james river catfish 2024

Carrington reply :

i just got a new ocean setup and am hoping to try some catfishing with it. its a tiger lite ugly stick and a penn levelwind reel. Where are some good spots to catfish from the shore on the james and what baits should i use. ive heard eel but im not sure if thats right.

Sam reply :

Live bluegills or bream on the Mike Ostrander catfish rig.

Pony Pasture area when the river quiets down. You will have to wade out to get to them.

Sometimes the DG&IF has a catfish fishing class at the Pony Pasture. Will let you know if I hear about this class being held this summer.

Really big ones just east of the Benjamin Harrison Bridge but you will need a boat to fish for them.

Ancarrows produces some catfish but too many people on both sides of the river fishing for them.

Check out the James River Fishing School and book a raft trip with Mike Ostrander. Worth every penny.

Let me know if you want to know how to rig the Mike Ostrander rig.

Carrington reply :

ya i would love to know, i was planning on using a 45lb steel leader with a 4 oz weight and a hook.

endless reply :

I use the fish finder with a traingle weight, a bead, swivel, and than a 18" leader tied to my hook. I was told to use traingle weights so they just wont roll over with the current. I tried eels not impress with them. I'm with sam on bait. Now that I'm fishing from land I just go to dock street.

Carrington reply :

ok thanks, where is dock street? and is you bait dead or alive and how do you hook it if you want it alive since im new to catfishing.

endless reply :

Dead, I always cut it in slabs. I'm trying to post a link but the link to large. Here's the address Dock St, Richmond, VA 23219.

Carrington reply :

ok thanks ill try that then.

Carrington reply :

also where can i buy live bluegills and such to use s cut bait.

endless reply :

Most only sells frozen shad or herring. Fresh is what you want or take a cast net or a small rod and reel and catch your own.

Sam reply :

You cannot buy game fish to use as bait so you will have to catch the bluegills and bream before you go out of a local pond.

Dock Street is on the north side of the river across from the Ancarrows ramp.

Some of the people fishing this area are not the nicest in the world so be careful.

Ever think of getting a map book of either Metro Richmond or Chesterfield County?

Let us know if you survive your Dock Street experience and if so, did you have the chance to release the fish or did someone take them from you to eat?????

heyitskirby reply :

Your best bet with using bluegill is to bring some nightcrawlers with you and catch some on the bank before going after the cats. You'll have better luck with bait that comes from the same water you plan on fishing.

Carrington reply :

i went by dock street and the people were nice to me. i guess its just because i talk to them and am nice idk. tbh the people did look shady at first but once i started talking they were fine. and no i did not catch anything.

Carrington reply :

even though the people were nice i probable will not go to dock st again though because there was this homeless guy following me once it got dark and i was leaving which freaked me out a little bit.

endless reply :

I never had a problem at dock street and I fished there at night time. Just a bunch of drunks. Now it may have it times of trouble.

I did hear you don't want to be on other side at the park at night. I only been on that side at night once and not for long cause it was cold and the heavy rain forced us out. Sorry for no luck. Since you went where at you fish? down near the river boat? I use to fish off that gated high dock( not pose to but i did anyways) to the left and off the floated dock near that restaurant passed dock street.

Carrington reply :

i was actually at the park, i couldnt figure out how to get my car across the river to go where alot of the prople were. i was fishing off a sandy bank with alot of trees behind the beach.

Sam reply :

Carrington, there are bridges across the James River you can take to get across the river.

Are sure you have been accepted to Virginia Tech? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Carrington reply :

im new to cities lol plus im not the best navigator so ill need to look at a map.

Sam reply :

The ADC Map Book of Richmond and Greater Richmond and Chesterfield County is a must to find places to fish and how to get around.

Please get one or two.

You will find them to be of great value.

Carrington reply :

i checked out bing maps this time and went to this place but there was like 300 people there so i just left and came back home.

Sam reply :

If you want to try your luck on the upper James around Tarrington PM me and I can give you a place to try.

Once upon a time there was a hole where the catfish hung out.

I never fished it but I can tell you where it is and give you the secret code to get in and what to say if anyone comes by.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

I have had luck fishing down by maury street between the 95 bridge and railroad bridge tossing out cut bluegill from a local pond on a three way swivel (8-10in line with 1oz pyramid sinker, and about 24inches of steel leader with a hook and slab of bluegill). Let me know if you interested in fishing it sometime, but until the shad calm down fishing is going to be crazy hectic

Carrington reply :

ya i was down there today and looked for 1 hour for a spot to fish. there were to many people. let me know when ever you would like to go.

NewAngler reply :

Fellers. Send me a PM if you guys go after those bigass cats. I wouldn't mind crossing a 50 lber of the bucket list. Gotta be a weekend though. Thanks, dudes.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

Weekends are the best time for me as well, but Newangler we will keep you in the loop

Carrington reply :

ya just let me know when you would like to go hokie, we can go bass fishing or catfish idc either way.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

New, I am heading out to the river next Friday night in an effort to try and hook into a decent cat or two and I believe Carrington is going to join us. Give me a PM if you plan on coming and I can hook you up with directions to the spot.

Fat-G reply :

Honestly, contact Mike Ostrander.

He is a GREAT guide, and a very good friend of mine.

That man knows what he is doing.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

Carrington, for some reason it says you are not accepting PM's from me, might be a technical problem or something. However, I am planning on going out around 630-7 on Friday evening to either Osborne Landing or Maury Street area. If you interested shoot me a PM or something else if that doesnt work.

Alexander86 reply :

Quote
Osborne Landing or Maury Street area

How is osborne landing? Ive never been. What bites there this time of year? The only thing i know how to catch is smallmouth and largemouth bass around the pipeline near 14th st bridge and somtimes near the Nickel Bridge. Id love to check out this osborne landing site tho.

Sam reply :

Osborne Landing is off Osborne Turnpike in the 9400 block so set your GPS for 9400 Osborne Turnpike, Henrico, Virginia.

Very busy boat landing.

Visit the location and see if it is OK for catfish fishing.

Let us know what you find out.

hokiefisherman93 reply :

They got a nice pier will see if the fishing is any good its a perfect spot. First time going there though

dauberangler reply :

I used to take a guide out on the James once a year. We would spend about an hour catching bait fish mostly chad. Cut into big chunks using a fish finder with 5oz triangle wieght, set it and forget it.

Since then we have learned how to catch big cats in our area so we no longer need to drive almost 2hrs there and spend the big bucks for a guide.

bassnbtom reply :

any luck?

hokiefisherman93 reply :

Struck out with Cmatthews and another guy. Nothing seemed to be hitting down at Osborne, but we could hear the stripers and what not jumping all around us. First time fishing that spot though

13691

james river catfish 2024

related Southeast Bass Fishing topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Southeast Bass Fishing topic