Navy guy here.  Talking to the detailer tomorrow.  Have the feeling he's gonna send me back to VA.  I was stationed there before but didn't do any bass fishing.  My question is, realistically, how much bass fishing is there to be done within an hour or so of Norfolk/VA Beach for a big motor bass boat?  I know all the city reservoirs are 9.9 HP.  Would I be better served to trade my rig for an offshore rig and drop a couple grand on a jonboat rig?  What say you?

Keep that rig!!!

You will be in the area where there are FLW and BASS clubs so you can join one and fish their tournaments.

As for where to launch your bass boat?

Hicks on the Rappahannock

Williams on the Pamunkey

Route 5 Bridge where the Chick and James come together.

Lift the motor and fish the reservoir.

Rock-A-Hock on the upper end of the Chick River.

Ed Allen's on Chick lake.

Nottoway River south of Franklin.

On your weekends or days off drive to Lake Chesdin or go all the way to Gaston or Kerr.

And then up I95 just east of Stafford there is Aquia Creek which goes into the Potomac.

Back Bay is coming back and you can fish that body of water, too.

I will send you the web sites for the BASS and FLW clubs in my next post as wife is calling me for dinner.

Welcome to Virginia! 

Here are the bass clubs in Virginia.

Check out the regions.

BASS is Region 7.

FLW is either 7 or 8.

Check out their region tournament results to see where they are fishing.

There are lots of places to fish for bass in the Tidewater area.

Some lakes in the Suffolk/Isle of Wight areas plus the apartment ponds sprinklered all over the place.

Take the Safe Boating Course and get your certificate. It is free from DG&IF. Get the Safe Boating booklet and read to see what you need to have on your boat.

You will need to have one cushion out in view when on the water. New law that is being enforced.

Pick up a copy of thee 2010 Fishing in Virginia pamphlet at Wal Mart or a local tackle shop.

There is a Bass Pro Shop in Hampton and those guys can help you with places to fish and what to throw.

The Richmond Fishing Expo is in January in Caroline County so make plans to attend. We will be posting the details as we get closer to the event in this section.

Get to Green Top on Route 1 just north of I-288 and also visit Cabela's off Exit 86 from I-95. You can get to Green Top from Exit 86, too.

You can visit Hookers and Fishing Pro Tech in Toano.

Good luck. 

http://www.vabass.com/

http://www.vafederationnation.com/

Forgot to post these. 

What Sam said.

Back Bay is apparently an emerging hot spot.  It has always been decent and my understanding is that it is producing some big bass now.  Lots of grass.

Hey, I sure do appreciate it, brother!  I was stationed up there from '98-'04 but I was more interested in booze during that stretch of my existence. 

At any rate, it looks like I'm hanging on to my rig. 

Hang onto that rig.  I live in Va. Beach and run a Skeeter and have been fishing West Neck Creek for over 30 years.  It dumps into the North Landing River (intercoastal waterway). I am about 20 minutes from the water.  You can also fish the Northwest River.  Only catch there is it just happens to run into NC and you have to be aware of where your at if you don't have a NC license.  There are tournaments on both waters most weeks. 

I will zip you a PM with my contact info and if and when you head this way give me a shout.

Shortbasser