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
153 Charters
Capt. James McManus
Capt. James McManus
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2-27-12 Fontana
2-27-12 Fontana Trip today featured two different jigs. Had JD on board and we headed to the Tuck to get back on those spots. The smallies switched places with the spots and down the first bank, we had maybe 10 straight smallies. They may be spawning early, turned back all the sm, but they were fat and healthy looking. JD ties a small black jig and until I stole one from him he wore me out. Later my sparkle jig caught up, but the sm loved that little number he was throwing. Ended up with 32 fish, probably real close to half and half spots and sm, and one nice white. Fish are slowly coming up, maybe 25 feet was average, sm maybe a little shallower. It does not get much better than this and should continue as long as this weather holds. Add in the walleye any day now and Fontana will be GOLDEN! Later Capt. James
2-25-12 Fontana
2-25-12 Fontana Blows up! Canceled a trip this AM and decided to cruise around and just look, calling for 30 mph, and that makes for tough fishing. Well they missed it, I think it went a sustained 40 for several intervals. Stayed true to my plan til about three and couldn't stand it any more. Didn't have a fish and hadn't really tried, just trolled a couple of lines while checking out the LT. Never really found many fish, just scattered, some at 30 and a few at 50, but no takers. When the wind died to 20+ went to the standard jig and mini fluke and if you could stand up you could catch them on any rock or boulder wall up the LT, Nantahala, and Greasy Br. Found mixed schools of smallies, spots and even LM and they were the biggest average size I've had this winter. There was even a 20 inch rainbow that slammed my crankbait and threw the hook on a jump.First really good crankbait and jerkbait bite too, just love it! Rapala slashbiat and the little Flicker shad caught the bigger fish, while the jig produced the most spots. Smallies were right on the bank, chasing threadfins, so the topwater bite should start real soon. Had a big school of gizzards come under the boat, that is what I've been marking at 20' up the L Tenn. Ended with 20 or so in about 3hrs. of real fishing, come on spring. Later Capt. James
2-23-12 Fontana
2-23-12 Fontana Had my friend Glen today for some spots. Weather was unbelievable, water temp as high as 52 riding in a long sleeve t-shirt as it was 70 something midafternoon. Things started a little slow til we made our way up the Tuck, past Wilderness. Hate to keep beating a dead horse, but still getting them on the mini fluke. Bite is a little more aggressive, but many fish on with just a slight change in tension. Most came while jig was between 30-40- feet and within 2-3 feet of bottom. Had good numbers and some nice sized fish, most spots, but several nice smallies. If this weather holds it is going to be ON! Still need to find some eyes, but having too much fun with these spots. Later Capt. James
2-21-12 Fontana
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
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
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
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
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
1-22-12 Fontana
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
