Fishing Report For Lake James, IN

Current Report: Good

SUMMER. Water temperatures are in the mid to high 70's, so summer patterns are in full swing. Bass are feeding shallow early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, crankbaits and swimbaits. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught with vibrating jigs, spoons, worms and jigs, on points, channel edges, and ledges, as well as in open water following schools of baitfish. Good reports are coming from from anglers fishing in the Mill Creek area.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where spoons, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons are often the ideal bait.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found under the ice, from 15 to 25 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water just outside spawning areas. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 4 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water.

Current Report: Good To Very

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass, including some in the trophy-size class, are currently feeding shallow early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. They feed on crawfish, gizzard shad,threadfin shad, and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges 10 to 45 feet deep. Often these deeper fish are part of a large school of smallmouth.

FALL. As Fall arrives, smallmouth here follow schools of baitfish into coves and bays, where spoons, drop-shots, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are very successful. The average fish being caught averages about 2 1/2 pounds, but plenty of 4 to 6 pound smallies are being caught with some regularity. Fishing shallow for smallmouth is often good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around deeper structure, points and creek channels, often suspending in open water above these features. They can generally be found from 10 to 40 feet deep, under the ice. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. When water temperatures rise into the 50's now, smallmouth have moved from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They feed heavily at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. They will be preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water and feed aggressively. Crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, spoons and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

SUMMER. Fat yellow perch here feed primarily on small fish and invertebrates. Spinners, underspins, small crankbaits, mealworms, nightcrawlers and maggots are catching perch around 20 to 50 feet deep, around drop-offs and nearby areas with submerged vegetation.

FALL. Fall finds yellow perch feeding aggressively in 15 to 30 feet, and then migrating toward Winter holding areas, often in the deeper pools of areas where rivers and creeks flow into the lake.

WINTER. The cold of winter drives perch to feed heavily in 5 to 15 feet. They are caught under the ice in 5 to 20 feet of water, on flats and ledges, once the lake freezes over. Areas around tributaries and inflowing creeks are ideal Winter holding spots. Fishing for perch through the ice was good again this year, using minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers.

SPRING. Perch spawn in Spring when the water temperature warms to the mid 50's and mid 60's. Anglers will begin catching them shallow using (legal) minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers. Docks, bridges, vegetation, trees and brush all attract yellow perch searching for a meal.