Lake James
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Lake James Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Lake James. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Andy GreeneBronze AmbassadorSpecies
Smallmouth BassTechniqueDamiki RigSeasonWinterStructureBaitfishBassmaster Elite Series pro, Matt Arey, and I made it out on Lake James for a few hours. We found smallmouth suspended around bait near creek channels, and we caught 10-12 smallmouth on the Duckett Fishing Subtle Tail Swimbaits. I threw mine on the Duckett Fishing 7' M Jacob Wheeler Signature Series. This bait has been solidly putting fish in my boat since November.
- Species
Largemouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonSummerStructurePilings - SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonFallStructureBrush Piles
From summer through the fall and winter, the bass both smallmouth and largemouth will be set up deep offshore. Alabama rigs, dropshots, and dimiki rigs work over deep structure and brush piles.
- Andy GreeneBronze AmbassadorSpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonWinterStructureBaitfish
My friend, Mike, and I got out on James for an afternoon and caught a lot of smallmouth and largemouth on the Duckett Fishing 3” BD Subtle Tail in Tennessee Shad. The fish were feeding on threadfin around points. The Duckett Fishing Wheeler Series 7’ Medium spinning rods detect even the slightest bites from those lethargic winter bites.
The Crappie PreacherBronze AmbassadorSpecies
CrappieTechniqueVertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')SeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureBrush PilesJust after daybreak seemed to be the ticket. Stormy day, Clouds and rain. Most were suspended at around 15-20’ deep. close to cover as a brush pile, dock, or ledge. Spawn is very soon.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureOpen Water/Basin
Casting chatterbaits in shallow water (5-15’) catching pre spawn smallies.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureOpen Water/Basin
Fished the Catawba side of James on 3/25 in a team tourney. Had a lot of success scoping out solo fish early with the Great Lakes finesse underspin and a 2.8” white keitech. Once the sun came out, fish got harder to find. Caught a few on a vision 110+1 in yellow perch. The yellow perch seems to work well with all the juvenile YP in the lake.
Jake DavidsonBronze AmbassadorSpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureDocksThe water was mixed, where we started in between canal bridge boat ramp and black bear boat ramp it was stained, with maybe 3ft visibility, but as we moved back to the dam by the canal bridge boat ramp we found clearer water with 5ft visibility. My partner caught a small mouth on the jerk bait. When we headed up towards Linville we found the water to be a lot clearer. I had a few hits on my Pulse Fish jig. And caught one a little over a pound under a dock. the water clarity there was almost 10 ft.
