smallmouthjoe

Last year my girl caught a 3 to 4 pound cat on a rebel craw in The James. It's amazing how they'll hit something like a topwater or a crankbait. Thanks for the report, I'm off to The James after I type this.

I would almost like to see any pitcher besides Todd be inserted into the fifth spot when they need it.

I haven't floated from 125 this year but about a mile up from Joe Creighton there's a river split that's pretty bad. It took me awhile to walk up. I doubt it has gotten any better through there, it always seems to be full of trees mixed with tight spots.

Woke up early today with the overwhelming need to catch some fish. Most likely because I got all but shut out yesterday at Table Rock. Didn't want to drive far because I had to be at work by 4:00. So I decided to go to Joe Creighton because I hadn't been on The James above the lake this year. I really like the section from 125 to the lake, but since they have restricted the 125 access I have been fishing the sections below the lake more often. Started paddling up river at around 9:30 an finished at 1:00. Caught some decent fish and whole bunch of smaller ones. The first fish I hooked was a giant largemouth off of a fallen tree with a good amount of current running over it. I estimate it at a conservative four pounds maybe bigger, it was huge, but it came off when I wrestled it to about ten feet from the boat. That was the only nice fish that hit the jig, which was a 1/8 strike king bitsy in spring craw. I caught a few smaller fish off the jig but felt they really weren't that interested in it so I switched to a yum fork tailed dinger in green pumpkin with purple flake. That was the bait of the day, I would trow it in the current seam or by trees with current and just let it fall and be swept down with the current. I'm going to try floating from Creighton to the lake this weekend it's one of my favorite sections, some good fishing through there.

I went back today and couldn't find a single one. I caught a few orangespots and greens but was unable to track down the bluegill. Even broke down and used a spinning rod and small tubes around docks. Here today gone tomorrow.

I have not watched any on-line shows, mainly because I don't really know anything about them. Any suggestions?

I agree with you on the education part Phil. I want to learn something, not be bombarded with advertising and someone trying to sell me something. Pro Team Journal is the worst at that and that's why I stopped watching it. The best show I've seen in awhile is On The Rise.

Definitely let us know how it is. I'd feel much better about getting one if I had the opinion of someone who's tried it.

The magic of fallen timber. I love fishing that stuff with a jig or a tube. Thanks for the report.

Thanks.

I would say that besides catching smallmouth, catching bluegill, on any tackle, is my favorite. Mainly because you can catch thirty of them standing in one spot. Great fish, even with its popularity I still don't think it get enough credit.

Wow, I'm sorry. From the pics is seems that you took it better than I would have. Beautiful country, sorry you had to hurry through it.

Do they have any solo models? I've been looking into getting one and man are they expensive.

Thanks for the info, I think I'll go down this weekend and see what I can get off of some of these deeper docks.

Hey man, thanks for the report. Were you in the little creek arms or in the main body of the lake?

Yes, I'm talking about where it turns back into The James, or goes back to its altered natural state. The only parking is at the dam. There's a little low water bridge down about a mile down but I think it might be the power plants. It's not that hard to get to just keep following the paths down river, once you have hit the low water bridge you know your starting to get away from everyone.

Good for you man, keep it up. I've been able to get down to a half pack a day but it's hard to let go. Writing this now really makes me want a smoke.

If I'm coming from Ozark, I would take 65 north get off on Evans road and take it west. Stay on Evans Road until you see the power plant, it's the first left after the entrance to the power plant. There's a sign there, honestly it's hard to miss. My usual bait selection for wade fishing is some sort of bait that allows me to fish the limited amount of spots I come across thoroughly. If not jigs, then tubes, if I don't get any response from those then I might try a senko or a shakey head. If the water is stained I'll use a spinnerbait or a crankbait. If the water is stained and the fish won't take an active bait I would use a darker colored jig and trailer with a hint of a bright color in the skirt. I don't think what you use is as important as where you use it. Find eddies and first try the seam where the fast water meets the slower water, that's usually where the active fish will be. Any mid stream current break, any wood in current, etc. Gook luck, go down river pass the low water bridge.

I usually wade well below the actual dam. I leave that water alone during the weekends and in the evenings. Early morning during the middle of the week is the best time to avoid competition from other anglers.

There are some really good fish below the dam. The biggest fish I've ever caught out of The James, smallmouth, largemouth or spot, have all come from below the dam. I think that the lake above enriches the nutrient level of the river causing a larger than average base in the food chain. This results in an abundance of food for bass. Or at least that's my theory on why I usually catch above average fish there.

Don, thanks for the report. I have a question if you don't mind. What is it about this time of year through fall that makes some of the fish attract to deep docks? It seems to me that they would attract fish year round. But I never can catch quality fish off of docks until Fall. Is it bait fish related?

Nice shots. I'm envious of the view you have from your back porch. When I look at me back yard all I see is me neighbors wild looking lawn.

I really want to get a 3wt. I've been looking at this one. http://www.troutlet.com/Eagle-Claw-Granger...-Rods-P216.aspx I caught all of those gills on my 5wt and it was blast. Hooking up with one on a 3wt would probably be insane.

I went to Table Rock this weekend and stumbled upon two pockets full of what appeared to be bluegills protecting beds from their own kind. I didn't realize that they spawned so late, I thought they spawned shortly after the bass. Whenever they spawn, I was very glad to find them and glad that I had forgot to take my fly rod out of my truck after the weekend before. Caught pretty much all of them with a black hand tied bream popper size 8. Caught maybe forty or fifty of them and they all fought hard and where released. Who knew catching Bluegills could be so fun.

Where's Cox? I'm not really that familiar with the river below Hooten, I know where Kerr is and thats about it.