Fishing Z Dam Richmond, Virginia

[FISHINGVA]

Has anyone had any luck on Z Dam recently. Any suggestions on lures. 

[Sam]

Z-Dam is dangerous.

 

You will do better by going to the Pony Pasture and wading out into the river.

 

Small, one-inch white grubs on 4 pound test works great for smallies in the rocks.

 

Be very careful. There are holes on the bottom and lots of rock that can get you if you fall.

 

Wear a PFD and bring along a friend for safety.

 

Now, where do you enter the river by the Pony Pasture? Well, first park your vehicle in the parking lot. Then walk along the road until you see an island near the bank.  The island is about a quarter mile from where everyone sunbathes. Enter the river by the island and wade out.

 

Check out Google Earth for the island.

 

Don't forget your needle nose pliers to remove the hooks.

 

And be careful. Very careful.

[flyfisher]

What Sam said is dead on...wading there is not crazy but you have be paying attention.  You could be on a boulder in shin deep water and step off the wrong way and be over your head pretty quickly.

[James Janousek]

I used to live in Stratford Hills and fished the z dam and surrounding areas very often.  When the water is low, you can fish it safely, however almost every year people get trapped there due to the hydraulics so wear a life jacket.  You have to downsize, light spinning gear and small lures.  One of my favorites that always produced was a small floating Rapala minnow, silver and black.  Cast into eddies behind rocks or right into the main current.  The other thing you can try is a weightless senko, wacky or texas rigged, and fish the deeper water right above the dam.  I've seen some big smallmouth come out of there.  

 

With all that being said, I would do what Sam recommended.  

[WdyCrankbait]

Welcome to the Forums!

 

Yeah, what Sam said is right on.  I would suggest go to Pony Pasture, down stream of all the rocks and human traffic, as well, the James River Wetlands.

 

I fished is a couple of times when the river was low, and it is still dangerous.  There is not a uniform, even depth there (bowl shape river bed).  Two feet straight ahead might be shin deep, then two more steps and you're up to your chest fighting the current to stand up.