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In North Carolina, Lake James is a reservoir used for time on and around the water. At around 6,812 acres (about 11 square miles), it is a mid-sized waterbody. The deepest point reaches about 120 feet, and the surface sits near 1,200 feet above sea level. Fish documented in the area include Green Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch. Water data on this page comes from a mapped monitoring station near the lake. Other waters in the region include Lake Rhodhiss and Lake Lure. For this location, LakeRadar tracks an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, water readings, fishing conditions, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Use the conditions and forecast on this page to decide when to go boating, fishing, or paddling at Lake James.
Updated
No active alerts for this lake as of the last check (Oct 9, 3:22 AM EDT). Alerts are re-checked automatically; see the official source for updates.
Best excellent fishing window, averaging 92/100 across these hours. Measured water temperature 69°F from a representative gauge 3.0 mi away. Provisional data. Wind 0 mph from the northeast. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a | 6a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 58° | 57° | 56° | 56° | 55° | 55° | 58° | 63° | 66° | 70° | 71° | 73° | 74° | 73° | 72° | 71° | 66° | 64° | 63° | 62° | 61° | 61° | 60° | 59° |
| Wind (kts) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Direction | N | N | N | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE | E | E | E | E | E | — | — | — | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Gusts (kts) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 14% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 3 AM EDT | 58°F | 1 mph N (0°) | 2 mph | 0% | 92% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 4 AM EDT | 57°F | 1 mph N (0°) | 2 mph | 0% | 91% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 5 AM EDT | 56°F | 1 mph N (0°) | 4 mph | 0% | 93% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 AM EDT | 56°F | Calm | 4 mph | 0% | 93% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 7 AM EDT | 55°F | Calm | 2 mph | 0% | 91% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 AM EDT | 55°F | Calm | 2 mph | 0% | 97% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 AM EDT | 58°F | Calm | 4 mph | 0% | 91% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 AM EDT | 63°F | Calm | 4 mph | 0% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 AM EDT | 66°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 85% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 12 PM EDT | 70°F | 1 mph NE (45°) | 6 mph | 0% | 86% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 1 PM EDT | 71°F | 2 mph ENE (68°) | 7 mph | 0% | 87% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 2 PM EDT | 73°F | 2 mph ENE (68°) | 8 mph | 0% | 86% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 3 PM EDT | 74°F | 2 mph ENE (68°) | 8 mph | 0% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 4 PM EDT | 73°F | 2 mph ENE (68°) | 7 mph | 0% | 84% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 5 PM EDT | 72°F | 1 mph ENE (68°) | 7 mph | 0% | 87% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 PM EDT | 71°F | Calm | 6 mph | 0% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 7 PM EDT | 66°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 90% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 PM EDT | 64°F | Calm | 5 mph | 1% | 90% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 PM EDT | 63°F | 1 mph NE (45°) | 5 mph | 1% | 93% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 PM EDT | 62°F | 1 mph NE (45°) | 6 mph | 1% | 92% | Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 PM EDT | 61°F | 1 mph NNE (23°) | 6 mph | 1% | 94% | Cloudy |
| Sat, 12 AM EDT | 61°F | 2 mph NE (45°) | 8 mph | 2% | 95% | Cloudy |
| Sat, 1 AM EDT | 60°F | 2 mph NE (45°) | 9 mph | 2% | 95% | Cloudy |
| Sat, 2 AM EDT | 59°F | 2 mph NE (45°) | 9 mph | 14% | 97% | Cloudy |
| Sat, 3 AM EDT | 59°F | 3 mph NE (45°) | 12 mph | 17% | 98% | Slight Chance Rain Showers |
Official National Weather Service hourly forecast. Showing 10 of 25 hours. Wind arrows point the way the wind is blowing; the compass point and degrees show where it comes from.
| Period | Overnight October 9, 2026 | Friday October 9, 2026 | Friday Night October 9, 2026 | Saturday October 10, 2026 | Saturday Night October 10, 2026 | Sunday October 11, 2026 | Sunday Night October 11, 2026 | Columbus Day October 12, 2026 | Monday Night October 12, 2026 | Tuesday October 13, 2026 | Tuesday Night October 13, 2026 | Wednesday October 14, 2026 | Wednesday Night October 14, 2026 | Thursday October 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 55° | 75° | 55° | 64° | 58° | 73° | 60° | 78° | 55° | 84° | 57° | 82° | 55° | 77° |
| Wind | N 1 mph | NNE 2 mph | NE 0 to 5 mph | NE 6 to 12 mph | NE 7 to 12 mph | SE 7 mph | WSW 5 mph | WNW 5 to 10 mph | NW 5 mph | W 2 mph | W 2 mph | W 1 mph | 0 mph | SSE 1 mph |
| Gusts | 4 mph | 8 mph | 15 mph | 24 mph | 27 mph | 18 mph | 15 mph | 20 mph | 13 mph | 8 mph | 7 mph | 6 mph | 5 mph | 6 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 41% | 92% | 100% | 97% | 28% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 10% | 10% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Lake James. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
CATAWBA R AT SR1223 BL LK JAMES NR BRIDGEWATER, NC · Oct 9, 7:00 AM UTC
Excellent for fishing (93/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Measured water temperature 69°F from a representative gauge 3.0 mi away. Provisional data. Wind 1 mph from the west. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (82%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Excellent for boating (99/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 1 mph from the west. Gusts to 5 mph. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility and conditions, verified water access. Confidence is moderate (84%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Fair for sailing (66/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts are within 4 mph of sustained wind, so the breeze is steady. No active official alerts for this lake. Working against it: Wind 1 mph is light; expect limited sailing. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Excellent for kayaking (98/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 1 mph from the west. Gusts to 5 mph. Confidence is high (90%).
Surface water measured at 69°F. Air and water contrast evaluate recreational immersion comfort.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of NC Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Nestled in NC, Lake James is an attractive freshwater reservoir celebrated for its open water, scenic shoreline, and productive sport fishery. From spring pre-spawn fishing to peak summer watersports, the lake remains a popular regional destination. Keep watercraft clean, drained, and dry to safeguard this aquatic resource.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is required for anglers age 16+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Current motorized watercraft registration mandatory. Practice Clean, Drain & Dry protocols: drain all livewells and inspect props before launching. Life jackets required for all passengers.
Public shoreline and boating access managed by State & Local Authorities. Verify seasonal gate hours, launch fees, and parking rules before travel.
High-speed motorboating, pontoon cruising, wakeboarding, and water skiing across main channels. Target gamefish include Green Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Bluegill, Yellow Perch. Morning hours typically provide optimal glassy conditions for kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) touring.
Warm water temperatures, peak swimming, active watersports, and open full-service campgrounds. Highest weekly attendance; plan early arrivals on summer weekends.
Spring pre-spawn and fall feeding transitions create prime trophy angling conditions. Cooler air, lower boat traffic, and vibrant seasonal shoreline foliage.
Mild year-round outdoor climate. Uncrowded waters, active winter bass and crappie fishing, and open year-round boat launch access.
No external source rows are cited by the data currently shown on this page.
Updated
Scores are heuristics, not safety guarantees. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
All telemetry for Lake James is synchronized directly from authorized federal and state monitoring networks (USGS, NWS, NOAA, and state environmental authorities). Observations are strictly instrumented readings — unmonitored sensors are transparently disclosed rather than synthetic estimates.
Last source audit: Oct 9, 3:22 AM EDT