Winter fishing in Richmond, VA?

[carsnrockmusic]

I'm still new to bass fishing and fishing in this area so I'm not familiar enough to know where to go or what fish are biting on.  I'd be happy to catch a single bluegill.  My goal is to just get on the water and cast my line.  I'll have some weekdays off in December and I'm hoping to take advantage and try somewhere local.  I haven't been fishing since September due to family stuff that involved hospital visits but everything is better now.  I'd be grateful to meet with someone as well and learn a thing or two.

Thanks, Jason

[Sam]

Jason, welcome to the Forum.

Here are some considerations for the greater Richmond area.

Of course, you don't tell us if you have a boat but you say "just get on the water..." which leads me to believe you have a bass boat or a kayak.

Richmond Bassmasters takes boaters and nonboaters and is looking for new members. If you are interested send me a personal message.

Osborne Landing on the Historic James River. Go up or down river. But, before you venture out check the tides, http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/virginiasites.html. You want an outgoing tide.

Flatwater, for kayak fishing, on the Historic James River by the Huguenot bridge.

Sandy River Reservoir off Route 460 west of Amelia.

Powhatan County lakes.

Lake Anna, off Route 522, for a lake.

Lake Chesdin. $10 ramp fee at Seven Springs off River Road or free to launch from the Dinwiddie side.

There are other places to fish from the bank, such as the big pond behind the old Martin's on Huguenot and Forest Hill Avenue shopping center.

Lake Reedy in Innsbrook.

May I suggest you try to locate the free VDG&I booklet, Freshwater Fishing in Virginia, to see all of the places to fish in the greater Richmond and central Virginia areas. There are just too many places to list in this post. Green Top, Wal-Mart, BPS, Cabela's may all have them.

Also, at the end of January the Richmond Fishing Expo in Doswell would be an excellent place for you to meet the movers and shakers in the Virginia bass fishing industry. Check out my post about the Expo in the Southeastern Fishing section and make plans to attend.

Give thought about joining the Richmond Bassmasters. Where else can you fish the local bodies of water with a buddy and learn local places to fish, launch your boat and what baits and techniques work best.

 

[carsnrockmusic]

Thanks Sam, I appreciate all the info!

[bendem]

Welcome Jason. I'm another Richmond resident (Glen Allen to be specific) who's only been bass fishing since this summer. Over the last month or so, I've fished the banks at Lake Rooty in Innsbrook three times, Echo Lake in Glen Allen once, and Lower Powhatan Lake once (from the fishing pier). Bites have been hard to come by, and the last LMB I caught was a little guy in Powhatan. I usually throw Ned Rig / Midwest Finesse lures but caught my last one on a Beetle Spin. Let me know if you want to meet up sometime.

[carsnrockmusic]

Sounds good, I'll probably be in touch soon.

Jason

[Sam]

On ‎12‎/‎3‎/‎2016 at 8:40 PM, bendem said:

Welcome Jason. I'm another Richmond resident (Glen Allen to be specific) who's only been bass fishing since this summer. Over the last month or so, I've fished the banks at Lake Rooty in Innsbrook three times, Echo Lake in Glen Allen once, and Lower Powhatan Lake once (from the fishing pier). Bites have been hard to come by, and the last LMB I caught was a little guy in Powhatan. I usually throw Ned Rig / Midwest Finesse lures but caught my last one on a Beetle Spin. Let me know if you want to meet up sometime.

Bendem, if you are interested in joining a local Richmond  bass club please let me know.

Richmond Bassmasters is seeking new members: boaters and nonboaters.

You can fish our 8 tournaments and learn about the local waters and where to and how to get to the ramps, which is your first challenge, baits and techniques to use, as well as meeting some fun guys who love to bass fish.

Check out the booklet, Freshwater Fishing in Virginia, from our VDG&IF. If you can't find a copy you can pick one up at the upcoming Richmond Fishing Expo at the end of January. Check out my thread in this section. The publication gives you many places to fish from the bank and boat.

Don't forget the big pond across the river behind the Stony Point Shopping Center off Huguenot Road.

Merry Christmas!

[bendem]

Sam - Thanks very much for the info.

Regarding the Richmond Bassmasters, is there a certain level of experience and / or gear that you see as a good fit for new members? For instance, I've only been doing this for a few months and primarily throwing Ned Rigs and other soft plastics and light spinnerbait on spinning gear. As a bank angler, I figure I'd be able to open up a lot more options in weeds and other cover by getting a heavy baitcast rod and fast reel set up for flipping and pitching. So that's what I've been looking to get in the next couple weeks. 

Regarding the pond behind the old Martin's, I noticed some no trespassing signs by the office buildings next to the water. Do you know if it's best to hit that place up on the weekend? 

[Sam]

Bendem, our bass club will teach you about rods, reels, line, tackle, baits, techniques and take you to the lakes and rivers in central Virginia from Lake Chesdin/Buggs Island over to Lake Anna and then the various tidal rivers down to the Historic James River and Lake Chesdin.

We may throw in the Potomac and Nottoway Rivers every few years.

You will also learn how to net a bass and how to play the fish to get them into the net.

You pay the boater $50 a day to help offset his gas bill (towing and on the water) to be your partner and private guide and he will show you what he does and tell you why he does it.

PM me and I can send you the details.

Merry Christmas.

[bendem]

On 12/5/2016 at 6:44 AM, Sam said:

Don't forget the big pond across the river behind the Stony Point Shopping Center off Huguenot Road.

I got out to that pond today. Had a nice LMB on my line for a while and got its head out of the water to see it shake shake shake and then spit out my lure. It probably would've been my personal best. Now I'll have to get back there to take my revenge.

I was using my Pflueger Trion spinning combo today, and I afterwards I noticed that it appears to have a slow action. Most of the instruction I see for finesse and other bass fishing is for fast action rods, so I ordered a fast action rod and am hoping that will help at least a bit with my hooksets.

[Sam]

Congrats.

Wish I could use my raft in that pond as the big ones live along the tree line.

Go back and post some pics of your catches.

Merry Christmas.