caq

Anyone launch from Portsmouth City Park into the Elizabeth River? I just bought my first boat and plan on launching from there. Not much information on the area. VDGIF doesn't even list the Elizabeth River on their website. I'm looking for suggestions on areas to try.

Just moved down to Portsmouth from Alexandria. I'm over in the Churchland area. I can't wait until it warms up a bit. I mostly fish from shore but I've got an intex mariner 4 with a trolling motor that gets me around a lake fairly well. I'm on the lookout for something like a grizzly 1648 so I can upgrade. I left my fishing buddy back in Alexandria so if anyone is recruiting let me know.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll keep at it and hopefully get the hang of it. Going out tonight for some practice.

I recently purchased a 6'6" baitcasting rod with the same Abu Garcia SilverMax I have on my 5'6". With my shorter rod, I can throw that thing a mile away with no problems. With my new rod, it seems I can't get 5 casts done without at least one backlash. I don't get a full blown birds nest either. It's just one small V in my line which ends up being the line I'm casting getting caught in itself. I know this may come off as a noob question but the shorter rod was my first baitcasting setup and I got over the birds nest phase after the first day. Any advice? I know right off the bat that the rod is a lot more flexible than my shorter one. It's obviously longer too. I'm not using any new type of lure and I have the settings set the same for both. The brake is at half and the bait drops at a controlled pace with the button is pressed. Old rod: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ICLVSM/ref=oh_details_o05_s02_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 New rod: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZZAFRA/ref=oh_details_o04_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Found it. It's Wagon Trail Ln. Thanks, I thought the only place to park was off of Hooes Rd.

let me know how that goes. I'll be down at Mercer this afternoon.

I plan on putting on the rain gear tonight and walking all the way back to the stumps. If you're standing at the top of the dam by the bench, do you go along the left or the right of the lake?

I've been using the floor that it came with. It's actually made up of several boards which allows it to be rolled up and secured with a bugie cord. I drive a GTI so a full size floor wouldn't fit in my car even if I split it in half. It works pretty well. My buddy and I can both stand on it and cast with no problems. There's also a lot of grass near that channel but it's still some good fishing. I thought last weekend was going to be the last one for the boat but I might just take it out a couple more times. Especially over to Mercer.

Went to Mercer last night and got skunked. Did boths ends of the dam by the rocks, and then walked down the left side and did about 4 different spots. No joy. I tried my white chatterbait, black and blue chatterbait, texas rigged senko and finesse but had no luck. Any advice? I definitely want to go back with my inflatable.

shimmy, Great info! I haven't been out to Beaverdam yet. I typically just fish the channel by Accotink Bay from the shore or on my inflatable. Last night I went over to Lake Mercer and got skunked. Did both ends of the Dam, then went along the side and stopped about 4 different spot. I still have hope for that lake though. I think if I could take my inflatable out there it'd be a good day for me.

How hard was it to get it registered? I have an Intex Ecursion 4 with a 30# trolling motor. I went to Walmart when I first got it and it was a hassle to obtain the 30 day permit because I bought it off of Amazon and I didn't have proof of certain information like the year of the boat. I talked them into just entering 2013 since it was brand new but knew that woudn't fly with the state. I launch off of Ft. Belvoir into the Accotink Bay and fish along the coast. If you look at google maps, you'll see Little Rd. Switch to Earth view and you'll see the channel that runs along there. There are a ton of bass and catfish running along there. The only bad part is that it's no real secret. I went out last saturday and there were 3 bass boats out there pretty much claiming the whole thing. I know you might not have access to Belvoir but knowing the spot is half the battle. I'll let you figure out how to get there. May through Pohick bay?

Hello folks. I've been a casual fisherman throughout my life. I've recently gotten a bit more serious about it and have tried to focus on bass. I'm a serviceman so I've had to chance to fish everything from mahi-mahi in the Caribbean, stripers in Connecticut, mullets and flounder on the Gulf Coast, and now bass and catfish on the Potomac. I'm sure there's a ton of valuable information on the forum so I'm off to go find it.