flat main lake points, mainly gravel and some chuck rock. A few secondary long points in the larger creeks is also working. Fisherman are catching many different species of fish while using this pattern; Kentucky Bass, some Smallmouth Bass, Some really nice Large Mouth Bass, Blue Gills and a few Channel Catfish and Flat head Catfish. You really need to hunt for the shad schools in these location. The fish will be near those schools.

The second pattern, is a normal transition where the bass are moving from some of their deep water locations to the river channel banks, usually where ledges or larger chuck rock and standing timber or lay-downs are found. The preferred bait has been Senko type worms. Such as, the ZMan Zinker and Big Trd, The General, The Yum Dinger, and the Yamamoto Senko. The best colors have been Green Pumpkin and Green Pumpkin with some purple glitter. In the last week or so some really nice bass have been caught using these baits and this pattern.

The third pattern that is starting to produce some nice, Large Mouth and Spotted Bass, is swimming a jig (¼ to ½ size) green pumpkin, green, and a strip or two of chartreuse in the skirt with a small dark colored trailer of the crawfish variety. The fisherman needs to fish shallow points in 8 to 15 feet of water and just swim or drag the bait on the bottom, with a slow retrieve.

 

Blue Gill

Blue Gill are still everywhere, 5 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 throughout the river.

 

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. Some of the small Crappie Crank Baits have a few crappie when fished around Shad schools in the middle of some creek arms when shad can be observed on your electronics.

 

Walleye (no change)

Some Walleye have been caught while fishing live night crawlers on a drop shot rig in 20 to 30 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.

 

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 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.