Lake James
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Lake James Fishing Reports
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Andy Greene
Bronze Ambassador
2/8/24
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Winter
Technique
Damiki Rig
Structure
Baitfish
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
44°
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Pilings
Forage
Shad
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Fall
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Brush 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 Greene
Bronze Ambassador
1/19/24
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Winter
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Baitfish
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
46°
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.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Winter
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
43°
I caught fish throwing a plus 1 Jerkbait on main-lake rip rap. I found fish on bigger riprap near points.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Winter
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Pilings
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
43°
I caught fish throwing a drop shot around bridge pilings. I had to downsize to a small worm in order to catch fish in the clear water.
Species
Yellow Perch
Season
Winter
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
43°
While bass fishing I caught a few yellow perch out on a point. I was using a small swimbait and reeling it slowly across the bottom.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Winter
Technique
Umbrella Rigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
43°
I caught fish throwing an a-rig out on points. I found points with bait on them and threw the a-rig through the bait.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Winter
Technique
Carolina Rigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
43°
When the a-rig quit working I picked up the Carolina rig and was able to catch a few more from each spot. I drug it under the bait very slowly in order to catch fish.