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Lake James

Lake fishing  Indiana · 05:05 - 20:17

Lake James is a lake in Indiana. The fish here are ranked by weather, water temperature and season, see the likely catch below.

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Conditions right now

Weather
Partly cloudy
Water temp (est.)
68°F
Air temp
58°F
Wind
7 mph
Pressure
29.7 inHg ↓ falling
Clouds
98.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dusk 19:02–21:02 Night 21:02–04:20

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Next hours

07:00
58°
08:00
60°
09:00
64°
10:00
67°
11:00
68°
12:00
67°
13:00
64°
14:00
63°
15:00
60°
16:00
60°
17:00
61°
18:00
65°

Likely catch now (17 species)

Common Carp
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
13%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Channel Catfish
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
13%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
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Blue Catfish
Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
13%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Flathead Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
13%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season.
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Walleye
Walleye
Sander vitreus
10%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.
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Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
5%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
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Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
5%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
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Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
5%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
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Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
4%
Slow during the night, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
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Brook Trout
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
4%
Slow during the night, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
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Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
3%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.
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Black Crappie
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
3%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.
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Northern Pike
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
3%
Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.
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Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
2%
Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.
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Bluegill
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
2%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, peak season.
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White Bass
White Bass
Morone chrysops
1%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 20 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.
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Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycush
1%
Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.
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About the fishing here

Lake James is a lake in Indiana.

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Walleye and Muskellunge.

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Tips right now

Technique Start with a ledger bait for common carp, the most likely catch right now.
Timing This is a prime window for common carp at night. Fish hard now.
Colour Low light: try red, yellow and strong scent for common carp.
Lure Ledger bait for common carp: Boilies or corn.
Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

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About this water

Lake James

Lake James is a large reservoir in the mountains of Western North Carolina which straddles the border between Burke and McDowell Counties. It is named for tobacco tycoon and benefactor of Duke University James Buchanan Duke. The lake, with surface elevation of 1200 ft, lies behind a series of 3 earthen dams. It was created by Duke Power between 1916 and 1923 as a hydro-electric project. It still generates power today and is the uppermost lake on the Catawba River system.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Jimmerson Lake Indiana · 1.9 mi away Lake Minifenokee Indiana · 3.0 mi away Lake George Indiana · 4.1 mi away Lake Seneca Ohio · 19.7 mi away Papakeechie Lake Indiana · 40.2 mi away Lake Everett Indiana · 40.6 mi away St. Joseph River Indiana · 41.0 mi away St. Joseph River Indiana · 42.1 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Lake James?

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass.

Do you need a fishing license at Lake James?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Lake James?

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

What is biting at Lake James right now?

Right now Common Carp is the most likely catch, at about 13%.