James River Walleye? Rainbow?

[DanK]

A couple us northerners are coming down to JR mid-next week for 4 days of fishing. Looking forward to the trip and our 1st fishing trip to the Ozarks.

#1 We want to catch fish! We definitely enjoy all Bass fishing, but are Walleye fisherman at heart. Does anyone have ANY James River Walleye advise (i.e. current depths, troll vs jig, etc)?

#2 Rainbow trout fishing would be fairly new to us…any suggestions on that?

Will appreciate any and all advise!

[vonreed]

I would choose somewhere else if you are wanting walleye and trout.

[Al Agnew]

There are walleye in the James, but not really enough to make targeting them worthwhile. They are mostly an accidental catch in many Ozark streams, the James included, except possibly during the early spring spawning run out of Table Rock.

There aren't any rainbows in the James, other than a stray now and then coming out of Crane Creek. Your chances of catching one are slim to none.

You can try Crane Creek for more or less wild rainbows, but it isn't easy fishing. Or go to Roaring River for easier put and take fishing. As for walleye, the big reservoirs are pretty much the whole ball game this time of year.

[riverhyker]

Yeah, I came here 35 years ago from OH, yearly walleye, white bass trips....thank God for white bass...you can catch them here, especially during the spawn...unless you want to hire a guide on a reservoir....good luck...maybe it is my luck, but i am STILL trying to catch my 3rd walleye in MO rivers...or maybe I don't know what I am doing....after catching hundreds in Erie/tributaries.

I say go for what kept me here...walking streams, fishing for decent smallmouth (still not Great Lakes sizes on the large end, but very much more enjoyable). Trout are everywhere where the water temps are acceptable for them. The White River is a Great Trout River, but Lilley and many others know more about this than I do.

PS - If you don't already have accommodations, it is a Great place. Right on the water. Even I and my fishing partner could afford it...LOL

[Flysmallie]

You can catch a few walleye in the James but they will be small.

There are also several places along the James to catch some trout but they are just small spots where the water is cool enough to hold a few from Crane and some escapees from private trout farms. Not worth the hassle though.

Plenty of bass though.

[jbooth24]

I have caught whit me bass and large and small mouth out of the James never any walleye I have herd of problem doing so.

[DanK]

Thanks for all of the replies! Sounds like Walleye will be a tough bite.

OK so we bass fish…I'm ok with that!

We will be staying just N of Cape Fair and the 76 Bridge on JR. Since this is an area we will be back to many times, we would prefer to get to know this area fairly well.

Any suggestions for a good local Fishing Guide we could hire that is very familiar with that area?

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think you need to clarify whether you are talking about the James river arm of Table Rock or the James river. Very close to one another, but different animals.

If you are at Cape Fair you won't be too far from Lake Taneycomo or Roaring River state park, both of which offer trout fishing. They are also different, while both are put and take, RR is small stream bank fishing. Lake Taneycomo can be boat or wading.

[DanK]

Sorry, yes will be on the "James River Arm" not the JR.

[Al Agnew]

Whole different ball of wax, then. I don't know much about the walleye fishery on Table Rock. No trout. Plenty of bass.