Thanks Sam for all the great info.  Regarding the swamp at Lake Chesdin and safety, is this because of submerged rocks and trees or something else.  I’m in a kayak with a trolling motor.  
 

also have you heard of Lake Chesdin Park north side sort of across from Lake Chesdin Campground?   Here’s a link.  https://goo.gl/maps/Hdper44BpGUAm3iH9.  This would be much closer for me.   Seems like there isn’t a lot of launch sites on the north side of Lake Chesdin or even the James.  

John, yes, I have heard of Lake Chesdin Park but was told it is a private ramp for the people living in that subdivision.

 

I have no idea who to call to find out if you can launch from their ramp but maybe you can find a phone number for Chesdin Landing and speak with someone in authority who would know and give you permission to launch. There are a lot of realtors working Chesdin Landing and if you call one I am sure they will tell you if the ramp is open to the pulblic or private. Just tell them that you saw Chesdin Landing on Google and their ramp and was wondering about it.

 

And yes, lots of boulders and hidden stumps getting into the Swamp.

 

So if you do venture there go slow and watch the water all around you until you get past the Cypress trees.

 

As for launch sites, not many on the Historic James River, but I will try to give you the list:

Historic James Above Boshers' Dam

1.  Watkins Landing

2.  Robious Landing Park

3.  American Legion Post 354 private ramp behind Tarrington Subdivision

4.  Traylor Park Estates private ramp

5.  Way up river by the 522 Bridge or Scottsville. (You will need someone to drive your car to Watkins Landing or Robious Landing Park so you can get home. Rapids will prevent you from turning around and heading back to either the 522 Bridge or Scottsville, depending on how far down river you go.)

 

If the American Legion Post is open, as it is on the third Thursday of the month, other than for November and December, after 5 PM, in back of Tarrington on the river and you can get permission you can launch from their ramp. Only problem is that the ramp is full of river mud and you will get your feet and shoes/socks soaked in river mud and you will not be able to launch a boat trailer due to the mud.

 

Go to Welby Turn and note the Legion sign. You may be able to go by on Wednesdays as there is a work crew there on Wednesdays. If you are interested, let me know and I can put you in touch with the guys working at the Legion Post so you can recon the place.

 

Traylor Estates has a private ramp off Cherokee Road but once again, you have to know someone living in Traylor Estates and get the gate key.

 

Historic James Below Boshers' Dam

1.  Huguenot Flatwater

2.  Any place you can find along Riverside Drive to put and take kayak out, if possible. No parking, other than for a small lot just east of the Huguenot Bridge. Not kayak friendly bank.

3.  A private ramp.

 

Your best bets are Watkins Landing, Robious Landing Park and Huguenot Flatrock. All three are kayak friendly.

 

As for Lake Chesdin, Whipponock Creek is a great place to launch. They have good parking; safe area; nice people; BATHROOMS!; low ramp fee (I think it is $10) and you will be in the heart of some of the best Lake Chesdin fishing on both sides of the Whipponock Creek bridge.

 

I could ask my neighbor on Cherokee Road below Boshers Dam if the old path to the river is still open. Only problem is parking your vehicle. You will have to park by my house by the Dominion Power line and walk two blocks to the path's gate, carrying or towing your kayak. Or take a chance and park on Saratoga Road close to Cherokee Road

 

Go on Google and look at Cherokee Road and you can see Saratoga Road and the power line.

 

Historic James River Below I-95 Bridge (TIDAL)

This is tidal water and as long as you watch the tides you will be OK.

Here are some of the ramps you can put your kayak in the river:

1.  Ancarrow's Ramp (not the best place but you can park there and take a chance your car will be there when you get back)

2.  Osborne Landing

3.  Dutch Gap Ramp off Osborne Road

4.  Richmond Yacht Basin Marina (if they will allow you to launch)

5.  Hopewell Marina on the Appomattox River ( Appomattox is famous for its moccasins)

6.  Charles City Ramp, if it is open. Contact Charles City County to find out the times the ramp is open.

7.   Route 5 after crossing the bridge and turning into Powhatan Marina and Campground. Fee is $10 but safe and you can fish Jordan Creek and around the mouth of Jordan Creek in a kayak on the Chickahominy River.

 

I will PM my phone number to you so we can discuss what is necessary to use a private ramp on the Historic James River.

 

In the meantime, please, please, please contact GMCO maps (https://gmcomaps.com/) or go to Green Top or Bass Pro Shops and get paper maps of both the Upper James River and Tidal James River. You can view the ramps I have been writing about and see places to fish.

 

To check the tidal tides please go to this site: https://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/virginiasites.html

 

And check out Powhatan Lakes. I have no idea if you can launch a kayak on the lakes but they are there. I have only fished off their pier in the lower lake.

 

And check out the Amelia Wildlife Management Area, in Amelia County. Look it up on Google, https://dwr.virginia.gov/wma/?pid=11. Ramp is for kayaks and the fishing can be good.

 

In addition, look at the list of the WMA's areas and you can find some hidden jewels, like the James River WMA.

 

Maybe one day you can take the entire day and do a recon of all of the above places plus others you may hear about.

Great info again Sam.  I’m going to scout out some of these spots and I’ll let you know how it goes.  

 

Definitely not going near the Hopewell Marina as Moccasins are of no interest to me.  ?

 

I did visit Robious but didn’t like the kayak shoot for my super heavy trolling motor kayak.  Same for Huguenot.  I need to wheel my kayak so Watkins Landing looks like the better option.  
 

I’ll check out the other sites you discussed as well.  
 

thanks again!!

 

 

John, yes, I have heard of Lake Chesdin Park but was told it is a private ramp for the people living in that subdivision.

 

I have no idea who to call to find out if you can launch from their ramp but maybe you can find a phone number for Chesdin Landing and speak with someone in authority who would know and give you permission to launch. There are a lot of realtors working Chesdin Landing and if you call one I am sure they will tell you if the ramp is open to the pulblic or private. Just tell them that you saw Chesdin Landing on Google and their ramp and was wondering about it.

 

And yes, lots of boulders and hidden stumps getting into the Swamp.

 

So if you do venture there go slow and watch the water all around you until you get past the Cypress trees.

 

As for launch sites, not many on the Historic James River, but I will try to give you the list:

Historic James Above Boshers' Dam

1.  Watkins Landing

2.  Robious Landing Park

3.  American Legion Post 354 private ramp behind Tarrington Subdivision

4.  Traylor Park Estates private ramp

5.  Way up river by the 522 Bridge or Scottsville. (You will need someone to drive your car to Watkins Landing or Robious Landing Park so you can get home. Rapids will prevent you from turning around and heading back to either the 522 Bridge or Scottsville, depending on how far down river you go.)

 

If the American Legion Post is open, as it is on the third Thursday of the month, other than for November and December, after 5 PM, in back of Tarrington on the river and you can get permission you can launch from their ramp. Only problem is that the ramp is full of river mud and you will get your feet and shoes/socks soaked in river mud and you will not be able to launch a boat trailer due to the mud.

 

Go to Welby Turn and note the Legion sign. You may be able to go by on Wednesdays as there is a work crew there on Wednesdays. If you are interested, let me know and I can put you in touch with the guys working at the Legion Post so you can recon the place.

 

Traylor Estates has a private ramp off Cherokee Road but once again, you have to know someone living in Traylor Estates and get the gate key.

 

Historic James Below Boshers' Dam

1.  Huguenot Flatwater

2.  Any place you can find along Riverside Drive to put and take kayak out, if possible. No parking, other than for a small lot just east of the Huguenot Bridge. Not kayak friendly bank.

3.  A private ramp.

 

Your best bet is Watkins Landing and Robious Landing Park. Both are kayak friendly.

 

As for Lake Chesdin, Whipponock Creek is a great place to launch. They have good parking; safe area; nice people; BATHROOMS!; low ramp fee (I think it is $10) and you will be in the heart of some of the best Lake Chesdin fishing on both sides of the Whipponock Creek bridge.

 

I could ask my neighbor on Cherokee Road below Boshers Dam if the old path to the river is still open. Only problem is parking your vehicle. You will have to park by my house by the Dominion Power line and walk two blocks to the path's gate, carrying or towing your kayak. Or take a chance and park on Saratoga Road close to Cherokee Road

 

 

 

Go on Google and look at Cherokee Road and you can see Saratoga Road and the power line.

 

Historic James River Below I-95 Bridge

This is tidal water and as long as you watch the tides you will be OK.

Here are some of the ramps you can put your kayak in the river:

1.  Ancarrow's Ramp (not the best place but you can park there and take a chance your car will be there when you get back)

2.  Osborne Landing

3.  Dutch Gap Ramp off Osborne Road

4.  Richmond Yacht Basin Marina (if they will allow you to launch)

5.  Hopewell Marina on the Appomattox River ( Appomattox is famous for its moccasins)

 

I will PM my phone number to you so we can discuss what is necessary to use a private ramp on the Historic James River.

 

In the meantime, please, please, please contact GMCO maps (https://gmcomaps.com/) or go to Green Top or Bass Pro Shops and get paper maps of both the Upper James River and Tidal James River. You can view the ramps I have been writing about and see places to fish.

 

Maybe one day you can take the day and do a recon of all of the above places plus others you may hear about.

John, the Lake Chesdin Park ramp is open to the public for canoes and kayaks.

 

It will put you in position to fish the Swamp.

 

Check it out on Google Earth or Google maps.

 

Amelia Wildlife Management area is really a nice place to fish and easy in and out with your kayak. You park by the ramp and you do not have to go far to launch.

 

Whipponock Creek is still the best option.

 

 

John, the Lake Chesdin Park ramp is open to the public for canoes and kayaks.

 

It will put you in position to fish the Swamp.

 

Check it out on Google Earth or Google maps.

On 10/3/2020 at 10:09 PM, Sam said:

Whipponock Creek, hands down.

 

Lots of great places to fish in the creek and you can also hit the island at the mouth of the creek.

 

P.S. Go with the black and blue laminate Senko for muddy water.

Thanks, Sam. I was using a morning dawn Senko that day. I'll try the blue/black if it's muddy next time.

Thanks again Sam, will call you,  much appreciated!

Lake Chesdin park ( Chesterfield side of lake has a kayak ramp (free).   Can always try that. 

My understanding is that it is a Chesterfield county park. Not just for residence.   

Looking into it, thanks jrbdad

11 hours ago, jrbdad said:

Lake Chesdin park ( Chesterfield side of lake has a kayak ramp (free).   Can always try that. 

My understanding is that it is a Chesterfield county park. Not just for residence.   

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