James River smallies

[Dutch]

I can never find any until the winter then they are mixed in with the spots and greenies.  What kind of water are you smallie guys find them in?

[tjm]

Never fished the James, but I would fish fast water over clean gravel, chunk rocks or logs. They like lots of oxygen and cool temperatures, 60-70F,  Pretend you are looking for trout.

[Flysmallie]

I think Dutch is asking more about the lake portion of the James River and not the river portion. 

[Dutch]

23 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

I think Dutch is asking more about the lake portion of the James River and not the river portion. 

You are right.  I should have been more specific about the area.  I’m fishing between Bearden’s and Carr’s.

[tjm]

Sorry I didn't look at the category. where it says "Table Rock Lake".   I know not much about lakes, but the fish will still want temperatures in the 60s, maybe that helps. 

[Noodle]

I haven’t posted in a long time. I fish Cape Fair quite a bit. Not an expert by any means but have had some success with smallies on transitions of chunk/gravel/ledge on the gentler slopes.  Certain secondary points b/w piney and bear den tend to hold them most of the summer. Haven’t caught one in a month or so but been on a different pattern lately catching mostly spots. I catch most of smallies on finesse jigs and 4-5 inch worms. Don’t know if that helps any....

[willyfish]

On 11/18/2020 at 9:23 AM, Dutch said:

I can never find any until the winter then they are mixed in with the spots and greenies.  What kind of water are you smallie guys find them in?

Try fishing Kimberling to the Dam. It’s where they live. 

[Dutch]

5 hours ago, willyfish said:

Try fishing Kimberling to the Dam. It’s where they live. 

I am not searching for smallmouth in particular.  I am just wondering why I can only find them in the winter in the area I like to fish.

[Mitch f]

Well obviously I would try to find a small spring somewhere. My buddy who is my winter fishing guru told me that it seems you find about one good winter hole per mile. Also something I’ve learned over the years is that the fish are on the other side of the hole. I would always focus on the deep rocky side, then I found out that many times the bigger smallmouth are on the slightly shallower sandy bottom log jam side. 

[Fish24/7]

On 11/19/2020 at 5:53 PM, Dutch said:

I am not searching for smallmouth in particular.  I am just wondering why I can only find them in the winter in the area I like to fish.

I think I've experienced a similar deal on other bodies of water Lakes and rivers. I'm thinking it has to do with depth of the water and the temperature, and of course food supply. I discovered on one body of water there were springs that kept the water temperature at a temp I assumed smallmouth and his cousins prefer during the winter months.  it seems to be a "wintering hole" until Spring. Because all 3 species of bass hang out there together when its cold.  Largemouth live there year round. But the smallmouth and spots leave come February. It's  also the deepest hole around when compared to average depth of the surrounding area and with or without springs they winter in those places. . From my experience the smaller the body of water and the shallower , the more this holds true.

 

I don't know if any of this applies to your situation though. It's just a guess.

I know on Bull when the bass pull out of the back of the creeks they go to the first deep hole where they find comfortable temps. Like a lot of them are starting to do right now.  It could be 15' or 30',50'for expample ,all depends on how cold the water is and where the shad go,and how.deep the creek is. And they will be piled in there and not so scattered around in the shallows , and cruising like before. They'll just hunker down for the winter and have a party together!

(I edited this a couple times to add content)