Managed to get on the water for a change last week for a bit.  I loaded up with Medium gear rigged for smallmouth and spent the day on the James River.  While the big brown footballs escaped me, I managed four species on the day: 2 little smallmouth, 1 largemouth, 2 gar (lost one over 40" right at the side of the kayak but boated a 22" - first one ever), and landed my personal best channel cat at 29 1/4".....3/4" shy of a VA freshwater release citation.  All in all, a great day on the water.  

 

Here's the beastly cat.

 

 

 

 

Sounds like a good trip to me

It was!  A long overdue one at that.  It had been almost three years, since I had fished the river.  Sad part is that this spot is only 30 minutes from my house.  Doh!

What stretch of the james were you on and how were the water levels? I have been thinking about heading out to fish the james near scottsville.

Nice cat!!  I'd be breaking out the deep fryer on that one.

What stretch of the james were you on and how were the water levels? I have been thinking about heading out to fish the james near scottsville.

Reedy Creek area in downtown Richmond. I plan on doing the Scottsville to Hardware float at some point. Water levels were down about a foot. The grass islands were all exposed.