Lake Level:  917.00

Water Clarity:  Mostly Clear in the James River, beginning to stain at point 15

Water Temp:  70 to 73 degrees

 

Bass

The recent spawn is all but over, some isolated bass may still be spawning, but the majority are off the beds and moving into a summer pattern. The recent waves of rain have raised the lake level by about three feet. This has started to push a lot of fish in to shallow water bushes and weeds. The Bass can be caught, in this shallow cover, in the back end of coves and on points where the cover can be found. Flipping a jig to the standing cover (in clear water natural colors like Green Pumpkin with some strips of chartreuse or orange). In stained or muddy type water the best colors seem to be Black and blue, with the fisherman’s choice of plastic trailer. Also the some of the better Bass are being caught on Buzz Baits and Top Water Baits (Whopper Plopper’s) in those same shallow water areas.

Another pattern that has started to catch some fish is the Carolina Rig, baited with a six or seven inch worm. The best colors have been Green Pumpkin and some type of brown worm. Chartreuse seems to work best if the worm has it applied to the very tip. Garlic markers seem to also help the bite.

The drop shot rig is also catching numbers of Bass on points, main lake or secondary. The best bait has been live night crawlers, fished around structure (rocks, standing timber or brush piles). The depth varies between 8 and 20 feet of water. The majority of fish that are being taken are Kentucky Bass, and are varying in size.

Anglers are also using soft plastic swim baits rigged on the drop shot, natural shad colors seem to be the best choice. Those fish are coming in the same areas where schools of bait fish are viewed working on the top and moving on electronics.                                                                                                                                

Blue Gill                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Blue Gill haven’t moved very much, they are between 4 and 10 feet of water. The fish are being taken near boat docks, on standing timber or lay down brush, in the same depths. The                                           best bait is still live bait (night crawlers or small minnows, or crappie jigs with a small white or chartreuse trailer).  The Blue Gill seem to be a little more active on sunny days, with wind blowing on the fishing area. The better fish are still being caught a little closer to the structure in the area.                                                                                                              

Crappie                                                                  

The crappie spawn is over and the fish are hard to find and sometimes hard to catch when they are located. They are not very aggressive but will sometimes take a crappie jig and trailer (best trailer small twister type tails in white or chartreuse colors and some natural shad colors. Some anglers have been placing a minnow nose hooked behind the jig and this seems to be working sometimes. The River Area seems to be a little better. The fish are in shallow 5 to 10 feet of water and are active on the flats that contain shallow brush piles or lay downs.

Some Crappie are still being caught in active creeks or longer coves, late evenings, when the Shad Schools begin to come in and or visible on the surface. The schools are moving into those locations because of the raising water that brings in more feed for the shad.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Walleye

The Walleye have moved to their summer pattern.  The majority of the fish are being caught on extended points (main lake) or ledges, toward the clearer or deeper parts of the James River. The best fish are being caught on a drop shot rig with a live night crawler. They also seem to be near large shad schools. Also the better Walleye seem to be in areas where Kentucky Bass schools are feeding on a Shad school. 

Catfish

The catfish bite is picking up and the better fish seem to be caught early morning or late evening with some being taken at night. The majority of the fish are being caught on and around flat points on the main lake or secondary points in the creek arms. The fish are on the bottom in three to fifteen feet of water. Fishing Cut Bait (small blue gill seem to be the best} while floating across points the points, with Jugs or floats, with the bait being set about 2ft above the bottom. There are some nice fish being taken in and around larger boat docks using the spoon method. The best color of spoons are silver and chartreuse and white.

White Bass

Some White bass have been caught in creeks (usually the longer active creeks), in the late afternoon or evening, directly in the middle of the creek or long cove. These fish are being caught under schooling Shad Balls that are visible on the top. The fish are hitting crank baits (natural shad colors) that are being trolled under these active Shad. Another method is throwing Road Runners (with twister type tails-Chartreuse or White) or small spinner baits toward the bank.               

Cape Fair Marina is open for business between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm (Seven Days a week, the pumps are also open during store hours. Hideaway Marina Store and Gasoline Pumps are open seven days a week from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. For any additional information at either facility please contact the telephone information number at the respective marinas.

 

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 Day and a Safe Day on the water.