Moving To Richmond Va, Museum District

[dhami013]

Hey y'all been awhile. I'm moving to Richmond, VA in the Museum district, was wondering if anyone knew some good spots to fish at? I may or may not have a canoe, so bank fishing for now. 

 

 

Any one know of some good spots in the city or just outside of it?

[Sam]

Dhami, there are  lots of places to bank fish in the greater Richmond area.

 

Get the Game and Inland Fisheries "Freshwater Fishing in Virginia" booklet and look up central Virginia to find the various places you can bank fish. Green Top, BPS and Tackle Express on Midlothian Turnpike have the publications.

 

Seek out Hanover and Henrico Counties as they have some nice lakes open to bank fishing.

 

As for canoes, you have to be careful if you venture out in the Historic James River below I-95 or other tidal rivers as the tide can carry you to Williamsburg and beyond.

 

However, right above and below Bosher's Dam on the Historic James River you can use a canoe and put in at the "Flats" off Huguenot Road by the bridge on the Chesterfield side or up on Powhatan at Watkins Landing. The area from Bosher's Dam to the Z-Dam is one of the best fishing areas in the entire state.

 

And you can park at the Pony Pasture and walk a half mile or so down the road and wade into the Historic James and fish for smallmouth in the rocks and boulders. If you do this please wear a PFD and have a friend with you in case either get into trouble.

 

Just remember that as far as you can float on Virginia's tidal rivers you will have to row back and the tides can grab you and away you go.

 

You can also fish Lake Chesdin and the Chick Lake from a canoe. Put in at Seven Springs Marina or the free state ramp in Dinwiddie County on Lake Chesdin.  Hit Ed Allen's or Eagle's Nest for the Chick Lake.

 

As for golf course ponds, we used to fish the Salisbury Country Club ponds on Mondays but I have not fished them in a few years. Give them a shot.

 

You can also fish Swift Creek in a canoe.  Put in off Genito Road or in that area and enjoy that reservoir.

 

Up at Hanover Courthouse you can fish the pond at the soccer fields just south of the Courthouse area on Route 301.

 

Amelia Lake is good for canoes and kayaks. Look it up and hit it when you can. Good fishing and easy to launch and trailer your canoe.

 

You can bank fish off the big pond off Lucks Lane in Chesterfield County. It is a new pond but it is open to bank fishing.

 

Get some maps of Amelia, Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield Counties plus the City of Richmond and look for the color blue.

 

We have lots of kayakers on this site in Virginia and they need to chime in with their info as they fish all over the place.

 

Please get your fishing license; always wear your PFD; watch the weather as it can change in a heartbeat; and don't forget your needle nose pliers.

 

Welcome to the Capital of the Confederacy!!!!!

[Sam]

Powhatan ponds is also a good plaace to bank fish.

 

There are three ponds off to the left of Route 60 in Powhatan close to the Chesterfield line.

 

Check them out, too.

[flyfisher]

I think Sam about hit all the spots but there are other lakes that are really good too.  I learned many by just taking a look at DGIF website and giving them a try.  One other great thing about the area, for those in human powered boats, is that many of the lakes within an hour or so radius are electric only or HP limited lakes.  One of my favorites is Diascund reservoir which actually is drawn down right now for repairs so you can see a lot of structure that later in the year will be covered with water once they allow the lake to fill back up.

[Sam]

Yes, Diascund for kayaking.

 

And let's not forget Sandy River Reservoir over by Rice, VA off 460 towards Appomattox.

 

And the Innsbrook area with their concrete ponds and Lake Rooty. If any fish are left in Rooty after the clean up. Great place to fish from the bank at Rooty, on the other side of Nuckels Road off Cox Road by the office buildings.

 

Fly, he may want to speak with you about kayaking fishing in the area. Maybe via a PM???

[heyitskirby]

Powhatan ponds is also a good plaace to bank fish.

 

There are three ponds off to the left of Route 60 in Powhatan close to the Chesterfield line.

 

Check them out, too.

Hit the ponds today for about an hour.  Two dinks on a jointed jerk bait.  Never had much luck there as I'm not a fan of the ticks that I've walked out of there covered in during the warmer months so I don't go often.  Depending on your fishing style, my dad loves going there to just catch whatever bites a worm and does well.  The roads are currently in awful shape and I wouldn't suggest riding out there unless you have a truck or at least a vehicle with decent clearance.

 

As Sam also mentioned, there is the Powhatan Lakes which I've never done well at.  It gets overgrown during the summer and hard to bank fish from.  The more important thing to note is that it recently was rebuilt due to flooding that broke the dams.  There is now a slot limit which would leave you to believe there are some decent sized fish in there again, but I've never caught anything of size.  Again the roads here are bad as well right now but you can hit the upper lake without having to ride far.

 

The best fishing around Richmond, in my opinion, is the shad fishing during the spring from the rocks south of Mayo Island.  Definitely an awesome fishing experience you don't need a boat for.  In fact, the way the fishing works I prefer to not be on a boat when I go after them.  Some days the boats do better and some days the bank fishing does better, but with the crowds being on a boat can be a bear.  Small darts and spoons on light tackle are all you need.  Take the 14th St bridge south from the city, cross Mayo Island and park at the Canal Wall Parking lot.  If not enough parking, as does happen on weekends, park across the street at Southern States (at your own risk, but I've never been towed).

[everythingthatswims]

There is some sort of treated sewage discharge not too far below downtown Richmond on the James that I would give a try during the colder months. Warm water.

[Sam]

I flew to Martinsville in a small general aviation airplane leaving from Hanover County Airport.

 

Wow! Did I see places to fish in Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield counties.

 

I was surprised to see so many ponds and lakes. They are all over the place. In rural and suburban areas. On farms; in subdivisions; by apartment complexes; in the woods; and office projects.

 

Of course, fishing them with permission is going to be a big challenge.

 

We flew over West Creek off 288 and there are two beautiful ponds by the office buildings. These ponds are off limits and are patrolled by security, but talk about beautiful bodies of water to fish from the bank.

 

Bank fishing in central Virginia is strong and healthy. Only problem as mentioned above is getting permission to fish the ponds lakes on private property.

 

So if you see a pond that looks interesting you may want to stop and ask permission to fish that body of water. After all, all they can say is "no."

[flyfisher]

One thing that can help with gaining permission is that in Hanover, there is an online GIS site that enables you to find out who the owner of any piece of property is which helps in gaining permission.

 

I also have had a lot of good luck at the powhatan lakes but that was in a kayak.  There are some good fish in there and i once caught a huge crappie that measured 16".

 

The powhatan ponds are also awesome if you are looking to target some big carp.  I have caught some big ones out there on the fly rod.

[WdyCrankbait]

Yep, Powhatan lakes are great!  I popped a 5 out of there about this time last year.  (North end of the lake on a jon boat).  But, seems to be a very healthy lake system.

[dhami013]

For some reason I didn't get the email notification for replies on this topic and I had missed out on all these GREAT replies! I'm going out tomorrow morning to one of those ponds which is actually right next to where I work. 

 

 

Thank you everyone for replying back and helping a brother out, Sam especially, you always drop some great knowledge on us.