White in the Kings, Crappie on the James

[Phil Lilley]

Talked to Vince- he's caught his limit of crappie 2 days in a row plus 2 limits 2 others caught with him today. He put in a Bridgeport and fished the flats finding the crappie close to the bottom in 6-10 ft of water. He uses jigs, buck tail jigs and swimming minnows, 1/8th oz and the usual colors, white, red, smoke and purple.

Vince t/t some guys on the James Arm that said they've been tearing the whites up on the Kings arm but didn't say where exactly.

With this rain and warm/windy days, both will be poppin' this weekend big time.

Vince also caught a 15 lb flathead trolling a shad rap on the James. He was looking for white bass which he didn't find any.

[SKMO]

I can confirm Kings very good now for both WB & Crappie.

WB - Trollers doing well from Sweetwater to Brake Allen (Big Dog) Bluff. Casters working edge of channel and mud flats from Brake Allen the rest of the way up, about 4 miles farther to slightly past Dollar Hole is all the farther you can go in a boat.

Crappie - Usual spots, there are crappie being caught about everywhere. For size I would stick in the deeper trees along the bluffs and channels but last couple days they have been catching some on the spawning banks, especially in the dingier water in the afternoons. Not sure but I believe there are some crappie initiating spawning activities and this can pick up momentum real quick.

With the weather forecast for the next several days I think both species are going to do nothing but improve and there should be a consistant bite for both.

[jay bird]

SKMO

Have you heard about anyone putting in at Hickory Hollow and just trying to slowly motor around that area, or is the water to low even for that.

[SKMO]

You will be fine doing that. They have a nice new ramp and still let the public launch for $2.

I have a 20' bass boat w/225 and motored up to there and past, to Dollar Hole a couple weeks ago, before the lake came up 1.5' so I'm sure you will be fine. Just be aware there's a lot of trees to hit and drive accordingly, even in the channel in that area there are a few deadheads that can cause problems. Make sure you let us know how you do.....good luck.