Hey folks!

I've been looking through this site the past few weeks and am really impressed. Thanks to everyone for contributing the great info. Figure I might as well create a profile and say hello.

After taking 20 years off from fishing, I'm looking to start up again and drown some worms. Went out a couple weeks ago with my kids to the pier at Amelia Lake and got skunked but am ready to try again. For those familiar with the Richmond area, I live just down the road from Innsbrook and Echo Lake.

- Mike

 

Welcome to the forums!

Jeff

Welcome aboard, Mike!

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

A-Jay

Greetings and Welcome to the forums

 

Welcome, enjoy the forums.

Welcome!

Oh, a west end guy. With the new Cabela's, Dick's, Wegmann's, Green Top, Short Pump Fashion Park, REI, heavy traffic, lots of traffic signals, crazy drivers, construction going on everywhere there is a blade of grass, and some fine eating establishments you never have to visit the Capitol of the Confederacy and look for parking spaces!!!!

Welcome aboard. Wonderful having you with us.

First, let me suggest you do the following:

1.  Go to Bass Pro Shops (or Cabela's/Dick's) and pick up a free copy of Freshwater Fishing in Virginia from the DG&IF. Get a few copies and look it over, especially the places you can fish without a boat throughout the state. Look for Henrico County as there are a number of places in the West End that you and the family can fish from the bank. Put a copy in your car, at work, at home and give one each to your kids. Great reading.

2.  BPS has a stronger fishing department than Cabela's so please shop there for your tackle. Ask for one of the Mike's, Patrick or Conner as they bass fish tournaments and know bass fishing. Mike Gunn is a great guy and he has forgotten more about bass fishing than the regular bass fisherman knows. Big Mike Johnson is a riot and an excellent bass fisherman, too. Ask the "Mike's", Patrick and Conner about rods, reels, line, baits, tackle and places to fish.

3.  Lake Rooty in Innsbrook was cleaned out when they killed the grass but you and the family can try your luck at that lake or the concrete pond on Cox Road. No guarantee you will catch anything.

4.  Look up Ed. Allen's campground on the Chickahominy Lake and rent a boat or fish off their pier.

5.  Places to fish along the Historic James River by Byrd Park are available but I don't like them as it is a challenge to get to the water and then sharing the location with the snakes. But Wdycrankbait on this site fishes the Historic James from the bank and maybe he can help you. I will ask him to add a post.

6. Echo Lake is OK but hard to fish. You will catch a number of smaller bass and if you are lucky, maybe one over two pounds. Once again, Wdycrankbait can help you with Echo Lake.

Welcome to the Forum. Always great t have another guy from Virginia join us.

 

Welcome!  As Sam mentioned I fish Echo a fair amout.  it's tough, but I know there are some really good fish in there!  Flat cranks in the early spring, the lake is a lot shallower then it looks.  I have done well with topwater early and green pumpkin Yamamotoes (sp?).  A lot of slime on the bottom of that lake.  So, personally I would try a spinner bait, or big fluke type of lure. 

Also, I would honestly take your spinning rod out there to Echo and fish finesse lures.  Power fishing is not the way to go in Echo, very shallow with slime everywhere.  But, there are some healthy fish in there! 

Hope that helps!!!

Thanks, all, for the greetings and tips. Much appreciated!

Welcome to Bass Resource. Enjoy reading & contributing in the forums.

Welcome!  I'm fairly new to fishing and so far I've seen several people here mentioned getting skunked.  I'm guessing that not literal right?  I'm assuming that means no catches?  

Welcome!

2 hours ago, itspj said:

Welcome!  I'm fairly new to fishing and so far I've seen several people here mentioned getting skunked.  I'm guessing that not literal right?  I'm assuming that means no catches?  

Yes, skunked=no fish

Welcome Home! We're glad you're here.

Hey. I'm a little less of a newbie now. This morning I went out to Echo Lake in Henrico County and caught my first largemouth (about 18"). Woo-hoo! I've been reading up on the Midwest Finesse techniques on the In-Fisherman site and used a junebug-colored Yum Dinger on a red mushroom jig. It's beginner's luck but I'll take it.

 

Welcome to the forums!

13 hours ago, bendem said:

Hey. I'm a little less of a newbie now. This morning I went out to Echo Lake in Henrico County and caught my first largemouth (about 18"). Woo-hoo! I've been reading up on the Midwest Finesse techniques on the In-Fisherman site and used a junebug-colored Yum Dinger on a red mushroom jig. It's beginner's luck but I'll take it.

 

Healthy bass wasn't it?

Welcome aboard!