Lake James
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Lake James Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Crankbaits 13'+
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
82°
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
82°
I was finding fish in 20-30’ of water on main lake points. I was using a 6” straight tail worm on a drop shot setup. Morning dawn colors seem to be working best.
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Crankbaits 13'+
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
82°
I was running deep diving crankbaits along riprap (the dam) in 25-35’ of water. I also had luck on main lake points that in the same depth of water. Instead of a straight retrieve, I like to do several cranks and pause, then several more cranks and pause. Tactical Bassin calls it the burn, burn, burn, pause.
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Topwater Wake
Structure
Points
Forage
Blueback Herring
Water Temperature
82°
The topwater bite at sunrise is on fire. I had luck on pop-r, wake baits and jerk baits. The smallies and spots were chasing bait all around main lake points.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Fall
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
65°
I caught this fish throwing a texas rigged worm into laydowns. The key is to use the lightest weight possible so the worm has a very realistic action.
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Topwater Wake
Structure
Points
Forage
Blueback Herring
Water Temperature
82°
Morning topwater bite is still going strong. Bass chasing bluebacks off main lake points. When topwater bite slows down I changed to subsurface a rigs and deep cranks. If they didn’t want those powerbaits I’d go finesse with a drop shot worm.
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Fall
Technique
Umbrella Rigs
Structure
Baitfish
Forage
Blueback Herring
Water Temperature
72°
The Fall bite is on! The bass (and white perch) are chasing shad/herring. I was trolling around in 20-30’ of water using electronics to find bait balls. Then I’d throw my a rig or jerkbait. A shallow running squarebill with work too. Anything that mimics baitfish.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Fall
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Lg)
Structure
Docks
Forage
Shad
Skip all the way under dock and slow roll out