Dock-in-it

It's been awhile since I gave a report or even got on the forum to check out other's reports.  This time of year I generally have the boat on the trailer and go to my favorite spots on the James or way up by 3M.  This year I decided to keep the boat in my slip in the Indian Point area.
I have been fishing at least 4 days per week but only for a couple hours each time - generally in the early morning or late evening.  The boat being in the slip is nice in that I can fish just short periods of time.  In general I have been fishing in the larger creeks.  Water temperature varies from day to day depending on the night time temps - surface temperature sometimes as low as 55 and somtimes as high as 65. 
I been using a 3/16 oz TRD head and 4 inch TRD or a 1/4oz swim bait.  My catch has been 99% keeper LM generally on chuck rock banks in about 10 fow.  There is no indication that the fish are on beds or have been but it's got to be close.  My neighbor has seen a few beds but I have not.
My best time has been just at dark - a couple evenings I caught 8 keep LM and lost that many in less than an hour and then the next night maybe 1 or 2 or zero.
I note that there have been fewer reports lately.  I'm thinking Bill B.  has either taken up golf or is on a worldwide tour.
As you know I love duck hunting and spend Dec - Jan doing that as opposed to fishing.  Duck hunting is never this easy. (see pic)
Bobby

Stayed within a couple miles of the dam area all 3 days.
Friday had the lowest wind and I only caught a non-keeper smallmouth halfway back in a creek during the morning hours. Made a move to a short pocket off the main lake and picked up 3 keeper LM all on a 1/2oz jig in less than 10ft of water. One was a 4.25 and that fish got me 8th place for one of hours. 
 
Day 2 Saturday
moderate-strong winds. Caught 3 keepers all day, 2 on a bigger 3/4oz spinnerbait and one on a jig. All fish were caught in less than 10ft of water. Traffic in coves were busy do the wind on the main lake so I did not get to fish a lot of the areas I wanted to. None of the keepers were big enough to weigh in, all were 2 1/2 lbs.
Day 3 Sunday
Still had moderate to strong winds all day. Less boat traffic since MLF tournaments were done. I started on a wind blown main lake point and caught 4 keepers in the morning. 1 on a swim jig and 3 on the A-rig. Once the clouds cleared the A-rig bite died. Made a move to short main lake pockets. Picked up the 1/2oz jig and went to work targeting the shelf rock with drop offs. I caught 6-7 keepers on the jig but again, all 2-2.8 lb fish. In the afternoon I ran way back in a creek to get out of the wind. Caught 2 more on the a-rig and 1 more on the jig. I had 2  12-13 lb limits but no money fish and overall had a blast! 
 
I learn more each time I get to fish table rock which is only 1-2 times a year. I always appreciate the information shared on this page as it has really helped me catch more fish!
Tight lines
JT

Dutch and I got in the water at 0635, water temp was 61 near the launch.
I got some intel about a top water bite down the lake a little, and to that area we went.  We did get some on top on the Berkley wake bait, some fish were deep over 30 FOW of water chasing shad and some were near the bank, TW bite didn't last long, but it's been a while since we've caught any on top, so it was a nice change.
After that it was pretty much a ned rig show.  No wind to speak of so we were able to fish 1/16 oz neds and get some bites.  Best bite was to find banks that had ledge rock in 2-3 FOW, water clarity is good enough that you can see the edge of that rock where it drops off into the green water.  We'd either throw the ned right at the edge, or sometimes throw it up on the ledge and drag it off.  A lot of out bites were right at the edge on that drop.
We did get a few on the Ned off steep chunk rock banks and some of those fish were out to 20 feet deep or so.
We caught 48 bass, with a dozen keepers.  Biggest was an LM that Dutch caught that was just short of 3 lbs.  We caught a good amount of chunky LM's today, a few smallmouth, and of course some spots.
I'd go back tomorrow AM, but looks like it will be a bit sporty out there weather wise.

Hit the water about 7am hoping to find a few fish before my son woke up and he joined me.  Found 2 solid keepers on a 2.8 Keitch.  Fish were on points about 10-15 feet of water.  Bites were not plentiful, but quality was good.  Picked him up at 9am and we headed out.  We focused on Spawning pockets and round points.  All of our fish today came on a swimbait or a jerkbait. Water was 57-59 degree and clear.


 

Dutch put the whipping on me today, 21 of those bass were his.  I started off throwing shakey head lizard and worm, and some swimbait, could not get  bit on that stuff and spent most of my time netting Dutch's fish.  He got one that looked to be 3.5 lbs., and a few in the 2-2.5 lb. range.  
Got a bit breezy out there later in the AM, but other than that, it was a good day to be out fishing!
Here's Dutch's fish:

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

Fished this morning and the boaters this weekend left a few still willing to bite.
Fished in 20ft around timber and shad. Using swimbait and Damiki.
WT 55.5
 

Gary and I put in at Hideaway yesterday and fished the lower James for a few hours.  Wherever we fished, they were shallow and on scattered cover. If the water had been up 2 or 3 feet and in contact with a few more lay downs I think we would have clobbered them. We ran back to the back of several coves and caught fish in 2 1/2 feet of water on lay downs and stick ups. We also fished bluff pockets that were within 20 yards of 100' deep water and caught a few right on the bank, also around lay down. We saw just a few beds back in the backs of coves but the water was so dirty you had to be right on top of them in very shallow water to see them. We managed to catch some but nothing to brag about. We had to work at it. Slow rolling a spinner bait was the only thing we could get them to bite. 

Fished this morning and the boaters this weekend left a few still willing to bite.
Fished in 20ft around timber and shad. Using swimbait and Damiki.
WT 55.5
 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

Fished this morning and the boaters this weekend left a few still willing to bite.
Fished in 20ft around timber and shad. Using swimbait and Damiki.
WT 55.5
 

Fished this morning and the boaters this weekend left a few still willing to bite.
Fished in 20ft around timber and shad. Using swimbait and Damiki.
WT 55.5
 

Fished this morning and the boaters this weekend left a few still willing to bite.
Fished in 20ft around timber and shad. Using swimbait and Damiki.
WT 55.5
 

Fished this morning and the boaters this weekend left a few still willing to bite.
Fished in 20ft around timber and shad. Using swimbait and Damiki.
WT 55.5
 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

I fished this morning and the bite was really good. On my first cast I was fortunate to catch a LM in the 6 to 7# range on a swimbait. I kept the boat in 40 to 55 FOW all morning. The LM seemed to used the top of the water column down to 20ft and I caught them casting. I caught plenty of SM and K's fishing a 3/8 Damiki vertical amongst shad and they liked the 30 to 40ft range.
There were lots of white bass in the shad and I caught a few approaching the 2# range. 
The lake was an absolute zoo yesterday and I thought today would be really busy but it was manageable to my surprise.
The wind was blowing and made boat control a steady job.
The picture of the big LM did not turn out too good because I have tennis elbow and not able to hold up heavy objects with my arm extended. 

The FFS hysteria can provide some interesting insight into human behavior. 
Background: Drew Gill (current BPT  Pro) and Dakota Ebare (past BPT Pro).
Both guys are young stars and excellent with FFS.
Drew Gill was on a podcast and I left a comment how impressed I was with his fishing approach and that the old school guys need to get with the program.
In a very short period of time I get a very hateful message from Dakota Ebares mother that I am such a FFS hater. 
I did not respond to her.....hopefully she will get beyond the hysteria. 
FFS is educational,  efficient,  and sometimes effective. 
 
 
 
 
 

The FFS hysteria can provide some interesting insight into human behavior. 
Background: Drew Gill (current BPT  Pro) and Dakota Ebare (past BPT Pro).
Both guys are young stars and excellent with FFS.
Drew Gill was on a podcast and I left a comment how impressed I was with his fishing approach and that the old school guys need to get with the program.
In a very short period of time I get a very hateful message from Dakota Ebares mother that I am such a FFS hater. 
I did not respond to her.....hopefully she will get beyond the hysteria. 
FFS is educational,  efficient,  and sometimes effective.