Lake James
Published: Updated:
Lake James Fishing Reports
Filter by
Sort by
Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Omnia Community Member
Bronze Ambassador
4/23/25
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Flooded Brush
Forage
Shad
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Spinnerbaits
Structure
Shad
Forage
Shad
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.
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Wacky Rigs
Structure
Flooded Brush
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
71°
The small mouth moved up to the brush in the last week. They were positioned off secondary points in 1st brush. They wanted very slow action. Lots of bites! Check out our video https://youtu.be/wLDMB7NnwBA
Species
Panfish / Bluegill
Season
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Wacky Rigs
Structure
Docks
Forage
Insects
Water Temperature
68°
I caught this fish skipping a wacky rig under floating docks.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Wacky Rigs
Structure
Docks
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
70°
With the water temperature being 70 degrees most of the bass are done spawning. We targeted post-spawn bass that were guarding fry between the bank and docks. Most of the bass we caught were under the walkway that connects the dock to the bank. We caught them throwing a wacky rigged Senko. We were also able to catch a few bass that were still on beds throwing a 1/4 oz Texas rig. The sun played a major role in the fish we caught because we were able to see them to make casts at them.
Species
Yellow Perch
Season
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Vertical Jigging 10-19'
Structure
River Channels
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
68°
Vertical jigging in and around the river channel in depths 20-30 feet.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Trolling 10-19'
Structure
River Channels
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
68°
Trolling 25-30’ of water in and around the river channel caught LMB, smallies and white bass.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Wacky Rigs
Structure
Laydowns
Fished a kayak tournament out of black bear cove 5/7. Caught 14 and lost 5, all within eyesight of the ramp. 13 bites on a riot baits baton, 3 on a Megabass plus 1, 2 on a bed, and 1 on a keitech swimbait. Fish were TIGHT to lay downs mostly. Talked to a guy in a boat who said him and his partner slayed them on top water in the morning.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Shakey Heads
Structure
Ledges
Forage
Blueback Herring
Water Temperature
74°
In the last week the small mouth moved out of the brush and the large mouth have moved in. They were stacked up on the first secondary point ledges that had pole docks or flooded brush. Shakey heads and Texas rigs worked well.