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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
Scottsville to Richmond. Virginia's river: ledge smallmouth, giant flatheads and a real muskie fishery. The river tops out around 15 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Traced from the shoreline, James River runs 5,690 acres with 146.8 miles of edge, broken up by 20 islands. With a shoreline index of 13.9, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The basin spans about 51.3 mi end to end and 5.7 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Goochland County. The nearest mapped water is Fluvanna Ruritan Lake, 24 mi to the northwest.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 15 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. Spring smallmouth bass concentrate at Cartersville ledges, a prime-rated rock pile around 5 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Cartersville ledges (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Cartersville ledges (5 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Cartersville ledges (5 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 8.1) (8 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: flathead catfish in 4 to 15 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 15 ft through summer, 5 to 15 ft in winter. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 12.1), an eddy pocket in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for flathead catfish in spring. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 12.1) (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 12.1) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 12.1) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 12.1) (8 ft) |
When the water first warms, blue catfish slide up into 3 to 15 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 15 ft, winter 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0): a creek channel around 11 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0) (11 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0) (11 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | Solite Corporation Dam tailrace (13 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: muskellunge sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Cartersville ledges, a rock pile in the 5 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 12.1) (8 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Tailout eddy (mile 12.1) (8 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Cartersville ledges (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 12.1) (8 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 11 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 12.1) (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0) (11 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0) (11 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0) (11 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: longnose gar in 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 1 to 12 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0), a creek channel in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for longnose gar in fall. Plan around midday and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a rope lure or a small white spinner gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | Solite Corporation Dam tailrace (13 ft) | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | Solite Corporation Dam tailrace (13 ft) | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0) (11 ft) | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 12.1) (8 ft) |
James River also holds common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 43 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Solite Corporation Dam tailrace, sits near 13 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Virginia waters are set by the Virginia DWR — and special regulations can apply to James River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Virginia fishing regulations →
James River is about 15 ft (5 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, flathead catfish, blue catfish, muskellunge, channel catfish, longnose gar, common carp on James River.
Cartersville ledges is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. 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 Virginia DWR. Check the official Virginia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Fluvanna Ruritan Lake 24 mi · Lake Anna 30 mi · Horsepen Lake 30 mi · Lake Nottoway 36 mi · Lake Chesdin 37 mi · Lake Orange 38 mi · Briery Creek Lake 41 mi · Rappahannock River 56 mi · Lake Shenandoah 65 mi · Lake Gordon 68 mi · Lake Brittle 77 mi · Lake Gaston 78 mi, NC/VA
See how James River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Virginia · best channel catfish lakes in Virginia · best muskellunge lakes in Virginia · best flathead catfish lakes in Virginia
Browse all Virginia fishing maps. 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.