Fishing Report - James River & Dam Area

[CaptainJoe]

Date: 3-19-10

Water Temp: 45-50

Wind: Variable to 5-10 MPH out of the SE

Skies: Clear and Sunny

Air Temp: 41-65

Took a father (Steve) and son (Scott) from St. Louis out today. We started up the James from Aunts Creek (Point 10) and stopped at every channel swing with trees. We swam a 5" smoke Yamamoto grub and a 5" Chompers Salt and Pepper grub on a 1/4 oz. darter jig head. Keep the boat in 70' of water. Cast to about 10' feet off the bank. Count the bait down with a 10 count. Slowly reel the bait in. I mean slow. Barely turning the handle to keep the bait's tail moving. We had 21 fish with 3 nice keepers that are now lurking under the dock in the picture.

[techo]

I saw three guys fishing out of a boat by an island between points 11 and 12 I think at about 1:30. Wasn't sure who it was, but knew it was a guide. Wondering if it was you?

[CaptainJoe]

I saw three guys fishing out of a boat by an island between points 11 and 12 I think at about 1:30. Wasn't sure who it was, but knew it was a guide. Wondering if it was you?

Yea, Techno, it was us. The creek channel runs across the face of that island and I caught three there the day before. Should have only caught one and moved on, because we blanked there yesterday.

[CaptainJoe]

Went fishing today and the same pattern outlined above is still working. Used it in the dam area with success. Was only out 5 hours and caught 15 fish with three nice Spots.

Water Temp: 45-48

Wind: Variable to 5-10 MPH

Skies: Clear and Sunny

Air Temp: 41-70

[Bill Babler]

Thanks, great report. How deep would you guesstamate that grub is when you are getting whacked? I am probably just not getting my sticker down deep enough.

From the sounds of where your boat is and starting on the bottom at 10ft. I am gussing you all are fishing the 16 to 20 ft. range, depending on how you are a crankin. As you stated slow, slow. and then slower.

You know on Friday out of Shell Knob I was throwing a jig, just to kind of piddle around and stay out of my clients way. I was dragging it in 40 plus feet, on the same type of locations you are fishing, and caught 3. There are for sure some that are very deep.

Good Luck

[edwin]

This was about a week ago, but I needed the grub about 20' to get bit up on the James.

[Jason Essary]

went out of capefair marina last night for a quick trip. 3 hours. 2 fish on a wart, real shorts. 2 fish on a jig, one 2.5lb I think. slow afternoon but good time out.

[CaptainJoe]

Thanks, great report. How deep would you guesstamate that grub is when you are getting whacked? I am probably just not getting my sticker down deep enough.

From the sounds of where your boat is and starting on the bottom at 10ft. I am gussing you all are fishing the 16 to 20 ft. range, depending on how you are a crankin. As you stated slow, slow. and then slower.

You know on Friday out of Shell Knob I was throwing a jig, just to kind of piddle around and stay out of my clients way. I was dragging it in 40 plus feet, on the same type of locations you are fishing, and caught 3. There are for sure some that are very deep.

Good Luck

The fish were hitting it at various depths. Some would hit it on the initial fall. Others right at the boat. The rest just over the trees. I was slowly rolling it with a 5.2:1 reel, so I would say with the initial 10-count, the grubs primary strike zone was in the 20' range. I would try to avoid coming in contact with the trees, because the snot grass is all over the trees.

Yes, there are still plenty of fish very deep. I can see them on the graph suspended in the 35-50' range over 70' of water.

[MOBass]

I was hoping to see some info on the dam area. Headed down tomorrow for a couple of days. Now I need to figure out how to apply the info you have been kind enough to share.

[CaptainJoe]

I was hoping to see some info on the dam area. Headed down tomorrow for a couple of days. Now I need to figure out how to apply the info you have been kind enough to share.

Read the second Fishing Report from me....it is covering the Dam Area. The technique used is in the first Fishing Report from me. Sorry for the confusion, I will post separate reports in the future.

Good luck!