James River Report

[Phil Lilley]

Made our way over to Blunk Ramp (?) not sure if that's what the ramp was called. Someone can correct me. Duane? Oh, Duane and Mona Cheri was with me. We met in Branson West and rode together. 4:15 pm put in and down we went. I thought we were going up but Duane said he "felt" we should go down. Sometimes I wonder about that boy.

He had caught walleye the day before down about 3/4 mile so that was the motivation. He wanted to cross some eyes. Mona did - he didn't. But she lost hers after getting it almost to the boat. Had a good look at it-- about 25 inches. Nice one. They have teeth. Four-pound line is no match. Caught a couple of small whites and headed back up.

Went about half way back and Duane said to stop. This time I think he felt something, something real. He did. The whites were there. We caught small males at first but as it got darker we caught good ones. We put 45 in the well and kept catching. We threw back bigger ones late with small males in the well. I cleaned 45 - 25 were females with eggs. Some of the small "males" turned out to be with eggs--smallest females I'd ever seen.

We were fishing 8-12 feet of water using 1/8th oz heads with black/pearl swimming minnows OR white slider -- it made no difference. I let the lure go all the way to the bottom but Mona just reeled as soon as it hit the water--no matter. I think I had a bite or a fish on almost every cast for over an hour. Lots of fun.

Water temp was 52 when we put in, 50 down river and 51 where we caught fish. Not a whole lot of boats. Ramp area had spots to park still open.

Youtube Video is still uploading.

[Sam]

Good report. Boy, it's awfully early for whites to be up there. I've got an 11 y.o. granddaughter who's been asking me for two months (even when it was -7 degrees!) if it's getting about time to catch white bass at Galena yet - now I can take her.

That ramp at the end of Blunk Road, I've always heard called "The Park". Blunk Hole, of course, is at the sharp bend on up river where you walk down the bluff to bank fish. No ramp or road there.

That's not much of a ramp. I'd rather put in at the private ramp at the McCord Bend campground, down toward where you were fishing. I think the better ramp, better parking, and getting out of the mud are well worth the $2 launch fee, and the ramps are less than a mile apart by water. I'm pretty sure I know where you caught those whites, there's a staging area in there that works year after year.

Good trip - thanks for posting about it!

[duckydoty]

DD'sMC and I are fixin to head out the door and go back down there this morning. Hoping the walleye bite might be a little better. Sure was fun watching you and My MonaChari catch fish on every cast. The both of you SMOKED me last night.

[motoman]

Great report Phil. That brings back some memories last year. Catching those whites on the James in the same area. We were struggling on The Rock, so we went to The James for some action. Thankfully a kind local put us on fish after he caught his limit.

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And you have a video too!?!?! I can't wait!

[Phil Lilley]

<object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10026138&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10026138&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/10026138">James River White Bass 1</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1209677">Phil Lilley</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

[Phil Lilley]

Vids wouldn't load on youtube for some reason. Have another one I'll upload this am.

[Phil Lilley]

<object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10034220&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10034220&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/10034220">James River White Bass 2</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1209677">Phil Lilley</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

[duckydoty]

Fishing is definately better in the evening. We only put 27 in the boat this morning. Still a good time though.

[Fishhand]

Thanks for the heads up on the white bass duckydoty and Lilley!!! A couple of buddies and I have been going out the last few days and catching limits each time. White sliders and purple swimming minnows on 1/8 oz. jig heads. Fished Asher's, Long's Camp and Blunk Hole. About 2/3 of the fish we cleaned were small females. Everyone needs to get out there before they're all gone! We're stepping out the door right now. Will let everyone know how we do!

[Dutch]

Some of you guys should be thinking about the future and turning those female back so they can spawn and make more white bass or the years to come.