I’ll tell you what, Lake James is a different animal. This place is a true Western North Carolina gem, with over 150 miles of shoreline and a reputation for some of the best bass fishing in the state. What makes it so unique is that it’s a two-bass lake, meaning you can target both largemouth and smallmouth bass in the same day. The lake is split into two main sections: the Catawba River arm, which is typically warmer and has a more stained color, and the Linville River arm, which is deep, clear, and cold.
Each of these sections offers a different experience. Largemouth prefer the shallower, warmer water and tend to be found in the Catawba arm, while the smallmouth thrive in the deep, clear, cool water of the Linville arm. That means you can fish two completely different styles of bass fishing without ever having to leave the lake.
As for the best time to fish, I’d say you can find great fishing year-round. However, the spring and fall are my absolute favorite seasons. In the spring, the fish are in a pre-spawn and spawning pattern, which means they’re moving shallow and getting aggressive. The fall bite can be incredible as the bass start to fatten up before winter, and they’ll chase just about anything you throw at them. You can still catch fish in the summer and winter, but you’ll have to adjust your tactics and fish deeper.
Where We Fish On Lake James
We kick off all of our trips from the Canal Bridge Access Area in Nebo. From there, we can get to either the Catawba or Linville arm of the lake in just 15 minutes, depending on the conditions. Lake James is a massive fishery, and with over 150 miles of shoreline, we often cover three to five miles at a time. The boat moves at a good clip, so we can run and gun to find the best bite. If it’s a sunny day, we might start with the topwater bite and then cruise to find schooling fish. On high-sun days, we’ll move to back coves, throwing minnow baits and crankbaits.
We bring plenty of gear, so all you have to do is show up. We have a mix of six Douglas ERA spinning rods and six baitcasting rods, all spooled with Cortland Masterbraid and a fluorocarbon leader. We can also accommodate fly fishing if you want to give it a try. We can throw a sinking line to get down to the fish, and if there’s a good topwater bite, we can even throw a popper. You’re welcome to bring your own gear if you have a favorite rod, but trust that we’ll have you covered with the right setup.
Spring Spawn Season
Spring is probably my favorite time to fish Lake James. The fish are moving up shallow to feed and eventually spawn, and they’re usually pretty aggressive. I start the season by focusing on creek mouths and points with deeper water nearby. Jerkbaits and crankbaits are deadly right now. I’ll also throw a chatterbait or a spinnerbait around any kind of cover I can find, like docks, blowdowns, or rocky banks. As the water warms up and the fish move to their beds, I’ll switch to something a little more subtle like a Texas-rigged soft plastic or a Ned rig and target those bedding fish.
Summer Topwater
When the heat hits, the bass tend to move to deeper, cooler water. The largemouth will stick to the shady spots and deeper docks, while the smallmouth will head for the main lake channels. This is when I start using my electronics to find fish in 20-40 feet of water. I’ll use drop shots, Carolina rigs, and football jigs to target suspended fish and fish holding on deep structure. The early mornings and late evenings are a great time to fish topwater lures like frogs or poppers around the thick grass and lily pads in the Catawba arm.
Big Baits In Fall
Fall is a fantastic time for both numbers and size. The bass are actively feeding on baitfish and getting ready for winter, and they’re usually on the move. The key is to find the bait, and the bass won’t be far behind. I’ll start by throwing a topwater lure or a swimbait early in the morning, focusing on points and coves where baitfish are schooling up. As the day progresses, I’ll switch to a crankbait, spinnerbait, or a jig to mimic those baitfish and cover a lot of water. The bass will be a lot more active and willing to chase, so it’s a great time to experiment with different presentations.
Winter Can Surprise You
Don’t let the cold weather scare you away from Lake James. The fishing can be tough, but you can catch some absolute giants if you know what you’re doing. The bass will move to deep water, and their metabolism will slow way down. You’ll need to fish slowly and methodically. My go-to lures in the winter are a jerkbait and a blade bait. I’ll also use a drop shot or a spoon to target fish on deep ledges and points. The strikes can be very subtle, so you have to pay attention. It’s a grind, but the reward of landing a huge winter bass is well worth the effort.
Electronics & Live Scope
Our boat, built by Toughy, is a 19-foot Deep V Tri-Hull with an 88-inch beam. It’s designed to take on a chop and gives us a super dry ride. With a 75hp Mercury Tiller, we can get to where we need to be quickly and efficiently. We also have a Minn Kota Terrova and front and rear Garmin electronics with LVS 36 LiveScope. We can teach you how to use it, how to set it up, and how to read it. LiveScope lets us locate offshore structure that you can’t find just by looking at a map. We can find a “spot within a spot” and test different tactics to see what the fish want. It’s a game changer and will help you get off the bank and on the fish.
Fish Lake James With Us
When we’re on the water, we’ll stop for lunch on a private beach or anchor up to eat. We also offer a full-day split trip, where we’ll fish from sunrise until 11 a.m., take a long lunch break, and then get back on the water around 4 p.m. to fish through sundown. This is a great way to avoid the slow midday bite on hot summer days.
While our trips are primarily focused on largemouth and smallmouth bass, we often catch a few bonus species, like white perch, bluegill, crappie, catfish, and even the occasional musky or walleye. We also have a tournament-grade scale on board, so if you want to see who catches the biggest bass, we’re ready for it. Just remember, all smallmouth are catch and release, but you can keep any panfish that meet the legal limit.
If you’re ready to learn how to fish a clear-water lake or want to spend a day on one of North Carolina’s best smallmouth fisheries, we’d love to have you.
