Richmond Beginner

[Tartan]

Hello everyone, I'm extremely new to this type of fishing (not using a bobber and staring at it) to date I have caught 1 fish which I think was a small mouth but I'm not sure.

Either way I'm feeling a little lost since I spent 7 hours down at Pocahontas State park with not so much as a nibble.

I'm not up to speed on terms but a picture says a thousand words if you recommend a bait.

My equipment currently is a quantum 6'6" spinner and an Abu Garcia Vendetta 7' with a Silver Max.

I know this seems crazy but I had fun for 7 hours catching nothing, so I'm hoping with a little guidance I could graduate from bobber + night crawler.

Hope someone can help me see the light!

Thanks everyone

[Hanover_Yakker]

Welcome aboard!  Your gear is fine for our area.  Keep your tackle simple to start with.  I recommend a stick baits in sizes from 3-6", some curly tail grubs in white paired with a 1/4oz round ball head jig, some 1/2oz spinnerbaits in chartreuse/white and blue/white, some squarebill cranks and perhaps a few jig-n-craws.  A small tackle bag that holds 3-4 3600 tackle trays should be more than enough.  Don't be afraid to get an ultralight spinning rod and reel and throw some beetle spins, rooster tails/mepps inline spinners, and stump jumpers/road runners.  If at all possible, stick with natural colors to start - greens, blacks, orange/browns, silver/blue, silver/black, gold/black.  if you take this list with you to your local tackle store, you can have an attendant help you identify some of them.  You can also google the same words and look for images ot help you associate them together.

 

Oh yeah, the shad bite is on fire right now in downtown Richmond.  Get a couple flutter spoons and start casting from the bank!!

 

Keep us posted!!!

[Darren.]

Welcome Tartan! You'll really enjoy the learning bit. I would start in the articles section, lots of great info there.

Personally, I'd graduate you to the wacky rig. It is easy, fun, and catches fish. Rather than lay it out here, just search for "wacky" in the forums and start reading

[Tartan]

Awesome!! Any particular bait shop better? I've been to tackle express and been told bobs on midlothian is also pretty good!

I'm looking to have someone to fish with since I'm a visual type of person if I see what I'm meant to do I have a feeling I could replicate well. None of my friends are very knowledgeable and frankly my wife is just a bobber watcher (but she likes that)

What is an ultra light spinner btw? Very short rod? Or what?

[Teal]

Mmmmmm i see we are going have to train you. Well youve come to the right place and we are glad to help and explain any way we can!! Sam is a member on this board, i believe he is in your area too. He is super knowledgable, im sure he will chime in at some point.

Go to the articles section and read up seasonal behavior of bass and read up on rods, reels, line and lures...make sure to try to read some of the post on the boards. We get new guys everyday and they are asking the same questions that are probably running through your mind. Its a fast way to learn.

I know my profile says NC, but im only 10 mins from VA and only about 90 mins from richmond.

[Tartan]

Very cool, I love reading and learning so I will absolutely do that. I have used this site extensively over the last 2 weeks (the entire time I've owned a rod in va)

I'm a boatless banker here so it's sorta disheartening when I see lots of info about put your boat here or there and catch awesome fish haha.

Anyways!! Thanks!

[flyfisher]

Just keep at it and you will do fine. All the guys here so far have given great advice so I won't add anymore other than keep having fun and try new areas. The James has lots of wadeable water near pretty much every boat launch and if you save up a little cash you can get yourself a kayak and be off the bank in no time.

Welcome aboard and enjoy your new hobby

[Sam]

1. Start pond fishing. There are many ponds in the greater Richmond area. Get a map and start throwing your baits.

2. Bob's on Midlothian? Never heard of it. Tackle Express is on Midlo and nothing else that I am aware. Fill me in with the details.

3. Do you live north or south of the river?

4. What tackle do you possess now?

5. To really learn bass fishing may I suggest joining a local bass club? You will learn a lot in a year and make many new friends.

6. Too late tonight to get into it with you but let us hear back from you and we all can give you some suggestions.

[Hanover_Yakker]

Tell you what, let's meet at Bass Pro just to walk you through some things and get you accustomed to the tackle and then you can decide what you want to get. I can also piece together a starter kit for you on plastics. PM me your email and cell, and we'll get cracking.

[Tartan]

Well ****....i wasn't expecting this at all.... i work retail so i just got home. 

 

 

Hanover that sounds fantastic...maybe this weekend or something, i work retail so i'm always out of work at the arse end of dusk but tomorrow i'm heading down to South Lake before work. 

 

Hopefully going to spend maybe 4 hours there. 

 

 

but in answer to the questions above....

 

 

1. I'm fishing at South Lake and Pocahontas Lakes.

2. I meant Bob's on Hull Street

3. I live south of the river in the Deer Run area (so i'm close to Pocahontas)

4. I have an inherited tackle box so its got all sorts of really old plastics and a few funny looking jigs (I think) and i couple of awesome spinners (i caught my first fish with one of the spinners... i think its called a spinner..i'll post a pic soon of what i have)

5. I hope i can join a club not sure where to start.

6. I will give a report after tomorrow or maybe later tonight for sure.

 

 

p.s you guys have quite literally flabbergasted me with the feedback....and who said Fishermen where all secrets haha.

[heyitskirby]

Seriously...hit the shad run.  I haven't had the chance yet other than an earlier opportunity on the Rapp a couple of weeks ago.  I will be on the James tomorrow downtown and this is some of the funnest fishing you will experience around here.  Not a lot of work for the return.

 

Expect frustration and expect to spend money.  I grew up with worms and bobbers.  My old man will still sit in the back of the boat telling me about how many little sunfish he's caught even if I've caught decent size bass.  You will snag, you will lose fish, and you will get ticked off...but the one big one you get vs the hundreds of little ones you used to get will make your whole day.

 

Depending on what you want to get after...research catfish on the James.  Obviously this is a bass fishing site, but there are some gigantic catfish to catch around here.

 

And when all else fails...listen to Sam.  I don't post on here often, but when you lurk you learn.  Sam knows all where Richmond is concerned.

[Ramrva]

Great post to see! I shall be following this closely since I'm in the same area! And new to fishing in Richmond and these areas.

[Tartan]

So using a Texas rigged with a cheap version of a senko I already had (I cut it in half because it was almost 12") this was my triumphant victory

I used the Texas rigged senko with a regular eagle claw hook at the head and a tinier hook in the tail after a few casts I relized they were just grabbing. The tail of the rig...so I put a hook in it aaaaaand wham 2nd cast I got this little thing...I think it's a small mouth bass can anyone input?

Btw this was at SouthLake off midlothian across from Napa

[Sam]

Tartan, lots of places to try your luck on southside and the geographical area. Get a map of greater Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties plus the Commonwealth to find these places or look them up on the Internet.

 

Pond behind the Martin's store off Huguenot Road by Forest Hill.

Pond off Hobbyhill Road.

Pond off Lockinvar Road.

Pond off Lucks Lane near St. Francis Hospital.

Walk down the hill to the pond adjacent to Southport Pond and behind the DMV office.

Swift Creek off Hull Street Road. Put in off Genito Road.

Pond off Fordham Road off Hull Street Road.

Concrete pond in Innsbrook off Cox Road across the river off West Broad Street

Lake Rooty across Nuckels Road on Cox Road. Park by office buildings.

Hanover County Park off Route 1 south of Hanover Courthouse.

Pond heading from Green Top to Bass Pro Shop on Lakeridge Parkway.

Pond in Windsor Business Park off Parham Road East just east of I-95.

There is a pond off Route 1 by Virginia Center Commons but I have never been there. Maybe one of the guys can let you have details about where it is located and what business it is behind.

Walk out to the Barge Pit area in Henricus Park off Route 10 just off I-95. Go left at the first traffic signal as you are on Route 10 heading towards Hopewell and follow the signs.

Ponds off Route 54 west of Ashland. You have to pay to fish. Ask the guys at Green Top for details.

Gazebo on the Dinwiddie side of Lake Chesdin.

Ed Allen's on Chickhominy Lake. Rent a boat or fish off the pier. Off Route 60 east of Providence Forge.

Pond off Route 60 east of 288 and the McDonalds heading towards Williamsburg and on your left. 

Osborne Landing in Hanover off Osborne Turnpike. Fish the Historic James River off the pier.

Have you hit Beaver Lake in Pocohontas State Park? By ampitheater.

The ponds by Maymount Park, such as Shields Lake, Boat Lake and Swan Lake. 

Youngs Pond in Bryan Park off I-95.

University of Richmond pond by its Commons. You can park on the side of College Road off River Road when you see the west end of the pond to park and walk around the pond. Called Westhampton Lake.

If you have a boat hit Watkins Landing on the Historic James River.

There are three ponds off Route 60 in Powhatan County off to your left and down a road as you head west. Look up Powhatan County on Google and try to locate the three ponds. They are within five miles of Route 522. Check them out.

 

Tackle shops to visit:

Castaways on Jeff Davis Highway south of 288. Ask for Lonnie and tell him Sam sent you.

Dance's in the Southpark Shopping Center near Burger King. Check out their lunch counter. Good food.

Green Top off I-95 at the Elmont exit.

Bass Pro Shops off I-95 at Exit 89.
Tackle Express on Midlothian and Robious. Ask Craig for Sam's LSU discount.

Hookers in Toano off I-64 at the Toano exit.

 

Please be sure to have your current fishing license.

 

Do not trespass on the property of others as you will get a ticket.

 

There are other favorite places the local guys can suggest.

 

If you go to the Pony Pasture to walk among the rocks in the Historic James River please wear felt soled shoes/boots; always ware your PFD; and be very careful in the rocks. You walk about a quarter mile past where the kids sun themselves and play in the water but don't go past the

Z-Dam and throw small white grubs on light spinning tackle and have a blast. Or bring heavy tackle and throw out for the big flatheads.

 

For a fun fishing adventure on the Historic James River to fish for the big catfish by the Pony Pasture or south of Hopewell (Follow the Dead Fish to Hopewell) contact Mike Ostrander and tell him Sam sent you. The Pony Pasture float from the Huguenot Bridge is a blast in Mike's raft.

 

http://discoverthejames.com/?q=Fishing-Trips

 

Good luck and keep us posted on where you go and what you catch.

[Sam]

One more suggestion.

 

Get a copy of the Freshwater Fishing in Virginia from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and check out the places to fish. It is free and the tackle shops and Wal-Marts have them.

 

I forgot to include on the list the various ponds and small lakes in Henrico County.

 

Check them out in the booklet and have some fun fishing each one. Page 45, Central Virginia.

 

Good luck.

[Sam]

Bass Clubs in Virginia:

 

Go to the top of the Forum page and look for:

Links

Bass Fishing Clubs

Virginia

BASS and FLW Federations.

 

Contact them for information on local bass clubs in the greater Richmond areas.

[Sam]

Check out the Maps and Directions link:

 

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=103

 

Enjoy!!!!

[Tartan]

Thanks guys!!! I have a hell of a busy weekend ahead of me! I was always worried about just pulling up and whipping a rod out as I thought it'd be frowned upon

Thanks so much!

Hopefully I'll catch some fish this weekend! Oh I learned the fish I caught was a tiny large mouth :-D

[Tartan]

Okay small update, Went to bass pro picked up a few things to give a shot tomorrow...

Came home with :

3" bass pro sinko in watermelon green, and purple.

1\0 and 2\0 worm hooks for Texas rigging

Hope ill have some luck with them tomorrow.

Lakes I've hit and fishes at for more than 1 hour

South Lake (my current favorite)

The winding part of Swift Creek lake in Pocahontas

And the Pond that is on Cox Road near the business buildings

South lake bass are small.

Swift Creek Lake is dead and full of kayaks (I spent 7 hours here)

And Cox Road pond seems nice but I didn't have enough time to work out what would catch fish

Hope that helps ill be adding to this thread as I hit and fish at more if the ponds & lakes in Sams list.

On a side note Sam that pond at glen Allen is behind Panera across the street from PetSmart.

It is a no fishing pond it's got very large coy in it and I think it belongs to Panera

[Tartan]

Spent all day down on belle isle on the James. Not even a nibble.

On my way home I decide to hit SouthLake again

Bingo

This place is officially becoming my regular place to fish.

[Tartan]

I'm heading down to Beaver Lake in Pocahontas tomorrow (upper lake) and apparently its absolutely hopping right now....its even better post-spawn apparently. 

 

does anyone know when this is in virginia? 

 

i'll keep everyone posted...hopefully someone is interested haha :-)

[Sam]

On 4/21/2013 at 8:41 PM, Tartan said:

I'm heading down to Beaver Lake in Pocahontas tomorrow (upper lake) and apparently its absolutely hopping right now....its even better post-spawn apparently. 

 

does anyone know when this is in virginia? 

 

i'll keep everyone posted...hopefully someone is interested haha :-)

 

Yes, about 100,000 Virginia bass fishermen and people who are on this site know when there will be spawn and then post spawn time in Virginia.

 

It relates to two factors: 1 - Dogwoods blooming and 2 - the first full moon after the Dogwoods bloom.

 

The first full moon after the Dogwoods bloom is this weekend.

 

So, this means:

1. Majority of bass are on their beds.

2. Some of the late ones will wait for another week.

3. This week and next week the majority of the bass will be off their beds depending on the water temperature.

4. Some of the late ones will just be starting to nest.

 

So to answer your query, about the week of June 3rd they should be recovering from the spawn and will start to bite that week and into the summer.

 

Smaller bodies of water will heat up faster and the bass will go to their beds earlier than on a lake or river. So for Beaver Lake you have to figure that if the water temperature is 60* to 65* they are on their beds with some coming off the beds to recoperate.

 

Throw a green pumpkin Zoom trick worm on a shaky head jig head using 8 pound flourocarbon line on a spinning rig and try your luck. Fish slow and in any grass, wood, pads, docks, piers, pilings, rocks, riprap, etc. you can find.

 

Also throw plastic lizards and spinnerbaits.

 

If you get to the lake at sunrise throw a top water for the fun of it, like a Pop-R.

 

Then come home and go to Hank Parker's and Woo Daves' web sites and read their articles plus the articles featured on the top of the Forum's home page.

[Tallent25]

Its a largemouth bass largemouth is mostly what you will catch in the tricities area unless you hit the upper James as always Sam hit pretty much everything on the head I would try to join a club that's local you will.learn sooo much from the guys and will have someone to fish with All the time let us know how you do FYI I live on spring run fish pocabantas a ton place is fun but is very tough from land would recommend the smaller lake I think it is known as beaver lake

[Tartan]

I didn't go down to Pocahontas due to weather....but tomorrow i'm probably going up to the Three Lakes Park in Henrico to see how they are...

 

Hopefully its been stocked (in 2001 there were 14" bass in there in abundance) cause i'm dying to get a few fish in a row. Not just 1 a day lol....

 

My main issue is the fish i have caught feel like "flukes" y'know? I don't go down to the lake or river thinking to myself.. "this will work so if i doesn't i gotta move on" and honestly until i get a couple of fish on a lure I wont be confident in it.

 

I still haven't caught anything on my AbuGarcia setup which is bumming out too hahaha only my 22 dollar walmart rod...  >_<

[Tartan]

has anyone had any luck with this lure 

 

 

 

just found it in my inherited Tackle Box....i cant seem to find any threads about it...

 

Maybe i'm just forum-incompetent