- Water temperature - 54-56 degrees
- Target species - Blue Catfish
- Anglers - Greg, David and John
Back up Virginia way for round two and the last trip of 2009 in this direction. We left early Friday morning and stopped at Weldon to add 30 more Hickory Shad to the 20 that John and Jimmy caught the day before. The water is very high but we found the shad very near the ramp. We put 27 in the cooler and decided we should get on the road. We got to the river, secured a slip for the boat for the night and off we went. We decided to fish downriver this trip. Even though the forcast was for lighter winds....that sure didn't happen. It was windy and cold as usual. We marked a lot of fish and set up in those areas. We had a decent first day but it seemed like the very small cats were so thick that it made it hard for the big ones to be around. We finished up under the BHB and David lost a really big fish while I caught the days biggest at 24 pounds. It was a nice day even though I was battling a gastro intestinal hell bug that made me personally responsible for destroying an entire ancient Indian settlement on the East bank of the river. We checked in to the hotel and I was surprised to find I am a special, special man. We made our way to the Mexican place and then off to sleep we went.
We got up bright and early on Saturday and were back on the river. We made a pretty good run down river to fish deeper water. We found some nice structure and there we fished. A few minutes after we got there, David caught his personal best. A nice 51 pound Blue Cat. We fished there a while longer and caught a few. We then worked our way back to the bridge and finished up there in some crazy wind. The gill net that John got worked great and we now have a much easier task when getting bait on the river. We ended the trip with a respectable 38 fish but the size just wasn't what we hoped for. It looks like upriver may have been a better choice. It was still a blast and I can't wait til I can go again in 2010.
James River
Facts, Truisms and Whims.......
- There are more Osprey's and Bald Eagles on that river than anywhere I have ever heard about or seen. Amazing. Throw in the Peregrine Falcons at the BHB and it is a Raptor paradise.
- The James River is so full of Blue Catfish, it is RIDICULOUS. All the small ones prove this will be a great place for years to come.
- Fishing strong tides in fresh water is interesting and fun.
- Blue Catfish do not fight particularly hard....but the currents in the river make it more fun.
- The allowance of gill nets on the river is an example of GREAT fisheries management that keeps the anglers in mind. This is largely opposite in NC where overreactive fisheries mangement rules (example......River Herring)
- It is a shame that there is so much junk and junky places along the river. I notice this at all the rivers I visit in Virginia. Wouldn't be that hard to pick up a few tons of rusty junk out of your yard every now and then.
- The people in Hopewell are pretty nice.
- Watching Peregrine Falcons fly above you as the sun sets does not suck.
- Bird poop travels fast and hard in the wind.
- People lose a lot of anchors under the BHB bridge. We caught and brought up two nice ones!!!! Thanks guys!!!
- I wish the river was a lot closer.
