Lake James Chain

[Greg2ha]

I will be going to Lake James for a week starting this weekend. Can anyone tell me how the bite has been? What are they catching? What time of day? etc.
Thanks Greg

[hardysf]

catching bass on jimmerson with scum frogs and other plastics, the north basin is doing good for the bass.

Bluegill on snow lake on their beds. little jigs.

i have been fishing private ponds more than the big lakes, and the bass fishing has been superb. But i have been out there a little, and the fishing has been ok.

[Greg2ha]

Got back from James on Sunday and other than a few big gills and a couple of
nice perch. the main fish we were catching were bass and rock bass. I mean alot
of them! My 8 year old did catch a big catfish on Saturday night. We were doing
allm of our fishing in the upper basin. I did talk to my wife's uncle who lives on
Big Otter and he said they were getting the gills on Otter down on the east side
by the boat ramp end of the lake. Also when you come out of the channel from
Otter into Snow. just when you get into Snow on the right there is a drop off
that holds gills in the heat of the summer. I know this spot for a fact produces
in the heat! Hope this helps anyone who is headed in that direction.
Later Greg

[asphalt_kid]

Thanks for the info Greg.

[Greg2ha]

Going back up next Wednesday to James until Sunday. Any Angola posters have
any fishing info for me? I am taking my boat so I can lake hop if be needed.
Thanks Greg

[ice dude]

are you eating the bass?

[ice dude]

If you want some good gills try back in souels bay, also around the island with the house on it. You might get into a few crappie around the docks at Docksiders.Back in the third bassin there is a little beach in the north west corner fish out past the docks all the way from that beach to the north shore it is kind of a deeper hole, it ussaly holds some nice gills.

[Greg2ha]

Bassman,
I don't eat the bass but have had rock bass a few times. I usually eat the gills and the perch. I heard that down around the island with the house they do good for perch in the early mornings. This is also close to what they call Pike Alley? I
think. You mentioned the third basin and the beach I know where you are talking
about. Did you ever do any good to east of this beach out from the boat lifts?
This upper basin is where we are staying. Thanks for the info Bassman! I think
it is to early for pike though. My 8 year old keeps talking about wanting to go pike fishing. She is driving me crazy!!!!
Later Greg

[ice dude]

If you want pike you can catch them off of the first hump just as you come in to the lower or first basin. You should get into some nice bass there too. If you have a depth finder you can find it no problem,just set off of it a little and cast up on top of it. It is just after you go thru the narrows.Them rock bass is good eatin. The only perch we got around that island with the house on it are in the 6-8" range but we ussally fish it in the evening.Good luck to you.

[FishDaddy09]

I think  pike alley is the narrows between first and second basin. Try trolling crankbaits past any good weedbeds you should pick up some pike.

[ice dude]

yep pike alley starts at the narrows and goes all the way past the island.

[Greg2ha]

Thanks guys!

[Greg2ha]

Got back from lake last week and had major computer malfunction,still
not fixed this is our back up. Anyways we did pretty good fishing cleaned a bunch of gills and a few nice perch also.Fished the east end of
Eagle Island off the brake. Caught a nice crappie here too. Just  one
though. Hope this help!
Later Greg

[terrieb80]

How about the boat traffic?  We have a family cottage on James.  My fishing boat stays in the garage during the warm months when I head to Lake James.  I thought about trolling for Pike over on Big Otter though.  Anybody try that lately?

[hardysf]

we bass fished both otters and did well. Casting some spoons and spinners for pike. Only one hookup. A nice fish for sure, but was not landed.