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2-21-12 Fontana

2012-02-22T00:59:19Z

2-21-12 Fontana Had a short trip this afternoon with two great friends Mike and Dave. Dave has been on a couple of striper trips, but Mike had never been with me so this was a treat for me. Was a little worried since we have had a cold front push thru again and was getting brighter and windier by the minute as I loaded up. Once we got to the first couple of stops the wind died a bit and we found a few fish. They weren;t committing today like last week and would just mouth the baits. Fished up towards point 7 and just got to the Tuck when time was up. Fish are still about 30 feet water back to 48 deg. and marked small schools, but only had maybe 10 to 12 bites. Caught half the bites with 4 spots and one pretty good smallie. Found some fish around Tsali just as we were leaving and may start there next trip. What a wonderful time on the water and will do it again when it warms a little. Mike is going to try and sell his fish to our preacher, well, not sell, just trade for some money. [good luck with that! , just kidding] Later Capt. James

2-18-12 Lake X

2012-02-22T00:42:10Z

2-18-12 LakeX After taking the Hardee's bag from over my head I arrived at the secluded ramp of a little known area lake. Met up with my buddy Marty and we proceeded to launch his small boat . The bag was so I wouldn't or couldn't reveal the name or location of this little jewel. We have pulled many walleye from here and some monster Largemouth. Tried to find out if the eyes had started their push upriver, and was a little skeptical with the recent extreme cold. Found a few LM on the way up the river, but as expected a little early for the walleye, but a warm week and they should be there with bells on. Water was 48-50 and needs to get to mid 50's to get them moving. Can;t say much more or will give away too much, but may tell more later. Later, Capt. James

2-12-12 Fontana

2012-02-13T02:21:23Z

2-12-12 Fontana Windy, cold, bright, did I say windy and cold? But the fish were out of the wind, and loving life. Took live bait with the anticipation of upcoming trips and the fish decided that was ok by them. This was almost as exciting as striper fishing. Used 8' crappie rods with 3/8's weight and about 6-7 feet of leader and slow trolled with the trolling motor. It was more like tried to hold the boat somewhere in the vicinity of 30-60 feet of water off of points. Fished different points today and there were fish on almost every one. Didn't catch quite as many as last time, but they were a little bigger. There ain't nothing funner than catching these things on light poles. If the weatherman is right this week should be real good and it won't take an act of congress to stay in one area. These fish are real fat, but did catch one smallie that had a little scoliosis, I think I remember that was caused by a bacteria when they were small, but not sure. Don't see it as much as I used to. Have a couple of trips this week, so will let you know how we do. Later Capt. James

2-10-12 Fontana

2012-02-11T01:53:39Z

2-10-12 Fontana Took a day to find some new fish that can be caught with downlines similar to the way we striper fish, have some inexperienced fishermen coming and don't want to troll all day, so the spots will be a good change of pace if the eyes shut down. Went downlake and found good numbers of fish around Panther Creek area. Took a cruise that way last week and didn't find much, but this time didn't go past point 7. Just look at the pics of the spots on the lowrance, they were like that in several places. Points and indentions on either side of the points with chunk rock and larger boulders all held fish. Sparkle jig still rules. Tried sinking crankbaits, a-rig flukes, spoons, and the jig still caught most fish. Bite still real subtle, can't wait for them to start smacking crankbaits. Never fished much til after 1 and ended with 25 or so, mostly spots and some smallies. Dress warm, but it was pretty nice out there. Later, Capt. James

2-1-12 Fontana

2012-02-01T22:41:31Z

2-1-12 Fontana Had Greg for another trip to Fontana. Forecast said showers and up to 60 deg. Well, the rain got there, but the 60 never did. Anyway, started out going all the way to Hazel Ck. to see if there was any action there and didn't find much in the way of bait or fish so returned to the Tuck and got into some nice fish. We had spots and smallies on the sparkle jig, some out over 120' of water. Talk about waiting for the jig to reach bottom. But really, had some breaking fish, so most were 30-40' deep. Broke out the trolling gear and caught whites and some walleye still at 60-70' all on the Rapala's. Has been a good run for this area and the female eyes were fat with eggs, so they should be pushing towards the river any day now. Several trips coming up for Hartwell, so will post pics of pigs. Later Capt. James

1-28-12 Fontana

2012-01-29T02:50:52Z

1-28-12 Fontana Water is coming up after these rains, water temp is back up to 50 in most places and the wind was back up to 25 in some places. Slow start this morning, but marked a good number of fish, just not like I have been in Greasy Br. Decided to make the run to the Tuck and that place is slap full of fish. Was weird because the fish were deeper even with the rise in water temp. Most fish were at 80' with some at 45, but only got the deep fish to bite. Had walleye and the biggest whites I have seen in 10 years. Multiple doubles with the wind, controlling the boat, bringing in fish and cranking two downriggers up from 80' began to get to be work, so put away the trolling gear and tried to fish the banks. Every time I could hold the boat still long enough to feel the jig at 40' , it would get hit. Even with the wind, was a blast of a day, even saw a couple of eagles playing, boy are they big birds! Possibly am doing a TV show next week, so have to stay on the eyes, just want this wind to die a little. Was wondering if this little spot is a cross, so many have that distinct horizontal patch of spots, but alot don't, just wondering. Later Capt. James

1-22-12 Fontana

2012-01-23T03:11:34Z

1-22-12 Fontana Just had a couple of hours before dark and didn't see lightning, wind, rain or ice so jumped at the chance to fish in relative comfort. Found more fish in the general areas I've been fishing, but they are changing and I think they are moving towards the banks and scattering, not bunching up like earlier in the fall. Both spots and eyes ate real well today all at 60' trolling the small Rapala's. Included a shot from this fall and today so you can see how their positioning changes. Females eggs are well developed and males are filling their sacks, but not yet leaking, but it won't be long if this temp. holds. If you can hit their feeding periods it is about as easy as it gets right now. If you fail to be there when they are feeding you can get frustrated, marking the same fish, but not getting bit. The moral of that story is just go more often. Later Capt. James

1-21-12 Fontana

2012-01-21T23:33:46Z

1-21-12 Fontana Got the boat and my two guys Greg and John launched about 10 min. before the bottom fell out. Got to my spot in driving rain and wind and just as we got set up the lightning came and so adjourned back to the ramp loaded the boat and sat and talked for an hour as father pushed through the leading edge of the front with pops and cracks all around. Lightened a little so relaunched and found scattered fish in 70-100' with most caught at 60' which is a little shallower than last few trips for the eyes. Fish are in small scattered schools and seems when you catch one they just shut down although we missed several fish today, just not real aggressive.. Got all fish trolling and tried downlake for some smallies just to see if they were there and had no luck. A family crisis and we had to cut trip short, but the fish continue to come, if a little slower, and they are getting filled out with eggs. Area around Tsali is still where they are, didn't make it to the Tuck, but did on a trip yesterday and they have moved from being so thick at Forney. Will gladly accept a change in the weather, the last couple of days have been brutal. Later Capt. James

1-14-12 Fontana

2012-01-14T23:22:09Z

1-14-12 Fontana After unsuccessfully trying to talk two friends into joining me, decided to go it alone. The temp. this morning was around 20 and they were calling for 20+ mph winds and bright skies, not exactly ideal conditions, but hey it beats not going. Have consciously tried to fish Fontana more regularly and not drive all over SC, Ga, and surrounding areas. Being poor has kept me closer to home and it is starting to pay off. A day like this a year or so ago and I could almost smell the skunk coming. Now I am more and more confident about finding fish even in awful weather. Guess I'm setting myself up for some major skunking, but the fish are still in the lake, and they are still eating. Didn't fish all that long and they weren't really hot, but managed some whites trolling in a couple of places up the Tuck and some spots around Forney. Spots came on small fluke, when I could hold the boat and get it to bottom. Whites have moved up and caught some at 21' and some at 40'. Water is finally at 48 deg and tried the fnf, but had no takers. Spots are still a little deep, but stuff is moving up so shouldn't be too much longer. Coming week is warming a little so should be good. Later Capt. James

1-7-12 Fontana

2012-01-08T12:24:14Z

1-7-12 Fontana Had a trip today with an old friend Greg and cannot believe the weather we had. Overcast, an occasional shower, 50ish temps and perfectly calm. Sets the stage for some light fluke fishing. Still throwing the small clear sparkle fluke on an eighth oz. chartruse head. You had to let it get deep, but the fish were shallower with the water temp. down to 50-52. Almost any shale bank up the Tuck held fish and we caught them most of the day. Only felt a few hits, would just feel weight on line or nothing at all, then set the hook. Found a school of deep fish early and again late that I'm sure were eyes, but could not get them to eat. Ended up with 30 some fish and a few nice smallies, but mostly spots This lake is absolutely full of spots, just wish they got a little bigger, but they are awfully fun and if this weather holds, should continue to be hot. Later Capt. James

1-1-12 Fontana

2012-01-08T12:09:51Z

1-1-12 Fontana Just had a couple of hours, but like to get that first of the year fish out of the way early. Beautiful day with a little wind, but went to point 9 and with the wind so strong decided to troll and they are still in the general area and still finding them deep. Just hit a couple of points and had some nice spots and no walleye this time. Water 52 deg. with most fish showing 60 to 70 feet. Here's to a great 2012 for everyone! Happy New Years!

12-26-11 Fontana

2011-12-28T12:03:07Z

12-26-11 Had a couple of hours this afternoon so started about 2:30 at Lemmons Br. Have been trolling and jigging lately so started off looking for fishable schools. After about an hour of looking and not finding decided to try something different. Went across from point 9 to some points and marked a few fish, but never more than one or two, so tried a fnf off the bank and then a crankbait with no luck. Switched to a small fluke on an eighth oz head and put her 30 feet deep. Took forever for it to get to bottom, but then just bounce it back out to 50-60 feet and at some point you'd feel that tick, just like a crappie. Had time to fish three points and caught 10 fish with 3 then 3 then 4 off consecutive points. Couple of nice fish with equal numbers of spots and smallies. Hooked and lost half again that many, would just lose feel of jig and couldn't catch up for a good hookset. Was good to cast to fish for a change so will plan on this for the next couple of trips. Never saw any bait schools, must be down lake. Water at 55 deg. and it's come back up a few feet. Later, Capt. James

12-17-11 Fontana

2011-12-25T13:59:33Z

12-17-11 Fontana

Had a trip with three guys from Black Mtn. Children's Home and was hoping to wear them out. Instead the front pushed through the night before and the fish shut down. Marked plenty of fish around the junction of Tsali and caught a few, but nothing like we've been catching. Mike, Richard and Tom and I had a beautiful day with some lost along with those boated, but that's just the way some days go. Still most fish showing at 70-80 feet, may head to the lower lake next trip, but it is hard when you are marking lots of fish. Smallies may be more cooperative than the spots and walleye, just haven.t targeted them lately.

12-15-11 Fontana

2011-12-16T12:00:36Z

12-15-11 Fontana Weather continues to be mild, so took friend , mild-mannered John to try for some walleye. Fish are moving, but when you find them they are bunched up. We started at Lemmons Br. and checked out Alarka, then Greasy Br. then on to the Tuck and found fish at Forney Ck. Several boats working the area, so we trolled a bit with no luck and realized we had forgotten the sandwiches, so back to the landing and a start over. This time saw a fish break just past Tsali and that is all it took. Find the bait and find the fish..... all the fish. Caught spots chasing schools deep, smallies chasing schools against the bank and whites and walleye deep, below the pods on the surface. Keep your eyes open and when you see even one break, check out the area good. Fish weren't quite as eager to bite as they have been, but still ended up with a nice mess, and a Fontana slam. John is mild mannered til he gets on fish, then he loosens the clerical collar and you don't want to be a finned creature. Most fish still at 60-70 feet and water at 56 deg. Later Capt. James

12-7-11 Fontana

2011-12-09T00:50:42Z

12-7-11 Fontana walleye

12-7-11 Couldn't work because of the rain and didn't have a trip so decided to don the rain suit and hit the lake for a few hours. From Lemmons Br. barely got on plane and saw a few whites busting so stopped and started marking fish in 80 feet of water mostly in the channel where Alarka comes in. Put out the trolling rigs and the fish were really cooperative. Would get a white or walleye almost every pass. Fish stayed in an area the size of a baseball infield and if you got outside of that there was only the occasional bait pod. After catching some trolling stopped and got some jigging ice jigs. Tried jigging 3 or 4 spoon types, several colors of ice jigs and until I put on a brook trout colored jig got nothing. They were dialed in to that one color, period. Wind picked up and blew snow for a while, but those eyes will warm from within so took a mess home to fry up. Several of the fish had pretty well defined egg sacks so may spawn early, don't know a lot about their biology, but they were pretty well filled out. Later, capt. James

12-3-11

2011-12-04T00:12:55Z

12-3-11 Fontana is still hot as a pistol. There are schools of fish in a lot of places right now. The only thing is that you have to be willing to fish deep for them. Left Lemmon Br. and stopped in the middle of Greasy Br. flats first and the schools of shad were thick around 70 feet, scattered all around the flat with schools of spots mixed in. Moved to the Tuck and after a few stops found massive schools of fish from the surface down to 85 feet with most biting at 75. There were smallies, spots and whites all mixed in, and the easiest way to get them is to troll with small crankbaits. Stopped and tried jigging for a minute, but didn't have the patience to stay with it seemed they were moving around and trolling was the best way to stay on them. Have fished way deeper lately than I ever have and there are just so many fish deep it's been fun. Later Capt. James

12-2-11 Lanier

2011-12-03T12:39:06Z

12-2-11 Lanier Had a trip with Ethan and Tom to the big pond on Friday. Wonderful day after the fog lifted, We pulled baits, mostly trout along small flats near the channel of the Chattahoochee. Didn't catch huge numbers, but had some nice fish. Ethan did a great job landing fish, the largest striper wrapped up another line, went around the trolling motor,and Ethan stepped in a 5-gal bucket of water but still landed the fish. Had worried about the cold front that blew through, but wasn't as big a deal as feared. Am tickled Ethan got his first spot and some nice stripes. Everyone should have a granddad like Tom. Later Capt. James

11-21-11 Fontana

2011-11-22T02:17:37Z

11-21-11 Fontana Had a couple of hours to kill this afternoon so headed to the river junction to find some eyes. Terrible lightning storm, so after hunkering down against a shoreline for half an hour finally started fishing about 3 and tried jigging them. Fish are still deep, last week up the Tuck they were 30-40 feet, but they were 80 here and a good bit bigger, 2.5 lb whites were mixed with the walleye. Biggest eye was 24", pic makes him look skinnier than he actually was. Had to pull out the trolling gear with white Rapala jerkbaits the ticket. Had fat spots hitting small baits on top the whole time. They are as good as seagulls pointing out bait. They are sometimes harder to catch while they are on these small shad, but you know other fish are below them. Been using Crappie Pro 8' spinning rods for downrigger rods and that makes for some fun fishing. This is a great time to be out on the lake, before the real cold gets here. Later Capt. James

11-19-11 Hartwell

2011-11-22T02:04:02Z

11-19-11 Hartwell Took Marty and his son Evan to Hartwell again for some stripers. They have been elusive for me and with a cold front just through didn't get too excited about our prospects. Couple of tournaments going on which is a good thing, more eyes, more fish. The problem is that they have been catching all the big fish on trout and they had scarfed up all the bait. We were left with herring and arties to throw. Found a few scattered fish, Coneross was loaded with fish and boats but we didn't get any big boys, lost a couple at the boat on an umbrella, but ended up spooning Marty a mess of white perch for a frybaby. Had one really nice greenie, so ended up with a pretty good day, just need more time on the lake to zero in on them. Should be better and better as time marches on. Later Capt. James

11-7-11 Fontana

2011-11-07T22:41:43Z

11-7-11 Fontana Had John and Dick who's from Beaufort SC today and they hit Fontana on a beautiful day. Leaves are still pretty, deep reds left on the oaks, little wind and the fish are starting to bite real good. Went up the Tuck and the whites are still thick there. Caught fish from 65-20 feet, depending where you were. Flats are still the ticket, but channels next to them are also loaded and the deeper fish are generally bigger. Still not the giant ones we used to get here, but seem to be on the upswing. Had several spots and a smallie, but good numbers of whites. Trolled for most fish, still not much on top, so the best is still to come. Tried to find some walleye and just couldn't get them to bite, so we stuck with the whitey's most of the day. Water temp. is 63-65, but the wind is real cool early in the AM. Later Capt. James