heyitskirby

Clarksville still muddy, but Rudd's Creek is clear looking from 58. Water is dropping now, don't know exact elevation.

Sam - You've mentioned the throw cushion before...whats the rule on that? Mine is on top of everything in the compartment I stow it in....does that work? Had a courtesy Coast Guard inspection once and they said it just need to be easily accessible with nothing on top of it......

Cabela's KingKat tourney is on the 14th as well. I imagine there will be a big turnout after last summer's big catches.

3.5 lbs in the cove by the house.... My roommate caught a 1+ lb sunfish on a cane pole while I was down there too!

Which launch?

2 lber on Buggs Island in the cove by the house. Threw a watermelon senko away from the dock into some bushes. Water is WAY up and, but mostly clearing.

Coming in the next couple of weeks is the Shad run on the James River. Hit up Bass Pro or any local shop and ask for Shad darts and spoons. Throw on a slip bullet weight, a swivel, and a 12" leader. Go to across Mayo Island to the flood wall park and head down river on the rocks. Cast. Retrieve. Repeat. One of the best experiences you will ever have on an on day.

Anyone have any thoughts on what this weather is going to do to the spawn?

This isn't true for all of them, but Gaston and Buggs Island you can fish any part of the lake with either an NC or VA license. South Holston is the exception. It requires a completely separate license.

http://www.spottails.com/ This guy fishes Cape Romain and put us on two good size fish in mid-August (not a good time for Reds). Runs out of a small Action Craft boat with a good casting deck. You will be sight casting with top water. After the heat turned up mid-day, admitted to us that the weather wasn't right. Tried fishing for some trout and then cut us a cheaper deal when he took us in early due to inactivity. Runs trips because he loves fishing for Reds and realized after retirement that since it was what he was doing every day he should try and share the experience and make a little money. Exciting trip for me and sold me on Reds as the superior sport fish (don't tell anyone I said that.......)

Staying on this lake while working down here. Planning on moving my boat down here in the next couple of weeks. Mostly been after catfish from the bank but in an hour of fishing over the last 3 days I've caught 1.5 lb white bass and a 1 lb largemouth. Not sure yet what species I plan on focusing on (crappie, cats, bass) but as always I want to be mostly bass fishing. Will post anything I catch, but would appreciate some tips as well. Curious about the disease issue...only affecting bass? Anything to worry about food-wise? My roommates want some catfish and crappie for the table.... And speaking of cats....NC...in case you did not know...world record Blue Catfish was caught near Clarksville late last summer.

Thank you - haven't been on here in a while. Busy with work and no time spent fishing. First fish for the season has me fired up. Ready for this time change, so I'll be able to go fishing after work.

Fished for the first time today since last October. Staying at a house across the street from Buggs Island while working near here and caught this white bass on the little cove we're on.... It was my first white bass and after reading sounds like a good size (big wide belly on the girl...) Caught on a Rapala original, shad color.

I have my cushion stowed away, but its the first thing you see when you open the compartment....CG said it just couldn't have anything on top of it. Sam, being our resident expert on throw cushions, does this work? Fished Bear Creek from the bank last summer and had luck with a senko on every piece of wood I found fallen into the water.

Sam - where we started off was was on the northern bank within sight (after the fog burned off) of the bridge. Had good luck there and was glad for the fog since I'd never fished that area. Will take your Tuckahoe Creek advice in the future. There was one creek mouth there where we fished up river of the bridge, but didn't hit on anything right there. My best luck has always been where the thick grass used to be on the channel edge across from the park. Also, my dad and his nightcrawlers were hitting on eating size sunnies all morning. Even the shorter ones were real fat.

Had a good time this morning before the skiers and jet skis showed up. On the water at 7AM and off around 11. Fog was bad to start, visibility less than 100 yards. Motored slowly down river towards the bridge and gave up getting any further until the sun came out. Caught five 1 - 1.5 lbers (mixed bag smallies and LMB) on a black buzzbait and switched to a cinnamon senko when the fog cleared. Water was super clear until Robious Park. I should have switched colors when I got into the muddy conditions, but was stubborn since I caught this one. One of the best fighting fish I've caught in a while. Felt like a redfish trying to bull its way back to the bottom.

Real shallow and small cove. I've tried just about everything and managed only two finger size bass on a nightcrawler while trying to catch catfish bait. I've never caught a gar either.

I just started renting a house on Buggs Island while I work on a project nearby and have noticed several gar living in the cove we are on. Anyone have any suggestions for what to throw at them? Terminal tackle suggestions would be helpful as well (leaders, etc?)

We mostly target big Blue Cats here, but I've fished for Channel Cats with live minnows and then kept using them after they died. The cats don't care. Best bet for using live bait (other than worms) is to catch fish in the body of water you plan on fishing and then use it, either cut or live. We usually will set a gill net for an hour or so for shad and cut them in thirds. Use the head and body, throw out the tail. I think the funnest way to do it is to go fishing for bluegill in the late evening and then use them for catfish bait at night. Allows you to target different species with a purpose.

I might be renting a spot on a lake long term close to where I'm working. I've noticed you never see any bass boats docked long term. I assume this is mostly because people tend to fish different spots, but are there any adverse affects to keeping your boat on the water in season? I don't ever have time to fish (three times on the boat this year...luckily its paid off) and would like to just keep it on the water so I can leave my truck at home (have a company vehicle) and have time to fish after work. Thoughts? EDIT: Just thought about charging batteries...I guess I could pull an extension cord all the way out there...are the boats grounded well enough to not cause a shock hazard? (Its a Nitro).

Speaking of needing rain in Central VA...how's Chesdin doing now? Last went four weeks ago, but it was only my second time, so I have no comparisons.

Remembering the way I was taught as a kid. As they get older...keep instilling in them that the fish can hear you when they talk....that way they stay quiet. I tried to teach my wife this, but she knows better.

Tackle Express is at the intersection of Midlothian and Robious. There used to be more, but I think thats the last one. Powhatan Lakes and Powhatan Ponds have been popular places as of late. Check the Va DGIF website for public spots to fish. Pocahontas offers boat rentals as does Bear Creek Lake State Park if you are up for a drive. Wading out of Maidens Landing is a good option without a boat if you are willing to get wet. Check out your options for Shad (during the Spring) and Catfishing from the bank on the James if you want to do anything other than bass fishing. The shad are about the most exciting fishing you will find in freshwater VA in my opinion, do not miss this run.

What about Bear Creek? Close enough and you can rent boats...

On a 5" senko they will do nothing but annoy the crap out of you. Like Sam said...small grubs or minnows. Assuming you are bank fishing beetle spins will be great. And you will catch about any type of fish in there on them.