Richmond Virginia, Kayak Fishing Spots and General Advice

[Miz]

1. What are the best places to kayak fish in Richmond Virginia?
2. I'm still very new at fishing and would love to go with someone to learn more. I've been fishing for 3 years and barely catch anything, just got a kayak to help me maybe get to better spots...but I  think there is a lot of technique and advice I  could use from someone more experienced. 

[supersmittyc]

@Sam could be of great help to you.

[Sam]

On 5/6/2022 at 9:59 PM, Miz said:

1. What are the best places to kayak fish in Richmond Virginia?
2. I'm still very new at fishing and would love to go with someone to learn more. I've been fishing for 3 years and barely catch anything, just got a kayak to help me maybe get to better spots...but I  think there is a lot of technique and advice I  could use from someone more experienced. 

Welcome to the Forum, Miz.  Nice having you with us.

 

Now, to give you some input to your above queries, in no particular order:

1.  Do not fish a tidal river in a kayak. Put in at the Huguenot Road bridge over the Historic James River (Huguenot Flatwater) or the Robious Landing Park by James River High School. You could also put in at the Watkins Landing Ramp off 711.  I write this as the river can get some strong current and you don't want to be pushed into the rocks or onto Bosher's Dam.

 

Check out Lake Chesdin and Lake Anna and go to these bodies of water to fish.

 

Kayakers will tell you other places to paddle and fish so speak with them at the ramps.

 

2.  Look for a kayak fishing club in the greater Richmond area. There are a number of them and they have tournaments. You will learn a lot including where the ramps are located; where are the bodies of water located; what to use as baits; and learn new baits, presentations and techniques.

 

Here is the large kayak club in the Richmond area:  

https://www.meetup.com/Central-Virginia-Kayak-Anglers/?_cookie-check=EFWEGYPlwUjBdAbf

 

Consider joining it and learning from these guys and gals.

 

3.  Go to Greentop Hunt Fish off I-95 and speak with the guys in the fishing department regarding where to go to fish in your kayak. Find Brian and speak with him and the other guys.

 

4.  Since you have been fishing for 3-years but have not loaded your kayak, you need some guidance from others fishing in the central Virginia area.  You also need to join BASS to get their magazine; join BASS to get Bass Times; and suscribe to Bass Anglers Magazine. 

 

You can join a bass fishing club as a nonboater but the clubs are now allowing "teams of two" in and are not looking for single nonboaters.

 

5.  Check out Richmond kayak fishing on Facebook.

 

6.  Next January go to the Richmond Fishing Expo at Meadow Event Park in Caroline County (Kings Dominion Exit off I-95) and talk to the kayakers at the Expo plus others in the Virginia fishing community.

 

7.  Suscribe to your favorite bass pros on Facebook and YouTube to get their input and suggestions.

 

I suggest you take it slow. Start with the two basic plastic colors of watermelon and green pumpkin.  Check out this kayak link; https://kayakguru.com/what-color-plastic-worms-bass/

 

Go with a white spinnerbait and a green pumpkin Chatterbait along with a black or white buzzbait and of course, a silver Whopper Plopper. Then throw your crankbaits.

 

Sorry to be long winded but you did ask a simple question with a complicated answer. Check out the kayak clubs; stay out of tidal rivers; go to the Expo; and have some fun this summer.

 

Tight Lines,

Sam

 

 

 

 

[Sam]

Also "Like" BassResource.com on Facebook and note Glenn's videos.

[flyfisher]

Having kayak fished in the richmond area for almost 2 decades now I can tell you that the main reason I got a kayak when I moved here was because there are so many areas to access that are HP restricted or electric only.  

Really you are only limited by your time and the species you are targeting.  We have the James and the plethora of ramps that allow access to the entire river and it isn't too bad to paddle up and float back when the river is normal to slightly higher than normal.  or you can get a motor like I did last year which helps cut the effort and time to river fish exponentially.  There are then smaller flows that are easy to access and paddle.

 

Lakes, take your pick of what you want.  We have it all within a couple hour drive.  One of my personal favorites is Diascund reservoir.  Look at the VA DWR sire and have at it....

[Sam]

Great information, Fly.

 

Also remember the Amelia Wildlife Perserve in Amelia County. A great place to fish from a kayak.

 

Sandy River Reservior is another good place, too.

 

Bear Creek is a little way out from Richmond but it is a beautiful place to see and fish.

 

As Fly penned, there are many places to put in a kayak and have some good fishing.

 

Now, it is time for you to start reading and watching videos about bass fishing so you can learn all you can.

[Miz]

On 5/9/2022 at 6:34 PM, Sam said:

Welcome to the Forum, Miz.  Nice having you with us.

 

Now, to give you some input to your above queries, in no particular order:

1.  Do not fish a tidal river in a kayak. Put in at the Huguenot Road bridge over the Historic James River (Huguenot Flatwater) or the Robious Landing Park by James River High School. You could also put in at the Watkins Landing Ramp off 711.  I write this as the river can get some strong current and you don't want to be pushed into the rocks or onto Bosher's Dam.

 

Check out Lake Chesdin and Lake Anna and go to these bodies of water to fish.

 

Kayakers will tell you other places to paddle and fish so speak with them at the ramps.

 

2.  Look for a kayak fishing club in the greater Richmond area. There are a number of them and they have tournaments. You will learn a lot including where the ramps are located; where are the bodies of water located; what to use as baits; and learn new baits, presentations and techniques.

 

Here is the large kayak club in the Richmond area:  

https://www.meetup.com/Central-Virginia-Kayak-Anglers/?_cookie-check=EFWEGYPlwUjBdAbf

 

Consider joining it and learning from these guys and gals.

 

3.  Go to Greentop Hunt Fish off I-95 and speak with the guys in the fishing department regarding where to go to fish in your kayak. Find Brian and speak with him and the other guys.

 

4.  Since you have been fishing for 3-years but have not loaded your kayak, you need some guidance from others fishing in the central Virginia area.  You also need to join BASS to get their magazine; join BASS to get Bass Times; and suscribe to Bass Anglers Magazine. 

 

You can join a bass fishing club as a nonboater but the clubs are now allowing "teams of two" in and are not looking for single nonboaters.

 

5.  Check out Richmond kayak fishing on Facebook.

 

6.  Next January go to the Richmond Fishing Expo at Meadow Event Park in Caroline County (Kings Dominion Exit off I-95) and talk to the kayakers at the Expo plus others in the Virginia fishing community.

 

7.  Suscribe to your favorite bass pros on Facebook and YouTube to get their input and suggestions.

 

I suggest you take it slow. Start with the two basic plastic colors of watermelon and green pumpkin.  Check out this kayak link; https://kayakguru.com/what-color-plastic-worms-bass/

 

Go with a white spinnerbait and a green pumpkin Chatterbait along with a black or white buzzbait and of course, a silver Whopper Plopper. Then throw your crankbaits.

 

Sorry to be long winded but you did ask a simple question with a complicated answer. Check out the kayak clubs; stay out of tidal rivers; go to the Expo; and have some fun this summer.

 

Tight Lines,

Sam

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much Sam, this is so so helpful. I'm going out tomorrow and trying to decide where to go still!