Fishing Report For Lake James, NC

January 12, 2025

Most Popular Fish Species Reports
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Fishing Report Lake James, NC

Most Popular Fish Species In Lake James, NC

Walleye

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good To Excellent

Locals report that walleye are particularly tasty here due to the cool, clean water in Lake James. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission initiated a thorough walleye stocking program, which has created a very successful fishery. Walleye can be found in relatively shallow water during Spring and Fall, but move to deeper areas of the lake during summer. Nightcrawlers, minnows, jigs and deep-diving crankbaits are all catching walleye year round. When I fish for walleye, I prefer to troll at a variety of depths to locate schools.

Smallmouth Bass

Current Report: Very Good To Excellent
Outlook: Very Good

Lake James is widely-known as an exceptional smallmouth bass fishery. According to reports, smallmouth fishing is good from the first week of May through October. Some locals report good catches in the Linville Arm of the lake, concentrating in the big flats there. When smallies move off the bank, I typically concentrate on water in the 10' to 20' range - working tight to the bottom. Drop shot rigs, tube baits, spoons, live bait and mid-range crankbaits are all catching smallmouth in Lake James this year.

Black Crappie

Uncle Buck's Panfish Creatures Curly Tail Minnow Rigged

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

Due to the nutrient-rich water, most reports of good crappie catches are coming from the Catawba River arm of the lake. Spring is the premiere time to be on the water as crappie move into shallow coves to spawn. Docks, brush, wood, vegetation are a good place to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Light tackle with 4-pound line is ideal. Locals report good success using both live minnows or a wide variety of crappie jigs from 1/32 oz to 3/16 oz.

Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, white bass, striped bass, northern pike and tiger muskie at Lake James in North Carolina.

Lake James is a 6,800-acre reservoir with depths up to 120 feet and over 150 miles of shoreline. This cold-water lake is home to quite a variety of freshwater fish species. Bass, walleye and crappie are favorite targets for anglers, as all three make good table fare.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Marinas

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

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Click here for a North Carolina Fishing License.

Lake James, NC Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".