A Fish With Canine Teeth

[yaknar]

I kayaked down the James yesterday, a stretch I've never floated before. When my wife picked me up, I told her I caught a fish today I never caught before. Her reply was "you mean you catch the same fish every time you go, that doesn't sound very fun." So to be clear, I caught a different type of fish I have never caught before. I caught bunch of goggle eye and 10 in bass, 2 logperch, I don't know why I catch these, it must say something about the way I fish. I didn't catch a gar but I did catch something with teeth, a walleye? He was a stiff fish. I caught him on a yellow Bomber. Are walleyes common on the James? This far up? Does anyone else catch them on the James or try to catch them? It was a great day to be on the river.

[Walleyedmike]

That is indeed a walleye yaknar. Cute little guy. Be careful, if you catch a few more you may become addicted to walleye fishing.

WM

[Arofishing]

Definitely a Walleye. Can't believe you caught one on the James! They are a bit bigger than that in Canada where we go fishing every June (think 27" ).

[Osage]

Hi Yaknar and everyone else. I'm new here on this forum but live on and fish the lower James fairly regular.

Yes indeed that's a Walleye, or what the old timers call a Jack Salmon. I talked to the Stone County Conservation Agent earlier this year and he said that the CC had stocked thousands of fingerlings this spring in Lower James so we'll be picking up a few of them fishing.

The yellow 'Caution, No Swimming' sign you posted is from Deleware Town Access. There is a rock ledge about 40 yards down from the access area that has a strong under tow past it and will suck swimmers down underneath the ledge and KEEP them there till a diver rescues them and then tranports them to a funeral home. Not a good place to swim.

I fish for bass and catfish. I did ok on bass and very well on catfish till the river level dropped off. It got hard to launch my motor canoe at Kerr's and impossible at the Galena launch ramp. The fish are still there but it's hard for me to get my rig in the water. So, guess I'll wait for a river rise or spring. Or both. Seems like we went from too much water to not enough in just a month. How was your year overall? Zack

[Osage]

Thought I'd add, yes walleye are a native fish to SW Missouri and James River. There's always been a few. The old timers fish/ed for them with minnows when they spawn in early March. I caught a 20 incher while white bass fishing at Blunks 15 years ago or so. They've got those red nocturnal eyes that show up like at night like a deer in the headlights so they get a hard time for the giggers. Zack

[Ham]

I've been fishing for roughly 45 years and i have NEVER caught a Logperch. You catch two in one day and have the audacity to act as if catching them is common place. I am offically jealous.

Nice walleye too, but I catch a few of them every year since I've moved up here.

[Ham]

are you wearing neo's already?

[RSBreth]

I catch a few every year fishing for Smallmouths - and I do catch a large number of them on a Bomber 4A in bright colors. I've never caught very big ones up higher than about Hootentown - but that doesn't mean they aren't there.

A report of mine from a couple of years back where I caught a little 'Eye

Another Short Report

[Osage]

I catch a few every year fishing for Smallmouths - and I do catch a large number of them on a Bomber 4A in bright colors. I've never caught very big ones up higher than about Hootentown - but that doesn't mean they aren't there.

A report of mine from a couple of years back where I caught a little 'Eye

Another Short Report

You just got to love those 4A Bombers. I've got several different brands that 'look' to me just like a 4A but don't catch smallmouth like a 4A. I can't tell the difference but the fish can. For me the 5A works just as well.

[Ham]

I'm more of a 2A and 6A guy myself. I did have a lot of luck on the original 5A's where the line tine goes straight into the bait not into the bill.