Fishing Report 3/10

[CaptainJoe]

I apologize for not posting sooner, and with yesterday's cold front, I am sure this info is out-of-date. I would assume as soon as we start warming up again, this pattern will be repeated.

Area: James River in vicinity of Cape Fair

Water Temps: 50-52 degress

Air Temps: 59-71 degrees

Wind: S and SW 5-15 MPH with gusts to 20 MPH hitting the bank

Sky: Mostly Cloudy

Moon: Full

Water: Light Stain

Pattern: N and NE banks just inside main lake points for the first 100 yards was the best bite.

My clients and I used three rods: one wackey rig with a Berkley weighted 5" stickbait; one Texas rig with a Berkley weighted 5" stickbait; and a 1/4 oz. Spot Remover Shakey Head with a 5" Chompers stickbait/senko. All three produced; however, the Shakey Head with the Chompers caught more fish and after about fish #8, we all switched over to the Shakey Head with the Chompers stickbait/senko (maybe it was the garlic).

We caught a total of 19 largemouth, 1 smallmouth, and 1 crappie and the four largest are pictured below.

The bite was slow, slow, slow. They wanted it deadsticked. We threw to the bottom, let the bait sit for approximately a 5 count, then lifted the rod tip real slow to feel if a fish was on. If fish was on, we set the hook, if not, we slowly moved the bait another foot or so and let it sit again. They would pick it up either on the first or second pause. We didn't really feel the bites, just pressure or slight resistance when we lifted the rod tip. The fish were in about the 5-7' depth range. I would guess that 75-80% of the fish were females. The males may have been further back in the creeks/coves heading for the bedding areas.

Good luck,

Captain Joe

[Bill Babler]

Joe, I may be totally off base, but I bet the presentation was better with the spot-remover allowing the worm to stand tail up was more enticing than either the Texas Rig or the Wacky, in which the worm would lay flat on the bottom, if you were letting it sit so long. Especially that shallow, using a heaver bait like the sinko, which does not have huge action to begin with.

If your getting bit like that, I would think a cenipede or a Fish Dr. is just around the corner.

Nice Report Thanks

[CaptainJoe]

Bill,

Not off base at all. I totally agree. The other two presentations were on the bottom, plus with the wind blowing, it probably gave the bait just enough movement, as well.

Yes, the Fish Doctor and Centepede are close by. In addition to the Fish Doctor, I also like the 4" straight tail Robo worm in Aaron's Magic on a split shot in the Spring and a drop shot in the Summer.

Take care and as I said on the other topic, great talk at BassPro.

Joe