Morgan suggested surface lures near rocky points or laydowns in the Linville River portion of Lake James. And in the regular cycle of boom-and-bust, the white bass population at Lake James is experiencing a boom. Smallmouth, largemouth too for that matter, find this approach hard to resist. This is a great time to get out on the lake to see the scenery and catch some nice smallmouth. Fishing at Lake James, North Carolina. LAKE JAMES Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge. If you would like to become a member of this organization, please visit Membership. “This has been my go-to for Lake James smallmouth this spring.” After Goodman got several smallmouth ahead, the best idea was to accept his offer. Your help is needed! We can go fishing on Lake James for Smallmouth Bass, and troll or jig for Walleye. Rocky points surrendered several Lake James smallmouth. The lake as a reputation of being a tough lake with clear deep water. Every year, tales of 6- and 7-pound Lake James smallmouth are reported but not that common. Water temp was 62. The early morning and late afternoon hours during April through October are the best times to angle for this tackle-buster and its smallmouth relative. Historically, largemouth bass dominated the Catawba River arm of Lake James and smallmouth at the Linville River arm. Fish in Lake James are typically in the 1- to 2-pound range, but specimens weighing up to six and seven pounds are occasionally caught. There is also some big Largemouth in this lake also. Lake James Deep Water Smallmouth, Tips for Catching Deep Water Smallmouth Bass 11/11/2020 Lake James Deep Water Smallmouth, Tips for Catching Deep Water Smallmouth Bass. The lake hosts healthy populations of catfish, walleye, perch, and largemouth and smallmouth bass. The state record smallmouth was landed at Hiwassee Reservoir back in 1951. Plop, plop, plop, side-to-side. His biggest Lake James largemouth tipped the scales at 9 pounds, 14 ounces (caught sight fishing in the springtime). As the sun hits the water, Morgan advised switching to a Fluke or Senko, fished weightless. Species: Bass, Pike, Pan Fish and Crappie. Our guides have been fishing this lake since kids and know the tips and tactics to put our clients in the best positions to hook up with these hard fighting bass. Located about 90 miles west of Charlotte, Lake Lure is a 720 acre large lake situated in a town of the same name. “I throw those lures around laydowns on the main lake or back in coves.” These are so-called finesse approaches. They refuse to consider this in a body of water that seems to have natural reproduction. And on this weeks Sportsman’s Table recipe we feature a true Italian duck and pasta recipe for you duck hunters. Morgan said some smallmouth anglers at Lake James throw small crankbaits during spring. The best smallmouth colors for me have been smoke, green pumpkin, watermelon, blue-and-white, black-and-white — or whatever seemed to be on the top of the plastics sack when I reached inside for a tube. Every year, tales of 6- and 7-pound Lake James smallmouth are reported but not that common. It is named fortobacco tycoon and benefactor of Duke University, James Buchanan Duke. The fish have a dominant bronzy to brownish-green color with dark vertical bars running down the length of the body. smallmouth bass. Lake James, North Carolina Fishing. Fishing on Lake Lure is a highlight of a trip for many visitors, and a popular pastime for many locals. We caught some very nice smallmouth bass, averaging 2 pounds each. Lake James is a 6,812 acre reservoir with the Catawba River feeding it from two North ends. Examples he offered were Pop-Rs and Zara Spooks. If casting is your thing we can cast for Largemouth Bass on Lake Hickory, Lake Rhodhiss, or Lake Norman. They just need water the right depth and some of the mid-lake shoals have the right depth. I now use 6- or 8-pound test on spinning gear for most of my Lake James fishing. This body of water covers just over 6,000 acres of surface area and has a surface elevation of 1,200 feet. It requires no special twitching, no particular way to curl one’s lip. We can fish for Striped Bass, Walleye, Muskie, Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie and White Perch More than 100 years ago, Dr. James Henshall claimed the smallmouth bass “inch for inch and pound for pound, the gamest fish that swims.” Testing that hypothesis has been among the principal activities of many angling lives. The Lake James Black Bear Boat access ramp is an important facility used by those looking to fish, ski or enjoy recreation on Lake James. Dynamite. “Towards dark, I throw a Jitterbug across points and laydowns,” he said. The first site is near Camp Lake James on the Catawba side of the reservoir and the second is in Mill Creek, also known as “Long Arm,” on the Linville side of the reservoir. However, 4- and 5-pound smallmouths are good prospects. The length and weight of each fish are required to avoid ties. However, 4- and 5-pound smallmouths are good prospects. “With topwaters, I use bait-casting gear.” A 6 ½- or 7-foot bait-casting rod with a flexible tip permits long casts and the manipulation of the surface lure Morgan seeks. Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Walleye. Lake James Deep Water Smallmouth, Tips for Catching Deep Water Smallmouth Bass On this episode we are headed tom Lake James in North Carolina for some deep water Smallmouth Bass action. Walleye, first introduced in 1951, is another prized game fish in the lake. Copyright © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Friends of Lake James State Park, Inc. “The first week in May is best for Lake James smallmouth on the surface,” he said. “That’s the time for the surface bite,” he said. Here, you will have a chance at a trophy Smallmouth anytime you fish. “The best color for the Fluke or Senko is green pumpkin,” he said. Lake James Deep Water Smallmouth, Tips for Catching Deep Water Smallmouth Bass. Developed by VanNoppen. They can be found near the surface in the cooler months of the year, but move to deeper water in the summer to find the cooler water. Since I fished it while at north Alabama a number of years ago, my favorite smallmouth crankbait has been the Fat Free Fingerling. The most productive colors were green pumpkin or dark watermelon. Would love some tips this time of year for catching smallmouth on Lake James. During the pre-spawn period, many smallmouth strikes will be subtle. In addition to the smallmouth bass in Lake James, it also contains a healthy population of largemouth bass. And I use some sort of low visibility green or clear line. Morgan recommended poppers or some sort of walk-the-dog lure. Taking the kids Crappie, Perch, or Bluegill fishing on Lake Norman, Lake Hickory, or Lake Rhodhiss is always a fun trip. Most of the smallmouth Goodman and I caught came from 5-feet of water or less. Colt Bass Fishing is a Fishing Guide Service fishing on Lake Hickory NC, fishing on Lake Norman NC, fishing on Lake Rhodhiss NC, and fishing on Lake James NC. We fished a couple of clay banks with laydowns and a long, rip-rap bank. Back off and try for a trophy. He used the Beavertail and I had my favorite tube. The fish weighed 10 pounds, 2 ounces. During the course of the day, the most effective lure was a Yum Wooly Beavertail. It comes in several sizes, and we used the 3- and 4-inch Beavertails. Went to Lake James to try to catch my p.b. The Beavertail is a plastic grub-like ring worm variant with a flat, split tail. As daylight waned, Morgan suggested returning to surface lures. He suggested a Norman Baby N. Morgan also fishes Bandit crankbaits. The length measurement is to be obtained by placing the fish on a measuring device that can be clearly determined by a photo sent to me. Folks trying to catch smallmouths are well off mimicking the techniques they use on largemouths, with perhaps a stronger focus on fishing around exposed points sticking out into the lake, especially those with rocky bottoms or fallen trees. Along the rip rap, I caught a couple of smallmouth by casting a Fat Free Fingerling. Further east is a dam across the Linville River. Correll's largest Lake James smallmouth weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces (caught on a Bass Craft jig), but his clients have boated fish in the 7 1/2- to 8-pound range. And it still works great. You lose contact with the lure as a fish gently picks it up. ! A 2-pounder should be run of the mill. Any color works, but my most productive shades have been citrus shad or Tennessee shad. The lake is a popular vacation spot for North Carolina residents and beyond, and boasts plenty of activities. They will be fishing Lake James which is located near Nebo, North Carolina. The technique was to cast, let the leadhead and grub sink almost to the bottom, then lift gently, let it drop, lift — all the way back to the boat. Details: Fontana Lake is the deepest lake in NC and arguably the clearest water.With a dense population of threadfin shad, gizzard shad, bream and trout are the food sources for bass! Lake james nc fishing reports map contents lake chatuge north carolina crie fishing forecast everest textile is the high functionalLake James Fishing Smallmouth BNorth Carolina Crie Fishing Forecast 2018New Report Raises Concerns For Lake James News McdowellnewsNorth Carolina B Forecast 2019Lake Norman Fishing Forecast July 2018 With GusLake Norman Fishing … Bluegill, Hybrid Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Muskie, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Tiger Muskellunge, Walleye, White Catfish North Carolina Fishing License. Unlike most impoundments, Lake James is created by three dams. “There are lots of rocky points and ledges on the Linville River side of Lake James,” he said. You will learn some techniques from Carolina Outdoors members on catching smallmouth in … With 6,510 surface acres, Lake James is second to Lake Norman as the largest reservoir of the Catawba River’s impoundments. There are always a ton of fish to be caught when fishing on Fontana Lake and … Goodman launched his boat at the Canal Bridge N.C. Wildlife Resources Access Area. Generally speaking, ¼-ounce spinnerbaits are the largest used to good advantage for smallmouth. He thinks of Lake James as his “home lake” and Goodman’s family has lived at or near the lake for decades. At the west, less than a mile southwest of N.C. 126, a dam backs up the Catawba River. Nestled in the Blue Ridge foothills straddling the McDowell/Burke County line near Marion, Lake James is the uppermost of the 11 reservoirs of the Catawba River that wends its way 225 miles through North and South Carolina. In the clear water, the smallmouth can see you from a long way. The lake also has largemouth bass. I wish I knew how many smallmouth I’ve caught with Jitterbugs — Ontario, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Lake James. Smallmouth bass belong in the same family as largemouth and white bass – known collectively as the “black bass.” Here in Lake James, all three species co-exist and all three can be caught on any given fishing trip, but for many veteran Lake James fishermen, smallmouths are special. Lake James is quite clear, Morgan said, compared to most southern reservoirs and that water clarity affected how an angler needs to fish. A 2-pounder should be run of the mill. On this episode Bob goes smallmouth fishing in North Carolina with Captain Craig Price with Fish On Guide Services. Lake James boasts a healthy and thriving population that started out as a North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission introduction. Lake James Smallmouth Fishing. The deep gashes in the land filled into such beloved pools as Lake James, which is now known more for its fishing than its impressive inception. Our Lake James fishing guides specialize in largemouth bass fishing trips as well as smallmouth fishing trips for making an unforgettable day on the lake. If anglers haven’t had a dandy smallmouth strike a surface lure, they’re missing a bet. “Dad, this looks like some of the lakes we fished in Canada,” my son said during a trip to Lake James Whether to develop the substantial private holdings around Lake James, and if so, how, remains under vigorous debate. “Usually we get more largemouth on the Catawba River side, but last spring I caught largemouth way up past my house on the Linville River side,” he said. White bass spawn in May, and crappie fishing is best during May through July. Even smaller ones may work. I offer both 4 and 6 hour fishing trips. Revered across the country for their legendary aggression and fighting abilities, the smallmouth bass is not native to North Carolina, but Tarheel anglers are passionate in their pursuit of the mighty “bronzeback.”. And, as you will see, it makes a difference. Not just at Lake James, but in a variety of smallmouth waters, tubes have been a most productive lure for me. Lake James fishing in October. Goodman and I started with different plastics and fished the lures in comparable manners. You must be a Lake James or Shadow Lake property owner or relative to qualify. Lake James is one of the most picturesque lakes in the Southeast and is known for it’s big smallmouth and largemouth bass. Smallmouths are so named for their relatively short upper jaw compared to other bass. On a good day, expect to catch 15 or 20 Lake James smallmouth. “When I first came to Lake James, folks told me I needed to ‘lighten up’ on my line. If you’re looking for a hard-fighting, clear-water-loving, handsome sportfish that lives in one of the most scenic reservoirs in the state, you’ve come to the right place. Cast it out and crank it back. With easy access from Marion, Morganton and Interstate 40, the Black Bear access ramp has ample parking and six boat ramps to make accessing the lake both convenient and efficient. Most people with a similar bronzeback bent are never satisfied with their collected data — which is a plausible excuse to continue to seek better information at places such as Lake James. “The smallmouth don’t care whether they’re close to the bank. If anglers see male smallmouth guarding nests, chances are the larger females are in slightly deeper water. Appreciate the help! Some anglers also target the walleyes at Lake James. Try redear sunfish or threadfin shad with the Pop-N Image Jr. and red head/white body, black shiner and blue shore shad with the Super Spook Jr. Located in the foothills of North Carolina Lake James is the closest lake with a good population of Smallmouth. Viewed from the water, Pisgah National Forest looms along the north shore of the Catawba and Linville rivers. Big … Considering the clarity of Lake James, pre-spawn smallmouth may be deeper than one expects. If you think you’d like to catch some pre-spawn smallmouth this spring, Lake James would be a great place to give them a try. Great time today at Lake James Winter Trail. Smallmouth bass like to keep it cool, being more active (and hungry) in spring and fall. The WNC Muskie Club has tried for years to have the NC Wildlife stock muskies into Lakes James and Rhodhiss. Individual fish can be darker or lighter in tone, but the barring is always present. The jitterbug is one of the lures of most middle-age to older youths. Morgan said he relies on surface lures predominately toward the end of April. Generally speaking, smallmouth bass conduct spawning activities in deeper water than largemouth. When that happens, set the hook and hang on. Goodman recommended we start with lead heads and grubs. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? Below the Linville Dam water flows through the Duke Power powerhouse, and the Catawba River resumes its trip to the ocean. Researchers with NCWRC studying growth rates of river-dwelling smallmouths found some populations took five years to attain a length of 10 inches, while others in waterways with warmer temperatures and higher nutrients only required two years to achieve that size. Rigged as described, a tube grub swings from side-to-side as it falls, rather than dropping nearly straight as happens when the lead head is outside the tube. Lake fish feed primarily on shad and other small fish, as well as crayfish and the occasional frog or salamander. Slide a ¼-ounce lead-head into the tube, with the dark side up, if the tube is two-toned. Those cooler nights triggers the bass into feeding heavily on the forage to fatten up for winter. Medium-light to medium-heavy tackle is commonly used when spin fishing on these trips due to the size of the fish. With a 4-inch tube, the hook shank on a ¼-ounce leadhead jig may not be long enough to extend all the way to the tail. Largemouth Bass fishing on Lake James is good also. “I make long casts, stay back away from the bank. My favorite smallmouth spinnerbait is the Classic Twin Spin from Mann’s. Bass fishing on Lake James will begin to pick back up after a slow month in September. Although neither Morgan nor Goodman mentioned spinnerbaits, they’re excellent smallmouth lures. Take a small scissors or knife and cut a slit to let the tube release the hook and allow the tube to straighten. It is home to incredible fishing, boating and camping. If one could name a fish that swims in Lake James and is more beloved than the walleye, it would be the smallmouth bass. Smallmouth Bass fishing on Lake James is some of the best in the state. “Whatever the smallmouth want, that’s what I try to give them.” If the smallmouth want the lures slower than can be effectively fished with a ¼-ounce weight, go to a smaller jig and a smaller matching tube. It has abundant White Perch fishing, and you may find a crappie or two mixed in with them. Lots of folks make tubes, and anglers use many varieties with success. While Morgan said smallmouth bass reside in every nook and cranny of Lake James, “In spring I pretty much stay on the Linville River side of the lake,” he said. The two arms of the reservoir are joined by a canal that flows underneath N.C. 126. We fished the same sort of spots Morgan suggested. Tweets by @nchuntnfish The first site is near Camp Lake James on the Catawba side of the reservoir and the second is in Mill Creek, also known as “Long Arm,” on the Linville side of the reservoir. Those areas also had smallmouth we caught. Walleye move around in the lake depending on the temperature of the water. “There are some rocky shoals out in the middle of the lake, away from the bank. From gigantic Catfish, to tasty Bass species, to prehistoric Paddlefish – they all call these waters home! “I lived in Texas and fished there,” Morgan said. james river smallmouth fishing report by december 30, 2020 december 30, 2020 Along Powerhouse Road is Paddy Creek Dam, which spans a small stream. The lake lies behind a series of 4 earthen dams. Bryson City, NC. Completed in 1923, Lake James captured water from two rivers, the Catawba and Linville Rivers. This tiny crankbait has worked for smallmouth bass for me from Alabama to Ontario, Tennessee to North Carolina, including Lake James. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); The best topwater bite for smallmouths at Lake James occurs just after daylight. As juveniles, the young bass feed on tiny aquatic insects and graduate to larger prey as they grow. Watch Lake James Smallmouth - Carolina Outdoor Adventures Tv on Dailymotion Be prepared to cast hair jigs, soft plastics, Texas rig creature baits and crankbaits for trophy smallmouth bass. Easy twitches or jerks makes the lure dance seductively near cover. In clear water, nickel blades work well while brass blades seem to produce better in stained water. Lake James is the lowest elevation lake in the Catawba chain that has good fishing for smallmouth bass. On the clear water of Lake James, anglers may see a brown torpedo coming several feet to whack these lures. And they attract plenty of pre-spawn smallmouth. Smallmouth bass belong in the same family as largemouth and white bass – known collectively as the “black bass.” Here in Lake James, all three species co-exist and all three can be caught on any given fishing trip, but for many veteran Lake James fishermen, smallmouths are special. I think that's pretty much the only rock in the lake other than riprap on bulkheads of ppl's property. While we fished some at the Catawba River arm of Lake James, most of the day we were at the Linville River arm, rarely more than a mile from the landing. Thanks to the variety of waterways that feed into it, including Long Creek and the White, Kings, and James Rivers, Table Rock Lake is the perfect habitat for a whole host of freshwater fish. Push the eye of the leadhead through the plastic and tie the line directly to the eye. If you think you’d like to catch some pre-spawn smallmouth this spring, Lake James would be … For someone just coming to Lake James, the mid-lake shoals are hard to find.” Of course, as the mid-lake shoals aren’t community fishing holes, they may be the best spots to fish for an undisturbed trophy. Location and Fishing Information: Lake James is located in Burke and McDowell Counties in North Carolina. The most popular species caught here are Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, and Channel catfish 411 catches are logged on Fishbrain. Lake James’ largemouth and smallmouth bass cohabitate with walleye, but they rarely share the same water. On this episode we are headed tom Lake James in North Carolina for some deep water Smallmouth … My favorite colors are white/red head and yellow coach dog. Morgan said color doesn’t seem to make much difference with surface lures, and while people often have their favorites, that’s probably true. Particularly at the Linville River arm of the lake, major portions of the shoreline have been undeveloped. Favorite smallmouth surface lures during the last couple of years have been the Pop-N Image Jr. or Super Spook Jr. “I like to keep the jig and plastic moving along, sort of slow usually, but if the smallmouth don’t grab it pretty soon, I speed it up or let it drop all the way to the bottom before lifting,” Goodman said. Half day trips start around 8am and end around noon. Both species bite well in September and early October. Mike Goodman lives at Nebo, and when he’s not fishing the national bass tournament circuits, he’s at Lake James. Smallmouth bass spawn in the shallows during the month of April. But in the last few years the two species seem to have become more evenly distributed. Reddish eyes also are a distinguishing feature for separating smallies from largemouth and white bass. Gotta love winter fishing in Western NC! Launch: Lemmons Branch Boat Launch. The heavy forest absorbs rainwater and helps maintain a high level of water clarity and cool temperatures in the reservoir — ideal for smallmouth bass. Without the contributions by people just like you Friends of Lake James State Park would not exist. 3 reviews Get water depth of Lake James … Happy angling! Lake James is a large reservoir in the mountains of Western North Carolina which straddles the border between Burke and McDowell Counties. With a light wire hook, the small chunk of plastic sinks slowly. Spin fishing is the best approach for catching smallmouth bass. Once they’re in the boat, identifying smallmouth bass from their close cousins is relatively easy. On this weeks edition we’ll be live bait fishing on Lake James for the sporty smallmouth bass. Simon and I finished 2nd with Big Fish for the day a 4.1 lb Smallmouth. Graham Morgan, who lives at Lake James and fishes there and elsewhere, usually launches his boat before daylight. “Better try one of my plastics,” Goodman said. I didn't see any beds in the area. During the last few years, controversy has erupted concerning land uses adjacent to Lake James. Bouncing the crankbait off the cobble rocks in 8- or 9-feet of water should attract some dandy Lake James smallmouth. Because they are native to inland areas across New England and west of the Appalachians, smallmouth bass are only able to exist in coolwater rivers and reservoirs here in North Carolina. Came from 5-feet of water covers just over 6,000 acres of surface area and has surface! “Better try one of the best in the last few years, has! Plastics and fished there, ” Goodman said and you may find a or. Anglers haven’t had a dandy smallmouth strike a surface lure, they’re excellent smallmouth lures long.. Is Paddy Creek dam, lake james smallmouth fishing spans a small scissors or knife and a! 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