Upper James River near Buckingham, VA

[cartisdm]

Hello!

 

My wife is going on a yoga retreat in Buckingham, VA.  More specifically, 108 Yogaville Way.  I live down in Charlotte, NC now and I'm considering going with her on the drive then doing my own fishing trip nearby over the weekend.  Anyone out there familiar with the area?  Couple of key things I'm looking for in order to decide if I pull the trigger and tag along:

 

• Boat launch for a 14' aluminum vhull with 25hp motor
• Within about 30 minutes of 108 Yogaville Way, Buckingham, VA (www.yogaville.org)
• Nearby campgrounds would be ideal.  I can sleep in my Jeep with my dog or pitch a tent - doesn't really matter
• Good fishing!

 

As long as there is a place to get in and out of the water, I'm mostly just curious about what to expect.  Google Earth images leads me to believe the water is plenty open enough for a small aluminum boat.  I may not have a way to charge my trolling motor battery so I might just anchor at various spots all weekend.  Anything folks would like to share about what I might experience out there?  I've never specifically target smallmouth but I imagine that's the best species I should go after?  I'm pretty well versed on largemouth just so you have an idea of my experience but I really want to target whatever is most plentiful and branch out from there if I'm successful.

 

Any advice is appreciated - thanks!!

[Sam]

Cart, you have limited yourself with your query about one specific area.

 

We have a number of Virginia guys and gals on the Forum but I do not know of any who live in the Buckingham area.

 

I do not live up that way, either, so I am of no help.

 

Here is a suggestion: Try to find on-line the booklet: Freshwater Fishing in Virginia by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.  That booklet will cover the Buckingham area with places to fish. Otherwise, you will have to wait until you hit a sporting goods store while driving to Virginia to obtain a free copy.

 

And yes, smallmouth in the Historic James River are strong in Buckingham County area. Your boat should not be a problem once you get it launched. Just be sure to have enough power to get you back to the launch site as the current can take you downriver and it is not easy to paddle back upriver.

 

I am going to go to the DG&IF web page and see if they booklet is on-line. If so, I will come back and add to this thread.

 

Have fun and don't speed. The roads to Buckingham County are unforgiving as are the local deputies and state police.

Try this web site:  https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/waterbody/james-river-upper-middle/

 

Have fun, be safe and good luck.

[Sam]

Try this web site:  https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017-fishing-regulations.pdf

 

Have fun, be safe and good luck.

[James Janousek]

I live in VA and fish the James often.  I would strongly advise you to not bring your boat.  There are large rocks everywhere in the river and with the low water levels this time of year, you won't be able to avoid them.  Water level is 1 to 2 ft max with "deep" holes being 6 feet.  Everyone who fishes that area is in a canoe or kayak and they are scraping rocks constantly.  An aluminum boat would get destroyed.  Only guys that have aluminum boats run jet outboards and stay way further down river, like just west of Maidens.

 

Closest ramp around there is probably Wingina.  Rent or borrow a kayak, launch there and paddle upstream.  Or get a tube and a cooler of beer, float and drink.  Not sure if there are any guides in that area, but maybe a guided float would be ideal.  

 

Hope this helps.

[Sam]

Get on Route 60 east and look for the signs to Bear Creek State Park.

 

You can fish that lake.

 

Check it out:  https://www.virginia.org/Listings/PlacesToStay/BearCreekLakeStateParkCampingandCabins/

 

Google Bear Creek State Park for other web sites about the state park.

 

Also pick up a map of Virginia so you can see where to fish in the surrounding counties and were these places are located.

[Dan B.]

I agree with James that you don't want to fish the free-flowing James River in your boat. If you want to fish out of your boat on the James River for smallmouth, go to Monacan Park (about an hour from Buckingham northwest of Lynchburg). That section of the James is a fairly large pool behind a dam that's got plenty of depth to run your boat. However, you'll only be about a half hour from Briery Creek, which has excellent largemouth fishing. You won't be able to run your outboard (it has a 10 hp limit), but you probably wouldn't want to anyway because it's loaded with standing timber. 

[david in va]

3 hours ago, Dan B. said:

you'll only be about a half hour from Briery Creek, which has excellent largemouth fishing.

Ditto

[Sam]

If you are a half hour from Briery then you are 45 minutes from Sandy River.

 

Trolling motors, only, in Sandy River.

 

Check it out, too.

[cartisdm]

Wow, so much great info in this thread!  I spoke to the local rangers and an employee at the local canoe livery and both said the section of the river by the James River State park would be deep enough to run my boat (slowly, of course) in about 1.5miles each direction from the ramp.  I reserved a campsite and am heading up Friday morning.

 

If I get there and the water level is too low to even make it worth launching my boat, I'll audible to one of the locations mentioned above.  I have my eye on the Monacan Park because I really want to catch a few smallmouth.  I was in Chicago last week and saw about a 4-pounder sitting at the surface of the harbor and it got me so excited to target those suckers.

 

Big thank you again to everyone's suggestions.  I feel much more comfortable having options in case I'm unable to launch and fish directly from the park I'm camping in.  I'll report back next week with a fishing updating and pictures!