chef, i've caught some crappie in timber along bluffs up the james. if you put in at cape fair, go up river and there will be a huge bluff on your right along a sharp bend. the outside of this bend produced some good fish for me. also try piney creek, which is down river from cape fair. there is also another creek that is productive just down from cape fair, but i can't remember the name of it. hope this helps.