When December rolls around many of us in Virginia just pack up the fishing equipment, winterize the boat, and hunker down to hide from the cold but that can be a mistake. Temps are always higher in there.
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When you do locate concentrations of fish drop your baits down on fish-finder rigs with 2 3 oz weights and 7/0 or 8/0 circle hooks, remember Buggs is where the current 94 pound state record Blue comes from so be prepared for big fish. Here are 2 links from my
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The James River features some of the best wintertime action for both smallmouth and largemouth bass in the Old Dominion. braid. From sandy bottomed creek shoes to the comforts of boat speeding over the water, serious catfishing is quite different than smallmouth fishing in the James. All rights Watching barge traffic on the James River and trying to familiarize. WELL.I have used
Route 643 leads to the river left put-in. James River Overview The mighty James River flows from the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers across the state to the Chesapeake Bay. In the James carp typically reach 10 pounds, and anglers occasionally take carp up to 30 pounds. DGIF: A
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This article is intended to point out some of the more prevalent winter fishing opportunities out there in our state and maybe inspire you to try and get out and catch yourself some fish rather than sit on the couch waiting for spring. "Don't use trailers longer than that in a river during the winter. A James River Batteau is a flat-bottom boat designed specifically to navigate the shallow waters of Virginia's James River. West considers this float ideal for wintertime paddlers because it features a number of rocky pools where the smallies can escape the current.
barge and ship traffic and
This is another trip where anglers can launch from an access point (that is, at Maidens), and motor or paddle upstream and encounter quality deep-water structure and cover. You know when it's coming by barge, it's big news. 100
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In the morning, enjoy your coffee along the banks before jumping back in your boat and letting the river carry you away. You can also try the Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Nottoway and Potomac for wintertime bass and catfish. Duane and Jack were upbeat, though; but was that good cheer the result of confidence in their respective skill levels or just the optimism most anglers feel at the beginning of any trip? "I retrieve this lure very slowly, and add a little stop-and-go motion. You can easily have success in the upper James on foot but you just cannot be as efficient in small island hopping and hitting all those hidden spots the way a fishing kayak and a simplekayak trolling motor will get you around. could see
The guide also strongly recommends that people wear lifejackets at all times. them as an agent. For the boating fisherman, its important to find yourself a river that has serious diversity of species and fishing opportunities. A couple places to get
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Jack West and I launched from the campground at Natural Bridge one Saturday morning last winter. A few Class Is and riffles dot the Bent Creek journey, but the real reason why the winter action can be fabulous is that this trip offers a number of deep, rock-laden pools. In addition to excellent bass fishing, the tidal James supports a nationally recognized trophy blue catfish fishery, with people from around the country, nearby states, and all areas of the Commonwealth traveling to localities near the James (such as Richmond) to fish for big blue cats in the James. |
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(-17590 in the category plus 17685 in keyword search) A barge is a long, narrow boat built with a flat bottom, traditionally designed for carrying heavy cargo over water, particularly on inland waterways. To obtain a copy, send a check to Ingram at P.O. Everything we do is in service of others so that we can make life better for our colleagues, our customers, our communities, our Commonwealth, and our country. licenses presented in
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2 in canal. Additional information can be found on the VMRC website. Features quick-change barrel system. the river..If you
The Model 336 is expected to be launched soon; the Model 1894 should launch this spring. can be the biggest threat
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Even with a GPS and charts someone should show you around in the Spray Pit Channel and Barge Pit the first time. fishing. In recent years the number of hickory shad in Virginias rivers has increased. The place has a great beach to hang out on. Subscriber Services. a
with the James River in VA
West relates that the Glasgow excursion contains a number of deep, rocky pools below the many rapids that exist. scattered. old wrecks and barges you
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Roaring through the water, pushed by our 150 horsepower motor I realized that this river was as long as the state! changing. This is a long trip, but I rate it as having some excellent cold-water bass habitat and is well worth your time, especially if you live in the Richmond area. If you hook
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from 12-30 inches long. Many guys catch
For a pig, I like a Case Salty Trailer, which is about 1 1/2 inches long.
A too-long trailer will cause the jig to ride up and lose contact with the bottom. For Buggs winter Stripers, the area around Clarksville seems to be where good concentrations of the line siders will roam. hours of outgoing tide, on
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The tidal portion of the James River below Richmond offers excellent prospects for those fishermen that venture out on winter days.
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For catfish fish the same as you would the James, look for deep holes, especially those with structure or cover and drop your lines. When the water warms into the high 40s, a third proven winner is the old walleye three-way swivel setup, with a tube as bait, and a bottom-bouncing sinker. These pit areas are not nearly as warm as the first two areas but due to the openness of them and their relatively shallow, slow flowing waters, they tend to warm from the Sun more then the rest of the river so they can be good place to target, especially on sunny days.
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I fished the BASS open last year on the James and my partners both days wanted to run the low tide. Popular jaunts like Pony Pasture can put you on the other end of a 10lb flathead catfish. Common carp are abundant from Hog Island upstream to Richmond. mornings. Excellent fishing exists throughout the river. At the
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Now go out there and try some of them out and as always be safe and tight lines.
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If you do encounter birds feeding try to approach the area as stealthily as possible, you can then cast buck-tails into the area where the feeding is going on. In recent years, striped bass (rockfish) fishing has been excellent in the tidal James River. around the
The smallies hold off faster-moving sections of the upper James. Eels, Up to 10 oz. buoy
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Public boat access in the freshwater fishing section the tidal James River is available at: Excellent black crappie angling is available for those who know how to locate them, with numerous 1213 inch crappie weighing 1 to 1.5 pounds available. 804-706-9100, FIN & SKIN BAIT
At the Barge Pits, what you have are a number of old wooden barges that were placed there years ago and that have become great bass cover. The mono leader
Last week, Stone Brewing announced some big expansion plans to its East Coast hub of Richmond, Va., which has only been around for about six years. At the headwaters of the James, Musky are stocked and can be had in the spring for the best opportunities! EarthNC
For Blue Catfish, try fishing fresh cut bait around channel drops near the middle portion of the lake. Adding apontoon trolling motor to the family pontoon boat, or a transom mount trolling motor to an old jon boat are easy ways to get on the water on a budget. assistance, contact
804-795-5917. They're west of the Presquille wild life refuge and east of the rt 295 bridge. weather links to read
the fishing
Duane Richards of Vinton hoists a good-sized smallie that he caught last winter while fishing the James above Glasgow. The Company's current operating status is ACTIVE. the braided line will
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License News from
See attached map and photos. Also
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Ukidden caught the monster today, April 1st, on a pink Banjo Minnow and a Shakespeare Ultra Light Ugly Stick using a special two pound mono from India. Customers can contact
There are many lower unit eating obstacles in in the Barge Pit. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years.
nothing like
These are incredible spots to pull up and drop your trolling motor and hunt for big mouths. mono when using pliers to
Crappie are found in most of the same areas the large mouths are. view How Far is
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The mighty James River flows from the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson. you have Goggle Earth
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In response to many inquiries, Virginia Outdoors asked Capt. Hundreds of 30 to 60 pound blue catfish are caught from the tidal James and its tributaries each year. after the slideshow
Liebherr 420 Mobile Harbor Crane, Richmond Marine Terminal wildlife and
board!! Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller gets more info from Hawke's Paige Shipe at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Ramp (upper leg)
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Second while cat-fishermen will anchor in a spot, fish it for around a half hour, and then move on to their next spot, those fishing for stripers will often drift fish to cover a lot of water in search of their quarry. "I especially like the deeper, downstream ends of larger islands and good-size inside curves that are calm and form large eddies," the guide says. things to
At 30 years old, I realized I would have to give the rest of my life to fully appreciate the James River at its full potential. Benjamin Harrison Bridge
During the fall season, striper fishing on the James is generally best downstream of the I-295 Bridge, with stripers also found in many of the larger tidal tributaries from the Appomattox River downstream. red buoy
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Wintertime action for largemouth bass on the tidal James can be just as good, although I must emphasize that cold-water fishing on both the upper and lower James is weather dependent. Anglers unfamiliar with the tidal James should be aware that some of the best largemouth fishing in this system is found in tidal tributaries from the Appomattox River down to Upper Chippokes Creek tributaries below this are more likely to be impacted by spikes in salinity. dip net, crab
scroll on down below the
Deep Bottom
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This is my spot; I spend a lot of time on this river and it's a dream to have a fishery like this that is so close to home. completely automated,
Although frozen bait can be used, fresh-caught gizzard shad or eels are generally best. So you
The tidal James River system supports a nationally recognized largemouth bass fishery, and was the site of previous Bass Master Classics and the 2003 FLW Tour Championship. that
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It played important roles in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. A popular rig for these guys, that get as big as 30lbs, is the use of live bluegill rigged on a sinker and cast below falls. While most citation-size blue cats from the James are caught between Dutch Gap and Sturgeon Point, opportunities to catch catfish can be found from Hog Island to Richmond. For example a friend of mine and his partner, on a recent January outing, caught 40 largemouth in the 1 to 2-pound range. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. and especially around
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But be CAREFUL for submerged wrecks. Software
The James is a great place to float, fish, and camp. The NWTF is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. What draws these anglers is the opportunity to catch fish which regularly weigh between 30 and 50 pounds. from hundreds of DGIF
licenses for
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Our commitment to embracing the most cutting-edge technology and data into everything we do translates into providing you with tools for everything from identifying a site for your relocation, to tracking your cargo in real time, to getting live looks at our terminals. protectors rather than
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Off the main channel of the James you will find several shallow back waters called the barge pits. Second look for areas of the rivers that are deeper. And with 24/7 support, our customer service team is reader to field any questions you might have. usuallyyou will
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Available for Lease: 89 acres, Barge docking up to 5 depending on length, James River Barge Service provides weekly container-on-barge service from Hampton Roads, 7,775 L.F. track on site
Return a spinnerbait just fast enough that you can feel the blades turning. "Fishing the Barge Pits is like fishing a small lake, and the same is true at several major gravel pits: the Meeks, Working and Canal pits. important to keep up with
Walker Towing Corporation was purchased in 1994 and the two companies were merged under James Marine, Inc. Paducah River Fuel Services, purchased in 1995 . Depending on the size of the boat you are in you might also need to keep an eye on your depth finder, as there are some shallow spots where you can run aground. Hopefully this article has shed some light on the many opportunities that await the Virginia fishermen during the winter. punching holes, plus
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Osborne Landing
things to be careful of. From the time that Native Americans lived along the banks of the James River, it was a vital part of the livelihood of Virginia. carry them in a 3 ring
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Their business is recorded as corp. This action will be sporadic so dont get discouraged if you dont catch fish every trip. Public boat access in the freshwater fishing section the tidal James River is available at the following locations: For more information about the tidal James River, contact: Virginia DWR to Wilcox
State of Incorpration: . then through the tough
We have faced days where the water is as still as glass and others where the waves capped like something out in the bay. 2009, Home
We like to traverse these tidal waters with a powerful 150 horsepower motor, but switch to a trolling motor once we find our spot. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. listings: 11600Jefferson Davis
Warning: During the winter months, Balcony can metamorphose into a Class IV rapid. good area to
The barge set up is a slow one: A trip up the James River takes 12 hours. license agents located
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The James, New, and Shenandoah, are good places to try out. miles, 15. found. wildlife and
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For guided trips with Roger Jones, contact him at Hook, Line, and Sinker Guide Service (800-597-1708). saw
White perch are caught in good numbers throughout the river using plastic grubs, beetle spins, or grass shrimp. In the video above, Leopold's Shawn Skipper highlights the features of the exciting new optics with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. river: The below link is ONLY for
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Hoisting engine of the crane barge "Monarch," as featured in the Hudson River Maritime Museum's East Gallery.
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The third choice is a 4-inch suspending jerkbait with an olive back and silver sides. During the spring season, stripers are caught throughout the tidal James, using traditional striper lures.
Another favorite haunt of Jones' is the Deep Bottom area, which is right above Curls Neck. website on
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out. World . The Old Dominion sportsman likes to slow roll this lure across wood cover, and he stresses that the bait must be inched along - the bass will rarely chase any lure now. A restoration program for American Shad was initiated in 1992, stocked fish have returned to the James as adults to spawn. Today they are the perfect boat to get you out on the river having fun. to Rivers Rest:
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