I've noticed that this site has a lot of people who like to fish. So I'm coming to you for advice/suggestions on buying new gear for a river fishing trip.
Backstory: For my roommate's bachelor party, we have rented a few cabins in Luray, VA next weekend (I voted for Vegas but the bachelor is pretty low key. His view: Cabin/Fishing > Gambling/Strippers). I'm told our cabins are "on the river" which I'm assuming is the Shenandoah River.
I grew up fishing with my grandfather in the Chesapeake Bay and in Lake Gaston, so I'm not foreign to a rod and reel. However, I haven't fished in the last decade and have never bought my own equipment. This is where I need help from you guys:
- What kind of rod/reel should I get?
- What kind of line/hooks?
- What kind of bait would work best? Fake or worms/crickets/etc.?
- Where's the best place in NOVA to get these supplies?
Notes:
- I believe we will be fishing from the shore/bank, not from a pier or boat.
- I'm willing to pay for decent equipment (something that will last a few years) but want to stay below $300, if possible.
Thanks in advance to any of you that can offer suggestions.
Comments
Bachelor party fishing? No need for a rod, reel or hooks. What you need is copious amounts of alcohol, and dynamite.
Trust me.
Well, from what I understand, the Shenandoah River is one of the best in Virginia for smallmouth bass fishing...which is AWESOME! I've fished the New & James River for smallmouth and had fantastic times, but I've never fished the Shenandoah. I prefer to fish for smallmouth bass & trout with a fly rod, but I've had my best catches with an "ultralight" spinning rod w/ an open-face Abu-Garcia spinning reel using 3 to 5 pound test line. My favorite artificial lure for smallies is the Heddon "Tiny Torpedo" surface lure (I've caught two Va. citation smallmouths 4 lbs./4 oz. and 4 lbs. 9 oz. back in the 1980s on the James with that lure), but I had great luck also with Rebel or Rappalas (minnow-looking artificial lures) and crawfish imitations, as well as the venerable Mepps spinner baits. Go small. The smaller the better for smallmouth bass. In the spring, they were deeper so use spinners or jigs...in the fall I use top-water baits. I like to see them jump out of the water! A 2-4 lb. smallmouth on ultralight will feel like you're landing a 6-8 lb. largemouth bass....they are real fighters! Talk to your local fishing store folks and they can help you. Have a great time and good luck! And make sure he drinks... he's making a lifetime commitment :)
love the Tiny Torpedo. That produced my biggest smallie (a 3 pounder on the North Fork of the Holston near Hayters Gap.)
Always preferred to use twin tail jigs for smallies on the James never tried hard lures so I'm curious how do you retrieve the torpedos? Like a popper in a pull rest pull technique or steady constant pull?
Try both at varying speeds...the fish will let you know which is best
The assistant at Dick's told me that it's too soon and too cold for topwater lures. Obviously, I won't quantify this as "expert advice" from a Dick's employee but he knows more than I.
What lures/bait would you say should be most effective this weekend for smallies?
Tubes my friend, tubes! Get two packs of Strike King bitsy tubes 2.5 inches(Dicks or Walmart will have them) get one Green pumpkin and one pumpkin green( one is a little more yellow than the other) DO NOT GET MUSTARD COLOR! Use a 1/8 ounce(my preference) or 1/4 ounce jighead. You can straight retrieve it or bounce or drag it on the bottom. They won't all be lunkers but you will catch fish. I caught a 6 lb largemouth in Nashville last week on this exact setup. I would add the picture, but I'm a moron so...
I did manage to buy a pack of Gitzit tubes (color: green craw):
but I might have to go back and get a pack or two of the Strike King tubes (pumpkin colors) as well
We used to use a ton of gitzit tubes. Always had the best luck on brown craw/green sparkles and leech. We used them on slider heads. While I prefer Mizmo Teaser tubes, gitzits will do the trick. I was on a local pond here near the coast yesterday and we had a few fish hit a quarter oz buzzbait, but they weren't really into the topwater action yet. Having fished the New for 26+ years, I'd say that it is indeed still too early for a decent topwater bite, but that's just my experience.
The dicks employee you spoke with is wrong. Now is the beginning of the topwater bite. As far as what you could need for this weekend after looking at all the posts you got good info from each. If it were me on a budget I'd buy a variety of stuff to cover each water column....1 or 2 topwaters (popr/torpedo/small buzzbait....for subsurface senkos, white or white chartreuse spinnerbait and as another poster said a heddon crawfish....bottom tubes with no more than 3/8Oz jighead and something like a jig in black/blue flake..... there are a lot of things that will work but those cover about anything and you can pick them all up for under $40
So here's a rundown of the bait I bought:
- Gitzit Tubes; color = green craw (mentioned above)
- Yum 5" Dinger (worms); color = green pumpkin
- Strike King "Bitsy Flip" 1/2 oz mini flipping jig; color = black/blue
- Strike King "Rage Tail" Rage Craw 4"; color = black/blue (Dick's employee said to use with the flipping jig)
- Strike King "Rage Tail" Rage Craw 4"; color = summer craw (bc it was buy one get one 50% off)
- Lunkerhunt Popping Frog 1/4 oz; color = green tea (because I'm intrigued how this works)
- Magic Bait's Liver and Cheese Catfish Bait
Tomorrow Amazon will be delivering the following:
- Rebel Classic Critters
- Heddon Triple Threat
I believe I should be set for the weekend but let me know if I'm missing something in my arsenal. Also, any tips or suggestions on best practices with the above items, would be greatly appreciated.
Beer. You are missing beer.
Looks like you have most of the usual suspects rounded up. My 37 years of experience fishing for smallmouth was on the James and the New, with only spotty knowledge of the Shenandoah in particular, so while I can definitely tell you what I'd do, a Shenandoah regular may be your best bet for specific advice. That said, I would be happy to tell you what I would do with what you bought, where, when and how I would fish those lures. If you'd like, you may call me at 804-725-2680, ask for Tom, or email me at newriverangler@hotmail.com. I'd be glad to help you, but I already take up too much space in this forum as is, and certainly could more efficiently answer your questions in person. Either way, or not at all, hope you have a great weekend and catch as many fish as the party will allow.
Thanks for offering more advice. I just sent you an email. Feel free to respond whenever you have the time.
As you will see, I have responded at length to your inquiry, and was very happy to do so. I also hope that you have a great weekend and let us all know how it went for you. You have good lures and seem willing to get after those finny adversaries. Hope you have more computer skills than I and can post pics of your success.
Good call. Pics are always great. Especially on a fishing thread.
Yeah, 6' light action/ ultralite rod, 6 lb test,
1/03/0 worm hooks and some watermelon and motor oil senkos. Cast them unweighted 90 degrees to current and let them drift down to in line with the current. Seem to get most action once they've drifted down in line with current. This is for smallmouth.Could also get some standard hooks with a bottom rig and bait with chicken livers... I've caught some nice eating size catfish in the Shennandoah
This is the river I cut my teeth fishing on my entire childhood. Still fish it often.
Great advice above. I'll add that Texas rigged 4"-6" plastic lizards in watermelon and pumpkin colors work well this time of year.
Water is going to be too cold to wade any distance so hopefully you'll have access to some riffles near your cabins.
Truth be told, if it were me I'd skip fishing and go hunt the many turkeys you'll likely hear gobbling this time of year.
Either way, enjoy. That's a beautiful area of our state. Good luck!
Pumpkin seed with chartreuse tail is my go to.
Plastic lizards and Grubbs work for the smallies in the Shenandoah. Madtoms are the best live bait I've seen, but I don't use them myself. You should be able to outfit yourself with an inexpensive spinning rod combo that won't break the bank and will last several years based on your frequency of use. Depending on what part you are staying on, I would definitely recommend trying for some catfish. However that will mean a different setup completely.
The shenandoah used to produce a smallmouth on about every 5th cast in the 90's. However, a fish kill in early 2000s wiped out a lot of them. They are coming back, and there appears to be more largemouth than ever. But, I would still advise catch and release only.
If it was me, I would be thinking that I'd go with a St. Croix Triumph medium light 6'6 or 7 foot spinning rod (available at the Dicks in Fair Lakes for $89.) For a reel, I would go with a Shimano Sahara 2500 ($79) or a Penn Battle II 2500 ($99) and spool it with 8 pound or 10 pound mono. A Shimano Sedona 2500 is a little cheaper but not worth the drop off in castability. I like Sufix Tritanium mono but Dicks doesn't sell it. Berkley Trilene is ok. Stay away from the dscount Sufix brands.
For bait, a small long shank wire hook and a night crawler or a hellgramite or crawdad that you find under a rock is just fine. For lures, it is hard to go wrong with a white curly tail grub on as small a jig head as you can use while still being able to cast it ok and get it down in the current. Just retrieve it fast enough that it doesn't snag, and it will produce. In slower water I also like topwaters like Tiny Torpedos and small Jitterbugs. Even if the smallmouths are cooperating, the sunfish and redeyes should pop at them and give you a little excitement.
Hopefully IamVTFish chimes in.
I have the Penn Battle II, best reel for the money I ever bought. I've waded the Shenandoah many times with nothing but a white twisty tail grub and always got tired of taking fish off the hook. Just a typical 1/8,oz lead head. It's a great place to fish. Tough to fish from the bank IMHO need to be in the water. Synchos are good too earlier in the spring. So I have added nothing but confirmation of above. All of it is top notch advice.
I'm fishing Penns creek in the am opening day of trout in Pa. Crowded but a fun day. Fish fry expected.....
Good fishing....
You called? I will not go into my usual epic tome when fishing is mentioned, French covered my thoughts, in general. I will offer this advice, however. Don't go over 8lb test line unless you are after the aforementioned catfish, when 10lb test would be more useful. Most reels come with an extra spool, and if so, do one with 8 and one with 10. While I used flourocarbon line a lot, I also liked Bass Pro Excel in green or clear, which is just Berkley XL, but much cheaper. I like French's rod suggestions, too. Ultralight stuff is ok for making little fish seem big, but not nearly as useful in practical day to day fishing. Get a decent smallmouth on a decent medium rod and you'll not be disappointed in the fight. You want a rod with the ass to cast a decent lure and strength to set the hook. Smallmouth have hard mouths and need a good set. This time of year, be prepared for some possible big largemouth. We once got a 9 1/2 lb momma on a float trip near Luray in either late March or early April. Yes, there was a significant fish kill and another one or two since, but there are still plenty of fish in the 'Doah. Also, as noted above, the water will still be cold, and the best chance of catching cold water fish is in the eddies and current breaks where the fish are staging for the coming spawn. Fish small tubes, I like Mizmo Teaser tubes on a quarter oz. jig head with a weed guard if you can find them. Fish only the deadest water you can find, fish the bottom and retrieve with short hops and hesitations. Yeah, you'll lose some tubes, but far and away, that'll be your best option, especially for bigger fish. Senkos will work, as will suspending jerk baits, but for a "one lure" approach, you can't beat the tube in the spring. Trust me on this, I have caught and been in the boat with more citation smallmouth than I can come close to remembering, and tubes accounted for more of them this time of year than any other single bait since we stopped using jig and pig and switched to the tube. As for colors, pumpkinseed and brownish colors, with flakes, are best for clear water, but if we get some rain and the river colors up, you'll do much better with darker colors, black, black and blue, etc. Don't hesitate to fish even if the water is colored up, just stay in the eddies. Also, catfish bite well in colored water if you are going to try for them. I like the chicken liver approach, that'll usually work for ole whiskers. Another colored water bait is the venerable spinner bait, half oz size in chartreuse and white, with or without a grub trailer can produce if the water is warm enough for them to chase. Usually top water stuff is out this time of year. They just aren't looking up for their meal just yet. But, don't get me started...
Edit: Never content with my discourse, I'd like to say the green pumpkin, not just pumpkinseed, is the choice of colors on the tubes and Senkos (or Yum Dingers, or Bass Pro Stick O) sinking worms that work best for me. Greenish or brownish should be the emphasis for clear and clear-ish water.
Spot on here as I fish this area a lot... If you can get some hellgrammites or crawdads, you will get a ton of action. If you stay there and fish till sunset you should have a bit of luck on a chartreuse (yellow) broken back rapala (I caught my biggest small mouth on the North Fork on one of those).
Long time lurker but finally found a post that I can chime in on. I live in Broadway and with the Shenandoah being a half hour boat tow away I fish it pretty regularly. The better stretches of the river have no bank fishing. Egypt bend has a boat ramp and small dock only and Dam Acres has been closed by the property owners due to a holes dumping trash. With that being said the cabins are on shallow areas with a bit more current. As a tournament fishermen I would suggest a medium rod that has some backbone like a st Croix or a shimano crucial and a mid range shimano reel around $100. Unlike the other poster's I would go with 10lb line as the river is rocky and you won't lose as much gear. Senko's in black/blue flake with gamakatsu weedless finesse hooks work great as does smaller white spinnerbaits. The smallmouth were nearly wiped out the other year but seem to be trying a combat and there is a ton of largemouth. Water is not as cold as many think with it in the 60s and this coming week is full moon so the fish will be in full spawn. There are a few guides that can take you out in a boat at Egypt bend and give you a chance at the better sized fish.
Absolutely concur, and the suggestion of hiring a guide is probably the best advice you are likely to get from anyone. Probably a better investment than buying new gear and tackle in the short term, with the knowledge gained being invaluable in the long term. A good guide will provide all you need for the trip, and should be affordable with the money you saved by not going to Vegas. If the groom is a fisherman, he'll really appreciate a guided trip. Usually, two can go with the guide. Only guides I know of up there are the Trow brothers and Bob Cramer, but I am sure HokieV20 can give you better advice than I on that.
I would argue with the 10 lb test, but not much. I personally believe that lighter line tends to translate to more bites. Now you will lose a few more lures on lighter line, and I think 6 is too light, but I believe the more natural presentation provided by lighter line, and a bit more casting distance, makes it my choice.
Also, HokieV20, very happy to apparently award you with your first turkey leg. Looking forward to your future posts.
Line size is really up to the fisherman. I prefer 10 on most of my rods due to pulling fish out of brush piles, stumps and from under docks. That little extra helps get the fish in after abrasions that's going to occur. As far a guide services offered IfishVTiam is correct that most take 2 passengers for the day however there is 1 who uses a pontoon boat and can take several more. Depending on when your going I may be able to offer some time to take out 2 myself. I have a fully loaded bass boat with the latest electronics and of course when I ordered it I made sure it was built in tech colors.
And btw...thanks for my first legs. I would post more but usually pass due to my poor usage of proper grammar and the grammar police that would follow.
I agree about preference on the line. I try to hold abrasion problems to a minimum by checking my line frequently, always after hang ups, and retie regularly, especially after hang ups or big fish. As for the grammar police, I would say wade on in. Ideas and good posts are always welcome, and grammar shit doesn't get downvoted. I see more pass than are commented on. If folks get your drift, you've contributed, and we all could learn better grammar, I suspect.
I'm an experienced salt water fisherman - near shore and offshore. I use braid almost exclusively there (except trolling where the give in mono is necessary). I am wondering why braid is not mentioned for freshwater in this thread - especially for river fishing where rocks and abrasion happen a lot. Please let me know why that might not be a good choice for freshwater.
I have heard that PowerPro's mfg process is so controlled, that their lines are typically 85% of test rating (i.e., 10 lb test is actually 18.5 lb typically, etc.) and as such this line is an issue for trying to capture line records, but for most of us that don't care about this, its great. I used it for reds and snook around docks and mangroves with great success. Not sure about fresh water. If I put a 10# braid on a spool its diameter is the same as 3# test mono. Braid casts incredibly far because of its low weight/ft and the lure action is more realistic. Is it the color? Other reasons? Thanks in advance for feedback.
I'd like to know this as well. I've actually never used braid, but have no good reason why not. How does it perform in under water visibility? Fluorocarbon (sp?) practically disappears so I use it a lot for finesse applications (mainly as tippet material for fly fishing) but for most of my river fishing it isn't an issue.
We've had this discussion before on one of the fishing threads. I think this is a preference issue. As a multi-species angler who has moved from fresh to salt, I use both braid and mono, but for fresh water and all of my light tackle angling, I use mono. I have broken two rods with braid, cut my finger once to the bone with braid, and know someone who dumped a canoe in a rapid when his lure caught a branch and the braid wouldn't break, but those are all avoidable problems. Braid is expensive, can damage rod guides, and almost always necessitates a mono or flourocarbon leader, which brings you back to the problems of abrasion and visibility. The stretch in mono isn't always a bad thing, either, like trolling or using crankbaits where a bit of give is desirable. The plus side of braid is that it lasts a really long time and you don't have to respool very often, but quality mono is cheap and attention to your knot and frequently checking for abrasion cut way down on breaking off lures on rocks, etc. Same issues would apply to any mono leader you use for visibility purposes, so that's not so different. In my case, I have also found that retying mono leaders on braid is a pain it the butt, but if you have the boat room and carry multiple rods, this isn't as much of an issue. As for casting distance, a quality rod and reel can mitigate some of the distance gained from braid, and to be honest, I seldom have need to cast any further than I can comfortably cast with quality equipment and mono. I do have it spooled on my surf casting rig and admit to getting a bit more distance which can be really important in surf fishing. But for most freshwater applications, I don't use it, don't like it, and honestly don't think it would help me catch more fish. Ask any 10 serious fishermen, and I absolutely qualify as such, and you'll likely get 10 different answers, but for me, until a braid guy catches more fish than me when we're fishing together, you won't see me using it more than situationally. Flourocarbon is great, expensive, and stiff in cold water/weather, but I use it for leaders and now that I don't have to provide it for clients, I am going back to it more as I use up leftover stocks of Bass Pro XL, but much of my saltwater fishing is in deeper water or for less spooky fish than trout and smallmouth, so the regular mono suffices nicely, for me.
This all makes sense. Most salt water species aren't so spooky (except snook and reds on the flat), but in freshwater, the bass are very spooky. Flouro leaders are the way to go and I use them exclusively in salt water as the refractive index matches water really well. Yes, its expensive but for 3-6 ft leaders, not a big deal in my book. The use of mono in freshwater makes sense. Thanks!
I only use braid on my frog rods, a rig rod and main line on my Carolina rig rod. All other rods I personally prefer using neither mono or fluorocarbon but instead a copolymer such as Izorline xxx. Copolymer combines the good properties of both into 1. You get low stretch, high strength, low visibility with no line memory. Copolymer was mainly used for tuna where low visibility was needed up until the tournament guys started using it several years ago. Price wise the izorline is $15 for 1550 yards compared to trilene that's $7 for 300. I have used about ever brand on the market but hands down the izorline is the best I have ever used. Just my .02.
Haven't tried copolymer line yet. As for cost of line, Bass Pro Excel goes for around 25 bucks for 6,030 yards of 8lb test, and is either comparable or identical to Trilene XL, but of course, most folks won't be needing that much unless you are in the guiding biz, but lesser amounts are quite affordable. I'll give Izorline a look when next I resupply. Thanks for the suggestion.
Nise!
Thanks everyone for all of your advice and suggestions. It's very helpful! I'll make a run to Dick's tomorrow afternoon to pick up supplies.
Well, how'd it go? Inquiring minds want to know!
Well, to put it bluntly, it didn't go so well.
I will say that thanks to everyone's advice and support, I was fully prepared and the bait/techniques worked.
Unfortunately, I section of the river we were at must be the most shallow section in the entire river. For 100 yards in either direction, the deepest the river was just below knee level.
Did we catch fish? Yes, but none was larger than the size of my hand. So we literally threw everything we caught back. It was just unfortunate where we were located. A better section of the river and I have no doubt I would have reeled in fish for days.
My roommate and I are thinking about trying again this weekend, but here in the Potomac, and see if we have better luck.
Thanks again everyone for your help. It's greatly appreciated!
Well, thanks for the report, nonetheless. Success at fishing is ephemeral at best, but it does sound like you had the right stuff, the right approach, just the wrong stretch of water. Oh well, hopefully your experience will serve you well in the Potomac. Big water, but the lures you have and the strategies we've discussed will work there. Again, unless you have good water to wade, it goes back to boats and/or guides and access, but I hope you'll keep us informed as to your progress. The Potomac has a lot of really good fishing, hope you find it.
I'm in a similar position (used to fish with the grandparents, but haven't in years and never bought my own stuff). Would anyone have any specific recommendations or tips for good fishing around Blacksburg/Roanoke?
Can't beat the New River for variety of species and in some cases trophy potential. Trout fishing offers great opportunities as well. New River public access as well as the trout fishing information are both available on the VDGIF website. I'll respond later with more information when I'm not on my phone...
New River Public Access Maps - VDGIF
Virginia Trout Fishing Guide - VDGIF
Most folks target the stocked trout, which is fun of course. But don't overlook the wild trout fisheries. These waters are some of the most beautiful in the state, and while the fish are small, they are almost always hungry and willing to take a variety of flies and lures. Just be careful with the regulations, several of these waters are single hook, artificial lures only. The intent for this is fly fishing, but if you replace the treble hooks on most spinners and lures with a single hook, you would still be fishing legally.
Everything mentioned above for smallmouth on the Shenandoah will apply to the New River. Although I have never pursued them, I hear that the New River is an excellent musky fishery.
I second the advice above regarding hiring a guide if possible. I have found it to be one of the most valuable tools to learning a new water or species. Try to learn the patterns they are using to put their clients on fish (time of year, weather pattern, water temperature, water depth, water clarity, structure targeted, lures used, depth fished, etc.), and not just the specific locations. I could go on and on here, but I will leave it at that for now.
Good luck and have fun!
I am biased toward guides, but not just for all of the reasons you mentioned. Guides also have the boats you need to more successfully fish whatever area you are trying to learn. Believe me, while kayaks and canoes can fish big moving water like the New, a guide raft is the way to go for efficient and safe fishing in a notoriously dangerous river. As for the musky, I can confirm that the New River is indeed an excellent fishery for them. Some guides specialize in musky, but most can outfit you for both musky and smallmouth, if you have the patience and stamina to chunk the lures that attract ole toothy.
You guys are awesome.
Double cowgirl! Insane Anna!
I raise you a 9" Grandma, and a biggie sized Suick.
Looks like Charley had a pretty good time on the New! Yeah..."Smallie."
He gets the recruits, he gets the fish... yeah, just rub it in, Charley.
Yeahhhhh! WTG Charley!
Damn nice smallie. Look at that bronze!
You can still gamble, who gets the largest fish, who catches the most fish, who passes out from drinking and has to be rescued from the river first...
Water is getting low so it will warm up quick with these 70-80 degree days. A crayfish lure does well on the South Fork retrieved near rocks.
Yep. The warmer the water, the more of it the fish use and the more they'll expend the energy to chase crankbaits, etc. Rebel Craws are a solid and very traditional crankbait that will absolutely catch fish.
and in related news, rigging out the Nucanoe http://www.nucanoe.com/nucanoe-frontier/ continues.
I didn't want the seat shown but the dealer had it as a "package"...likely use will be as Mrs. Dave's tanning chair. A 36 qt igloo fits snug on the floor between the gear tracks. I moved one of the rod tip protectors to the rear so I can lay 2 spinning rods flat on each side. USCG safety equip all fits in the front hatch. I have a milk crate strapped in the back.
Fedex brought a little 2.5 Suzuki this week. The purpose for the gas motor is strictly for range. I plan to have an electric (transom mount) motor as well for shorter distances and will go sans motor in the immediate vicinity.
So far, Mrs. and I have just paddled around a bit to check stability. I can stand up just fine without a casting bar and it is totally self bailing with the two of us. We'll see if that holds with the motor.
Maiden voyage for motor break-in this weekend weather permitting.
update:
We did take it out last saturday. Motor ran great...got 75 minutes on 1 liter of gas. What I didn't anticipate was just how sensitive weight placement is in that lightweight rig. Once we got the seats in the right places, I had trouble comfortably reaching the tiller handle. The base handle was too short, the extension I bought was too long. All fixable. Biggest challenge with the outboard long term will be reaching the shift lever.
On short ventures, which is what I'll do most, I think the drill will be to use an electric trolling motor with forward/reverse/speed in the handle.
Now, if the wind will lay down...
Love finding stuff I like on clearance at the sporting goods store.
This a.m. I was at Academy and they had 3 Rebel Jumpin' Minnows left on the rack with yellow clearance tags. Two bone colored and one bone w/ chartreuse back so I grabbed all three. They were the smaller freshwater versions. Why I was on the freshwater aisle, I don't know...destiny no doubt.
I've caught more redfish on jumpin' minnows than any other lure. So I brought them home, changed out the hooks and voila...3 nice topwaters for $9! Will I use them? Doesn't matter. The important thing is I HAVE them and I got a good deal.
edit: and Mrs Dave points out that I did this without getting a hook in my hand!
pretty work! I heard Bak Bar charters got a 70lb cobia out of hatteras on a trout rod yesterday!
Heading to the New for a couple of days of floating for smallmouth/muskies. Tired of waiting for the salt to wake up around here.
Very interested as my handle implies!
Report coming Monday morning. Weather looks good, river's a bit low, but some rain might help. Either way, a couple of days floating the New will cure the spring blues. Might even float a day above Claytor and try to get a couple of post spawn walleye making their way back to the lake. Good smallmouth and musky action there as well. We'll see what the wind will allow.
Mike Smith has Walleye dialed in on fly above Claytor Lake
Yeah, I know Greasy Creek Mike (er, Dr. Smith, we called him Greasy Mike, but not perjoratively). If we float above the lake, I'll be after them, but more likely with suspending jerk baits. I have a "honey hole" or two in the lake if we choose/are forced by weather off of the river, where we can jig 'em up. Guy I know got a 13+ lb from my hole last spring, and they had a good run at the top of the lake this year. My buddy who guides will be fly fishing when I row, but he really just goes after the smallmouth. The jerk bait approach catches smallies and muskies as well as the walleye, though, so my other buddy and I would be doing that. I'll be fishing with Jim Richmond, Chuck Kraft's friend, who you may have met at the Richmond Fly Show. Looks like a short haired Santa. We used to work together when I was on the New. I'll let you know how it goes.
I say this as a complete complement, but I hope to one day be as passionate about something as you are about fishing my friend. Your level of passion for fishing is just next level stuff and I love it.
Thank you for that compliment, I appreciate it. My passion overwhelms (maybe underwhelms is a better word) my friends and family sometimes, but it is a life long love affair. It's family first, fishing and the Hokies close seconds in my head, couldn't live happily without either one of them. They just never get old, even as I do. I'm on my way out the door to indulge myself, have a great weekend!
My booth was next to Jim and Chuck and I talked with them a bit. Definitely some fishy guys! I'd like to get a walleye on fly, but aim for the smallmouth and musky. I'm fishing with Mike mid May on the New. Let me know how you do!
Well, we did fairly well. Friday, we floated Ripplemeade to Bluff City, had bluebird skies and wind, but still managed to catch 75-80 fish, a bunch were redeyes (rock bass). I got a 21-1/4" fish early on (Yum Dinger) and my buddy managed one just shy of 19", also on the Dinger. Jim caught a dozen or more on one of Chuck's Crittermites, but I was really out of rowing shape and between my crappy boat handling and the wind, poor Jim had a tough time of the fly fishing. Sat, we went Foster Falls to Rt. 100, cloudy day, no wind, not a single walleye to be seen. Had one musky follow up a smallmouth, only one we saw in two days. We maybe caught 35-40 fish, but nothing over 18", with just a few rock bass in the mix. I was really disappointed to not catch a walleye, and I fished for them hard with a Rattlin' Rogue, my go to river walleye bait, but all I could manage were a few smallmouth on it. We saw and talked to Mike at the put in, he had a trip (spin fishermen, not fly guys), and we had a nice visit. He told us the walleye were doing well and muskies had been active, but you couldn't prove it by our day. When you fish with Mike, tell him Perch says hello, he knows me, and that it was good to see him again. If the walleye had been more cooperative, I would've been happier, but it was a good float, nonetheless, and likely the float you'll go on with him. I've never been blanked on walleye before on that float this time of year, though, so I wonder if the preponderance of them have beat fins back to the lake. Good luck! I'm waiting on some pictures from Jim, but wouldn't know how to post them. If they're any good, I'll try to figure out the posting thing, we'll see. Wish I had Charley Wiles' photographer, that's a great smallie shot. Now, it's on to the flounder.
Not too bad! Thanks for the report
wow, i'd have been spooled in about 5 seconds!
I too would like some advice. I'm a noob to fishing and am thinking of giving it a try. I live in Hampton so I would be pier fishing in the chesapeke. What would be the best gear and lures to use?
Grew up in Chesapeake and spent an awful lot of time pier fishing, mostly in the Outer Banks, but also from the Lynnhaven pier. French can illuminate you on pier fishing for big predators, but most folks on the pier are catching pan sized fish like spot and croaker, small bluefish, speckled trout and the occasional flounder. A medium sized surf outfit can be about right. You need something that will cast enough weight to hold bottom, where your fish will mostly be. This usually calls for two or three oz weights, bottom rigs (2 hooks, wire contraptions available anywhere) using bloodworms, Fishbites, shrimp, squid or cut fish (mullet, usually) for bait. A fairly cheap combo will accomplish that goal, no need for high dollar tackle. If you make certain to rinse your gear thoroughly after every exposure to salt water/air, it will last you long enough to at least discover whether or not you will need better stuff as you go along. Folks on the pier will help you with the right bait for any given day, depending on what's in the water, and observation of those doing the most catching will help you figure out where you should be casting. Piers can be crowded, but usually people are in it for the fun and sociability was more the norm than not when I used to frequent them as a younger man. Except at the end of the pier, where often anglers are fishing big rigs with live bait for the "big boys" like cobia, big blues, etc. If you aren't geared up or in the "club", sometimes, things out there can be less hospitable for newbies. As for lures, spoons, lipstick sized "Gotcha" baits, bucktail jigs and the like will catch bluefish, spanish mackerel, and sometimes flounder (jigs), but if you are totally new to it all, ease your way into it with spot and croaker on bloodworms and catch dinner while observing and learning by imitation what you need to know to move up to other approaches. Both of those fish are good table fare, easy to catch, and give a bit of a fight, especially when they're coming in two at a time. Good Luck, and if you get into it, let us know!