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The classic Galena smallmouth float into Table Rock. The river tops out around 9 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The drawn water covers 1,617 acres wrapped in 91.3 miles of bank. With a shoreline index of 16.2, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. The basin spans about 23.2 mi end to end and 6.6 mi across at its widest. Stone County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Valley Water Mill Lake, is 22 mi to the north.
Spring smallmouth bass on James River hold shallow, usually 2 to 9 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 9 ft in summer, 3 to 9 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) — creek channel, 7 ft, good for winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 9 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 9 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 9 ft. Put Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 7 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 2 to 9 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 2 to 9 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 9 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 9 ft. Put Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 7 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) |
Early season longnose gar use the shallows, holding in 2 to 9 ft. Even in summer they hold at 1 to 9 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 9 ft. The chart's best answer is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) — creek channel, 7 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is midday and the evening. Tie on a rope lure or a small white spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft | midday | open water | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 9 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 2 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (7 ft) |
Count 19 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), sits near 7 ft.
Access data: Missouri Department of Conservation — Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Missouri waters are set by the Missouri Department of Conservation — and special regulations can apply to James River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Missouri fishing regulations →
James River is about 9 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, longnose gar on James River.
Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on James River is regulated by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Check the official Missouri regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Valley Water Mill Lake 22 mi · Lake Taneycomo 23 mi · Table Rock Lake 24 mi, MO/AR · Fellows Lake 26 mi · Bull Shoals Lake 43 mi, MO/AR · Stockton Lake 45 mi · Beaver Lake 57 mi, AR · Pomme de Terre Lake 61 mi · North Fork of the White 66 mi · Buffalo National River 67 mi, AR · Niangua River 69 mi · Norfork River 70 mi, AR
See how James River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Missouri · best smallmouth bass lakes in Missouri · best channel catfish lakes in Missouri · best longnose gar lakes in Missouri
Browse all Missouri fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.