Lake Level:  911.44 feet
Water Clarity:  stained to clear, Point 15 to Point 9
Water Temp:  67.7  to  76 degrees

Fishing in the James River Arm has really become a lot better with numerous limits being caught. There are two or three patterns and different locations where the fish are being taken. The first pattern is the deep water, Drop Shot fishing, using live night crawlers for bait. These fish are schooling on extended flat gravel points and are moving to the flat gravel areas that are near the main lake river channel. The depth ranges from 10 to 18 feet and fish seem to be more active during some type of movement of the shad schools that are in the area. This is one of the primary patterns for other game fish also. While fishing for Bass numerous other species of fish are also being caught in the same area. Catfish, Blue Gill, Walleye, and Crappie are occasionally hitting the night crawlers.

Some nice keeper Bass are also being caught (early mornings and late evenings) in flat coves on the main lake and some secondary coves in major creek arms. These fish are hitting Sara Spooks, Whopper Ploppers or other similar type baits. This bite is happening in 3 to 9 feet of water. There are explosive strikes and a lot of near misses, so numerous casts to the area may be necessary.

Another pattern that is being used to catch numbers of fish, are bluff points and the adjoining channel banks (ledge banks are best). There have been numerous (five and six pound) Large Mouth Bass and some keeper Kentucky Bass being caught in these same areas. The average depth for these fish is between five and twenty feet. The best bait is the Shakey Head Worm (green pumpkin and brown or goby), 2 ½ inch size Tube (green pumpkin with orange or red tips) and a small 1/4oz. Finess Jig (brown or green with chartreuse strips incorporated in the jig skirt). The bite usually occurs when the bait is slowly moved from the top of the ledge and is allowed to fall to the next ledge or the channel bottom.

Blue Gill

Blue Gill are biting in many different locations but are hanging close to cover and when possible on shady banks. Many average size Blue Gill are around boat docks in the stalls or near the rear of those stalls. They are being taken on night crawlers, and blue gill bites also have caught a few in various colors. Some lay down trees and standing timber on main lake and some of the larger creek arms are producing some Blue Gill Bites.

Crappie

The Crappie are almost never being found; a few are being taken on Drop Shot Riggs by Bass Fishermen on flat gravel points and adjoining main lake flats. A few smaller fish have been taken while, fishing standing timber, on main lake channel banks. They will begin showing themselves later in the fall, I hope!

Walleye (no change)

The Walleye have moved to their summer pattern. The fish are being caught on a drop shot rig with a live night crawler. These fish have been small and seem to be near shad schools. There are some walleye (not many) caught in areas where Kentucky Bass schools are feeding on a Shad.

Catfish (no change)

A lot of nice size Catfish (4 and 5 pound class) have been caught in 15 to 20 feet of water on flat points, with gravel and chunk rock fishing prepared catfish bait and cut bait. Fishermen should start in 8 to 10 feet and slowly move the bait into the target depth.

Jug fishing with cut bait floated over those same points have also been boating some good fish.

The spoon bite is also working under the deeper boat docks. The best color of spoons has been white, silver, gold and chartreuse and white. When fishing this spoon for catfish the fisherman can flip spoons around the edges of the docks or fish from the dock proper. The spoon should be dropped to the bottom, raised up about a foot and slightly moved up and down slowly. The fisherman will not usually feel a jerk but the bait will begin to move, then jerk.

White Bass

Nothing to report.

 

Special Note to Fishermen:

There is no fishing around or from any commercial docks; if fishing around docks please be courteous and safe while doing so.

Cape Fair Marina is open for business between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, Friday thru Sunday. The    gas pumps are open, Tuesday thru Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hideaway Marina Store is closed for the season and will re-open in May of 2027. Hideaway Gasoline Pumps are open Monday thru Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Note to Friends: Thanks for your patronage, 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.