Mini James River footballs! 2024

SimonSays reply :

Been trying to learn how to fly fish recently and I've been trying to find places to wade for smallmouth in the james. Went to a place called maiden's landing on the advice of an Orvis guy. Didn't really know where to cast as this place was totally different that Pony pastures (rocky vs flat and shallow)

I ended up casting my flies toward laydowns near the shore (great accuracy practice for the fly rod) and hit a couple small ones that I wanted to share. These guy put up a nice fight on a fly rod, I can't wait to hook up into a 1lb+.

Anyone know of a wade-able area for some decent smallies?

Sam reply :

Simon,

I have seen guys fly fishing the James from a kayak but other than that I have no idea where to go other than for the Pony Pasture.

I know if you go up river from Watkins Landing there are areas to fly fish but since it is too dangerous to take a bass boat up that way I have not traveled the area.

Under the Nickle Bridge could be a good place, if you like snakes and bugs.

Just be careful on the James. You know it is a dangerous river.

FishingJames reply :

I belong to a club that is like 50 yards away from the Huguenot Bridge and we row our kayaks up the river to Willie Bridge where the dam is and people from the club have pulled 4 lb. smallies out of that area. Don't know if it's wade-able, but you can stand on the rocks.

slomoe reply :

Nice fish man.

Dan: reply :

Simon, PM me if you are interested in a spot near Fredericksburg.

armesjr reply :

Fishing James is a Kayak fishing club, or is this where are all the jon boats are.

armesjr reply :

I have friends that fly fish around the nickel bride and the train treseels and they do reasonably well.

roadwarrior reply :

You tricked me with your title.

How 'bout "Baby Footballs"?

8-)

Sam reply :

Fishing James,

I live just south of Bosher's Dam and caught a beautiful four (4) pound smallie on a chrome with black back Rat-L-Trap off Pebble Beach a few years ago.

Then this big shot builds a house at the end of my street on Cherokee Road, blocks the view of the dam and river, and tells me to stay off Pebble Beach.

So I have not been back as he calls the police or game wardens when anyone fishes or walks on Pebble Beach so no one goes down there anymore.

I have met the lady living next door to him and was thinking of asking her for permission to fish her side of Pebble Beach, but the best fishing is in the eddy pool on the south side of the dam, on the jerk's property, and I really don't need any problems from him.

His daughter and her shack up boyfriend cut through my property going to the Fashion Park. Everytime they do I ask them if they are getting married which POs the birch. The guy looks like Ja-Ja Binks from Star Wars.

So go and fish that eddy and have a fun time. At least somebody will have a fun time off Pebble Beach.

Sam reply :

Fishing James,

Yes, the area is wadeable.

We used to wade and walk across the river from Pebble Beach to the island and the surrounding areas also tube all around the area up to the Willie Bridge and back and fish all over the place with ultra light rigs. It was a lot of fun.

But watch the water levels and current and wear a PFD as it is very dangerous to wade in the area due to the rocks and holes.

Bring a buddy, too, just to be on the safe side.

armesjr reply :

Yeah the guy used to call the cops on us in highschool, when we would hang out down there.

Sam reply :

That's him.

Did you park your car by the VEPCO easement on Saratoga Road???

SimonSays reply :

Heya Sam, I might try that area out, it's by the Dam near the chippenham pky?

this area?

is there parking?

Sam reply :

Yes, that is the area.

You can see Pebble Beach from the Willy Bridge.

Nope, no parking on Cherokee Road but you can park on Saratoga Road and walk down to the river.

Only problem is that there is not way to get to the river unless you treaspass and the homeowners don't cotton to that.

If you go on Pebble Beach without permission be ready to meet a nice law enforcement officer. ;D

But you can put in at Huguenot Bridge and then paddle up to the dam and fish the area. Good exercise if the current is not too strong against you.

Or, you can enter this part of the river from the north side by the fish ladder if you can find a place to park and then a clear place to enter the river.

johnkook73 reply :

I know you said the James River but you should also check the Nottoway as well. I have a couple of friends that have waded in the Sussex County part and they have caught several citation smallies in there and its perfect for wading. Check it out here....

http://www.dgif.state.va.us/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=165&section=maps

Micro reply :

If you don't mind a little bit of a drive, go up to Bent Creek, where Route 60 crosses the James River in Appomatox County. There is a DGIF boat landing there. When the water is low, the whole area is wadeable. I haven't fished it, but I've been there several times and it gets very good reviews from the fishermen I've talked to.

Micro reply :

Here's some photos from the boat landing at Bent Creek

johnkook73 reply :

Wow micro that place looks beautiful!! I might have to drive up there myself one day.

SimonSays reply :

wow i'll have to try there some day...2 hour drive....hmmm

Link reply :

Can anyone recommend any areas on the James that are safe to either just stand in (no waders) or just stand on the rocks? Won't be fly fishing as I'm not even that strong of a reel fisher yet but I have tomorrow to myself as my wife is going out for the day.

Just looking for a relaxing day, looking for an area with decent parking to have a little fun. Suggestions? I'm in Chesterfield so I really don't want to drive too far, that Maidens Landing area could be interesting, and I've never tried fishing at Pony Pasture, always thought the current was a bit much to catch anything but I'm probably wrong.

Thanks

~Jim

SimonSays reply :

When I was at maiden's landing there weren't very many rocks down the river, I'm not sure about up river. It's generally shallow there, but there are some deep parts that I kept away from. I stuck to the parts that came up only to my waist where I targeted shoreline laydowns and eddies from submerged rock formations.

At pony pastures the current is much stronger so you'll have to be a bit more careful. There's a really strong current that's near the police and night fishing parking area and along that flow there's a large rock...right below that rock where the water is calm I hooked into a nice one...maybe about 1 lb from the looks of it ...with it fighting and the flowing current it put up a hell of a fight on my fly rod. I lost it eventually as the hook ripped from it's mouth but strong current could hold larger fish. If you travel all the way to the back there's another strong current where a friend of mine pulled a 2lber from and I hit 3 small stripers (1lb each). I've found that tossing into current and letting my fly drift down yielded some results and J had good results tossing into deep pools.

If you go to pony pastures maybe i'll see you there in the afternoon around 4 =D I'll be the idiot hooking himself with a fly!

Sam reply :

Simon,

Throw jig or fly into current and let it go.

They will hit it at the Pony Pasture.

Then, take small bream, hook it to fly hook, cast out into to middle and try to catch some of those 15 to 20 pound catfish. ;D ;D ;D

A.Do? reply :

Quote
Then, take small bream, hook it to fly hook, cast out into to middle and try to catch some of those 15 to 20 pound catfish. ;D ;D ;D

and make a video of this cuz I want to see you land a 15-20lb catfish on your fly rod That'd be nuts!

Link reply :

Well I went down to Pony Pasture this morning (around 10am) and walked North up river till I found a decent little area for just standing in the water (about shin/knee deep) I didn't get anything nor really any good hits/bites, could have been poor timing, location, bait, or just skill

Used Senko worms that I whacky rigged, and even did a little buzz bait topwater as I had never fished the river before.

Even without catching a darn thing, I had a blast just keeping cool in the water and working on my summer tan. Might head back out this week as long as I get my "Husband Chores" done, the only perk to being a teacher are summers off

SimonSays reply :

Heya, try something smaller like a 2in white grub on a 1/16 or 1/8 pz jig head. You'll be able to catch smaller ones which are pretty fun, big ones will hit those too if ya get lucky!

Link reply :

Thanks Simon...i'll give that a try next time I head there.

Sam reply :

Link,

Also add to your arsnel a two (2) inch twin tail grub in motor oil fised on an orange headed 1/32 ballhead jig by Eagle Claw.

I use The Wright Bait Company Grape Sented twin tail and for some reason the smallies love them.

I also use 6 or 8 pound test but not any extra tough line on my baitcaster. Talk about a good fight.

But don't tell Simon or he will use them and catch all the fish!!!! ;D

SimonSays reply :

time to buy some twin tail grubs....

quick question sam, what baitcaster are you using to toss a 1/32? i think i'd backlash like crazy if I tried it on mine

Sam reply :

I am now using a Shimano Solstace 2000 spinning reel.

Was using a Curado 100 but I like the spinning rig better when wading on the James due to the removal of the backlash problem and this on setup can catch all the fish in the river, even the catfish.

Remember, you do not have to cast too far. Just cast into the water running through the rocks or if you see a fish in the water you can throw to his area.

What is even more fun is to use an ultra light spinning rig with four (4) pound test and a small one (1) inch white grub on a 1.62 jig head.

You will catch a lot of small fish and every now and then a nice smallie.

Link reply :

I've got some 2 inch white grubs but didn't even try them this morning, I'll need to grab some of those twin tails. Not really sure if where I was fishing was a good area or not but I am thinking about heading out again tomorrow morning, hopefully a bit earlier and be more prepared for wading in the water (mandals instead of my flip flops, packing more light and bringing a towel )

Anyone know of the area I'm talking about? I parked at Pony pasture and walked up the road right before it got to all of the "private grounds" areas across from the homes/neighborhoods. Walked down a "cliff"...

Link reply :

I have read online about the Hugenot Flatwater and have found a map of the area. Is there parking available? Looking for calm areas to wade into and fish...other than my spot at PP.

armesjr reply :

Yeah you can fish/wade at hugenot flatwater. There is plenty of parking. It is only about 1.5 miles from pony pasture on the same road.

Link reply :

Thanks Arm! Will I have better luck there versus Pony Pasture? I'm bringing my wife along with me, hopefully there will be some rocks like at PP/Belle for her to layout and read a book.

SimonSays reply :

Heya Link, I was there last fri, I'm not sure about the water levels now, but when I was wading there were ALOT more deep spots. You'd also have to wade deeper to get to those rocks I was full swimming and up to my neck deep to get to some of them. Though it could have just been the path I chose, lol

the current there isn't as strong and there aren't many people there to hook into =D

Link reply :

Went to PP this morning with the wife (and our Dog), didn't get to do really any fishing as my 24lb Boston Terrier wanted to follow me around, and not being a big dog I had to keep him on the leash. Oh well!

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Mini James River footballs! 2024

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