James River Arm Report ~ Sort Of.....

[Outdoor Girl]

From last week....new one coming soon.......

The good news is that the lake level is falling every day and we are slowly seeing more of our parking lots. The marina worked all of the Memorial weekend shuttling folks from our temporary parking area up by Shad Rack resort down to the lake. It seemed like our guests enjoyed the pickup ride to the lake as much as getting their boats in the water for the first time in a long while. Our bass tournaments have started up again and both ramps are open now. There isn't much parking yet but parking along side the road edge is being allowed by the Corps. The really good news is that the sun is shining and its getting warm.

Black Bass: There is so much water and so many targets to throw at that it's confusing. Flipping and pitching the deep bushes and trees is producing some good size bass. Use creature baits and flipping jigs and work each good target from all sides as the big bass are really buried deep in the brush. When you can find a way to get your baits all the way back to the bank edge, do it. There is a ton of bass right on the banks in inches of water chasing the bass hatch and those 17 year bugs that are falling out of the trees. Early in the morning and late in the evening the top water bite is fantastic. The schooling bass are chasing shad right up on top and there is a ton of cruising bass that are blasting buzz baits, Pop R's, Spooks and spinner baits buzzed on top. Mowed lawn edges and open gravel points using smaller size plastic worms and finesse baits will catch Spotted and Brown bass all day. The only down side right now is that it seems the night time bite is very slow.

Crappie: Some good crappie are still being caught fairly shallow outside the bushes and tree trunks. Minnows are still the go to bait with just a plain old bobber and small hook. Coves like Bear Den and Peach Tree and Kearney Cove still have good numbers of crappie less than 8 to 10 feet deep. They will hit crappie jigs and small spinners also.

White Bass: They are everywhere. We have some large schools right around the Marina and on both of our gravel points. Trolling crank baits over these points will get you a bunch of good eating. Road runners and blade baits just fan cast out around your boat and reeled back at a medium speed will catch the rascals. This can even be done from the banks if you can find an open bank area.

Catfish: About the best advice is just do some kind of catfishing. Limb lines with live bait is working as well as cut baits drifted on shallow sinking banks. Chicken livers and dough baits will work from the clear banks. The cats are getting ready to spawn and are hunting those rocky banks and bluffs containing holes and caves that they can back into to make more little catfish. Locate these spawning areas and set your limb lines and expect to catch some dandy cats.

Water Temperature and Water Color: We have a really pretty green shade of water color with vision down a good two to three feet. The water temperatures are in the 70's with a slow climb to the 80's during the hot part of the day.

[techo]

Thanks for the report

[tie1on]

FINALLY!!! Someone who knows and posts about the great James River arm. What a great report! I never seem to have the time (or the gas money) to buzz down to the dam area or shell knob area where it seems all the big boys fish. I love to fish the lake from point 9 up to flat creek (with frequent stops at Koppies) and am always hoping to find some info on this area. Thanks so much and keep up the great work at the marina. All the people in the store and in the restaurant are always so friendly.

[Mike T]

Thank you

[techo]

tie1on.....you and I fish the same area!

[Smalliebigs]

Very good report OG!!!! and thank you!!!! also I don't want to sound like the pig I am but, I think it's hot that a woman is making a report on the James Arm......thank you!!!!! hope to use your guys marina this summer.

Scott

[tie1on]

tie1on.....you and I fish the same area!

Hey Techo, Maybe we should put our heads together sometime and share some info. I'll tell ya my best spots if you'll tell me yours...(heh,heh,heh) Keep your eyes open for an old blue/gray Charger with a 150 mercXR4. Stop and say Hey!!

[techo]

Heading to Alaska for a couple of weeks but then should be back on the lake. white/red Skeeter with a guy who sucks in his gut a lot on the front! Gladly share info, you go first.