Sam, as far as staying in one river or the other you can go either way. Both rivers are very clear for the most part you just gotta watch out for dead falls and floating logs after a big rain like hurricane Matthew. Snakes are just a part of life in those rivers and once you have a couple attack buzzbaits or floating worms you get used to them! You don't have to get a Carolina license until you get past dockside/battle beach area where the blackwater conjoins with the nottoway to form the chowan. I take my Javelin on the nottoway all the way from 3 or 4 miles up river of Hercules all the way down the chowan. As far as the blackwater you can run a few miles up river of the paper mill if you're brave and don't mind hitting a few stumps along the way. A buddy of mine cleared quite a bit up river last summer but I haven't been up there since Matthew came through to comment on conditions. As far as tournaments, I really don't know bc I don't keep up with it and it's hard to know if you don't fish the 258 ramp every weekend to keep track. Definitely some monsters in there if you take the time to find em!
And one other thing, the only true no wake zones controlled by VADGIF are at dockside, the 258 ramp and the Bronco club. As far as the other 2 or 3, they are erosion control zones that the man in green cannot control. They were imposed by Southampton county and only a sheriffs deputy can ticket you there. I am not condoning speeding through them just giving facts. There are a few folks in the area trying to get rid of them as they are a complete hassle and there is no need for them.
