Fishing in the RVA Area This Weekend

[racer894]

Looking to hit a few places...how are shad in the James? Never fished for them but hear it can be fun if they're running good...is there areas safer to fish than others on the James?

 

I might hit Swift Creek Reserivor for some crappie action...also might head to the Midloathian Mines pond and The Grove. Also would like to check out the park behind James River high school again, caught a smallmouth there the last time I visited. 

[avidangler8]

What is the Midloathian mines pond?

I also went out for a little bit earlier and fished from the bank near the 14th street bridge but didn’t get on any shad. 

[racer894]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mid-Lothian+Mines+Park/@37.4907788,-77.6428698,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x914efafca28ccfda!8m2!3d37.4907788!4d-77.6428698

 

[avidangler8]

I’ll have to check that place out sometime. Is the fishing any good?

[WdyCrankbait]

^ Nope

[racer894]

29 minutes ago, WdyCrankbait said:

^ Nope

Yes it is...at least for me the times I have been out there I catch bass, bream, and crappie...also before they drained it down mostly 6 or so years back that pond had a very abundant supply of catfish. I would go everyday before class at John Tyler and fish, and catch catfish left and right off that back bridge. I had a bass break my line there too!

 

The best fishing is near the road - its deepest out there all along that bank. 

[James Janousek]

On 4/9/2018 at 10:43 PM, racer894 said:

Looking to hit a few places...how are shad in the James? Never fished for them but hear it can be fun if they're running good...is there areas safer to fish than others on the James?

 

I might hit Swift Creek Reserivor for some crappie action...also might head to the Midloathian Mines pond and The Grove. Also would like to check out the park behind James River high school again, caught a smallmouth there the last time I visited. 

The shad run is going full blast right now.  Went out on Friday and caught over 100 hickory shad between 2 guys.  Mostly big fat hickory females.  Only 1 american shad and a couple of small stripers.  We put in at Ancarow's, but make sure the tide is right, at low tide people could not get in or out there is so much silt at the ramp.  My dad is out there now with the Project Healing Waters guys taking some disabled veterans out.  I'll report back with how they did.

 

The key is using a fly rod with sinking line.  We had boats all around us but we were just dialed in.  They were ticked they couldn't catch them like us, but that's the way it goes sometimes.  It was every cast for awhile with at least 10 double headers.  We used a green slab daddy crappie jig.  You can catch them on spinning gear throwing a small gold spoon, but you need around 1/4-1/2 oz weight above it and a 2-3 foot leader. You have to get it down to the bottom.  With a fly rod though, it's an easy 5-1 catch rate over spinning gear.

 

I hit up the pond at U of R yesterday after work and did well.  Steady action on the ned rig with 6 total and 2 right at 2.5 lbs.  I'm taking the kayak out tomorrow.  Either going to try the reservoir or the james.   

 

 

[Black Bill Dance]

1 hour ago, James Janousek said:

The shad run is going full blast right now.  Went out on Friday and caught over 100 hickory shad between 2 guys.  Mostly big fat hickory females.  Only 1 american shad and a couple of small stripers.  We put in at Ancarow's, but make sure the tide is right, at low tide people could not get in or out there is so much silt at the ramp.  My dad is out there now with the Project Healing Waters guys taking some disabled veterans out.  I'll report back with how they did.

 

The key is using a fly rod with sinking line.  We had boats all around us but we were just dialed in.  They were ticked they couldn't catch them like us, but that's the way it goes sometimes.  It was every cast for awhile with at least 10 double headers.  We used a green slab daddy crappie jig.  You can catch them on spinning gear throwing a small gold spoon, but you need around 1/4-1/2 oz weight above it and a 2-3 foot leader. You have to get it down to the bottom.  With a fly rod though, it's an easy 5-1 catch rate over spinning gear.

 

I hit up the pond at U of R yesterday after work and did well.  Steady action on the ned rig with 6 total and 2 right at 2.5 lbs.  I'm taking the kayak out tomorrow.  Either going to try the reservoir or the james.   

 

 

Are we aloud to fish the pond at the University of Richmond? What do you believe is best for the bass out there?

On ‎4‎/‎9‎/‎2018 at 10:43 PM, racer894 said:

Looking to hit a few places...how are shad in the James? Never fished for them but hear it can be fun if they're running good...is there areas safer to fish than others on the James?

 

I might hit Swift Creek Reserivor for some crappie action...also might head to the Midloathian Mines pond and The Grove. Also would like to check out the park behind James River high school again, caught a smallmouth there the last time I visited. 

I plan on hitting a few spots this weekend as well. Probably the pond on Southlake Blvd and Mid-Lothian Mines Park. With the warm weather next couple days the pond on Southlake should get direct sunlight warming the pond pretty good.

 

My office is downtown on the James River, from my office window it seems like the boats are congregated all on the eastside of the I-95 bridge, so much you can walk across the boats LOL. The best thing for the shad run is 2" swirly tail grub or gold & silver spoons....bloodworms for the white perch, right under the 14th street bridge.

[Sam]

Bill, Ancarrows east of the bridge is packed with guys fishing for shad.

 

Due to the rocks you can't go up river very far but you can fish closer to and under the bridge in a boat.

 

Get your shad darts at Green Top and go out there with the rest of the thousands and nail some shad.

[racer894]

5 hours ago, Black Bill Dance said:

Are we aloud to fish the pond at the University of Richmond? What do you believe is best for the bass out there?

I plan on hitting a few spots this weekend as well. Probably the pond on Southlake Blvd and Mid-Lothian Mines Park. With the warm weather next couple days the pond on Southlake should get direct sunlight warming the pond pretty good.

 

My office is downtown on the James River, from my office window it seems like the boats are congregated all on the eastside of the I-95 bridge, so much you can walk across the boats LOL. The best thing for the shad run is 2" swirly tail grub or gold & silver spoons....bloodworms for the white perch, right under the 14th street bridge.

Is Southlake any good

[James Janousek]

17 hours ago, Black Bill Dance said:

Are we aloud to fish the pond at the University of Richmond? What do you believe is best for the bass out there?

Yes, the pond at U of R is open to anyone.  You just have to be careful where you park your car.  I park in the visitor spots in the main parking area and walk down to the pond and I've never had any issues.  

 

I've talked to a number of guys there and they all swear by the wacky worm.  I had really good luck with a green pumpkin ned rig a few days ago.  A baby brush hog has also worked in the past.  

 

I hit up a pond last night in midlo and caught 7 or 8 on a top water popper; megagbass pop x.  The bass were in super shallow water that had warmed up during the day.  Nothing big, but any top water action is great no matter what.

[Black Bill Dance]

Hey Guys,

 

Did any of you fellas get out there today and wet a few lines, and if you did, how did you make out?

 

Imma hit the water for a little while before heading into the office tomorrow, hopefully come back with a decent report and some pictures.

 

[Black Bill Dance]

On ‎4‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 10:46 PM, racer894 said:

Is Southlake any good

Got skunked at Southlake today before heading into work. Had a few bites on shad swimbait and pumpkin Senko work. Was only out there for 2 hours.

 

Any of you guys having any kind of success today? Will be out bright and early Saturday morning, still debating should I stay local or make a short 45 min driver to private pond in Middlesex at my buddy family pond....some monsters there!!! If they not hitting on nothing the rainbow trout they stock every fall/winter will be fun.

[Graham]

44 minutes ago, Black Bill Dance said:

Got skunked at Southlake today before heading into work. Had a few bites on shad swimbait and pumpkin Senko work. Was only out there for 2 hours.

 

Any of you guys having any kind of success today? Will be out bright and early Saturday morning, still debating should I stay local or make a short 45 min driver to private pond in Middlesex at my buddy family pond....some monsters there!!! If they not hitting on nothing the rainbow trout they stock every fall/winter will be fun.

I'll probably be fishing the James tmw, gonna go down with some friends and hang but I always bring my gear with me! Private ponds are some of my favorite to fish, if I were you I'd go there! If not, maybe see you on the river, let me know if you wanna go down there (I've got a couple cool spots for LMB).