River is Getting Ready For Fall

[yaknar]

I got out on the river this week. Cloudy most of the trip which I like but a lot of paddling . i didn't catch a lot or anything big but had a nice float. I'm now on a 10 year streak of catching a walleye in the James upstream from Delaware and Shelvin Rock. Last year I caught several and my last 3 trips out I've caught 2 per trip. My last trip was with my grandson and I was just occasionally casting across or down the river and caught two. I don't have a clue why I'm catching them. Anyone else catching them? I did catch a long cat, that pulled me around in the kayak and put up a good long strong fight. When I got to my take out point an "idiot" backing his truck with a trailer on it, down the ramp, to take out his canoe, ran into my kayak. Only his canoe and my kayak at the bottom of the ramp and he ran to mine. But I'm not upset. Just scratches no damage. His canoe, which he did not hit is ok. All in all a nice trip down the river. I did come around one bend and it looked like fall. Took pictures of a few and released them all....

[Dougie]

Yaknar looks like a good trip except the crash at the end. I still get out but dont post anymore. I caught 3 walleye in the same section of river on my last trip. First ones I've caught up in there. I need to get out a few more times before the year is up. As always thanks for taking us along on your trips.✌🎣

[BilletHead]

On 8/29/2020 at 10:58 AM, yaknar said:

I got out on the river this week. Cloudy most of the trip which I like but a lot of paddling . i didn't catch a lot or anything big but had a nice float. I'm now on a 10 year streak of catching a walleye in the James upstream from Delaware and Shelvin Rock. Last year I caught several and my last 3 trips out I've caught 2 per trip. My last trip was with my grandson and I was just occasionally casting across or down the river and caught two. I don't have a clue why I'm catching them. Anyone else catching them? I did catch a long cat, that pulled me around in the kayak and put up a good long strong fight. When I got to my take out point an "idiot" backing his truck with a trailer on it, down the ramp, to take out his canoe, ran into my kayak. Only his canoe and my kayak at the bottom of the ramp and he ran to mine. But I'm not upset. Just scratches no damage. His canoe, which he did not hit is ok. All in all a nice trip down the river. I did come around one bend and it looked like fall. Took pictures of a few and released them all....

           Yep sorry about the idiot. Accident I know but could of been avoided.  Trees all over are stressed on high dry places. Several in my yard are not doing well at all and I am afraid a couple will die. We were blessed with 7/10s yesterday. 

[yaknar]

Dougie, thanks for the comment. So why did you stopped posting? I always enjoy seeing what people are catching on the James. Why do you think the walleyes are so active? BulleHead,  thanks for the comment. I know what you mean, I haven't had to cut the grass in my yard for 3 weeks now.

[Jadesjigs]

Nice report. Thanks for posting!  Nothing surprises me at the ramps any more. I'm more surprised if there isn't a unique experience at the ramp on my trips. I try to see the humor in the events so it doesn't take away from my outings. 

My theory on the walleye is that they may be migrating up river from Table Rock because of the high water we've been having the last couple of springs. There has been a lot of good walleye reports on Table Rock recently. 

However, I recently read a report where guys were catching a lot of small walleye up the Meramec River as well so maybe it has something else to do with the river systems.  Hopefully it's a sign of good habitat. 

I know that part of the James River seems like a long way from the lake, but even those huge paddlefish will make it up that far.  I see their dead carcasses left at the ramps during snagging season.  The rotting carcasses at the end of the ramp are usually accompanied by a mob of enthusiastic swimmers. 

 

Found a snagging hook in the bottom of my shoe one time while wading up river😲.  I cringe every time I see children out there barefoot.  Sadly to say a snagging hook probably isn't the worst thing to have penetrate your foot. Now if we can only get those 20" smallies to migrate up from the lake!

[Seth Clarkson]

@yaknar I know this isn't as far up, but in my last 2 trips, this past Saturday and about a month ago between Cox Access and Blunks my buddy has caught 3 walleye, 2 keepers and 1 was 23 inches, all released. I think 2 on a chatterbait and 1 on a swimbait. We hadn't fished that stretch a whole lot before that but I don't remember catching walleye. 

 

Other than that nice walleye we got soaked and waited out some lightning for a bit and caught a lot of small bass, but nothing over 14 inches I don't think. There was a flat bottom parade at one point, think we had 5 boats pass us (1 both directions) in a span of 10 minutes. Some were polite, other's not so much, but didn't cause us any real issues, just a ton of wake real close to us.