Hey fellow fisherman,

Some friends and I fished Belle Isle on the Historic James River in Richmond, Va this last Tuesday. We caught a ton of sunfish throwing grubs, and a few channel cats on some fresh cut bait. We got a few smallies on some crawfish shaped crankbaits, nothing too big. We were limited to the shore, no wading, because we were on a school trip. The area we fished was a beach type area that you reach by turning left off the footbridge if you are walking in from the city. Even without wading, the trip was fairly enjoyable, and we are planning to head back Thursday afternoon. So now, my question is, do any of you guys know of any particularly good spots in the Belle Isle area, for catfish, bass, or anything else? And, have you found any specific lures or baits to work well there other than the standard stuff you would throw at Pony Pasture or Huguenot Flat-water? Thanks in advance! (:

I haven't fished the area a ton, but when I do, I look for the boulders. Fishing the current-protected side of boulders (potential ambush points) with soft plastics and crankbaits has given me at least one bass each time I've gone out.

Just about anywhere on or around Belle Isle will produce. I just tend to look for spots where I can move around some, either on shore or rock hopping.

Hope you do well in the Historic James River.

 

For catfish, use an octopus hook with fish heads or bodies for catfish.  Anything that stinks works great!

 

For bass, throw white grubs.

 

Good luck.

A friend and I fished the other end of Belle Isle a few weeks back did OK.  We found luck with a Silver Jointed Rapala and White 3 inch grubs.  

if your near the belle isle area you should try the area above the 14th street bridge, very big smallies the more boulders the more fish, wading is your best bet.