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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Smallmouth BassTechniqueUnderspinsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructurePointsOver cast day with light wind, water temperature ranging from 50-56 depending on the area, water a bit stained from the run off from the recent rains, was hitting some shaded secondary points with some nice ledges with the underspin covering water with a variable slow to moderate retrieve and picked up this nice little small mouth.
Species
Largemouth BassTechniqueStructure JigsSeasonWinterStructurePointsWas hitting some main lake points that was getting wind swept, was an overcast cast day with heavy winds.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueSpinnerbaitsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureDocks
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueSpinnerbaitsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureShad
We had some luck fishing secondary points back in coves. Some coves the fish were further back and some coves the fish were on the first point near the main lake. We were throwing spinner baits on those points, lettering them sink to bottom and a slow retrieve back. The bass spawn seems to be behind this year, still in a prespawn feeding pattern.
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.
Kristoffer HamannBronze Ambassador
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureDocksBeds everywhere you look. Simple as that.
- 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.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureOpen Water/Basin
Casting chatterbaits in shallow water (5-15’) catching pre spawn smallies.
