james river catfish

[Carrington]

i just got a new ocean setup and am hoping to try some catfishing with it.  its a tiger lite ugly stick and a penn levelwind reel.  Where are some good spots to catfish from the shore on the james and what baits should i use.  ive heard eel but im not sure if thats right.

[Sam]

Live bluegills or bream on the Mike Ostrander catfish rig.

Pony Pasture area when the river quiets down. You will have to wade out to get to them.

Sometimes the DG&IF has a catfish fishing class at the Pony Pasture. Will let you know if I hear about this class being held this summer.

Really big ones just east of the Benjamin Harrison Bridge but you will need a boat to fish for them.

Ancarrows produces some catfish but too many people on both sides of the river fishing for them.

Check out the James River Fishing School and book a raft trip with Mike Ostrander. Worth every penny.

Let me know if you want to know how to rig the Mike Ostrander rig. 

[Carrington]

ya i would love to know, i was planning on using a 45lb steel leader with a 4 oz weight and a hook.

[endless]

I use the fish finder with a traingle weight, a bead, swivel, and than a 18" leader tied to my hook.  I was told to use traingle weights so they just wont roll over with the current. I tried eels not impress with them. I'm with sam on bait. Now that I'm fishing from land I just go to dock street.

[Carrington]

ok thanks, where is dock street?  and is you bait dead or alive and how do you hook it if you want it alive since im new to catfishing.

[endless]

Dead, I always cut it in slabs. I'm trying to post a link but the link to large. Here's the address Dock St, Richmond, VA 23219.

[Carrington]

ok thanks ill try that then.

[Carrington]

also where can i buy live bluegills and such to use s cut bait.

[endless]

Most only sells frozen shad or herring. Fresh is what you want or take a cast net or a small rod and reel and catch your own.

[Sam]

You cannot buy game fish to use as bait so you will have to catch the bluegills and bream before you go out of a local pond.

Dock Street is on the north side of the river across from the Ancarrows ramp.

Some of the people fishing this area are not the nicest in the world so be careful.

Ever think of getting a map book of either Metro Richmond or Chesterfield County?

Let us know if you survive your Dock Street experience and if so, did you have the chance to release the fish or did someone take them from you to eat????? 

[heyitskirby]

Your best bet with using bluegill is to bring some nightcrawlers with you and catch some on the bank before going after the cats.  You'll have better luck with bait that comes from the same water you plan on fishing.

[Carrington]

i went by dock street and the people were nice to me.  i guess its just because i talk to them and am nice idk.  tbh the people did look shady at first but once i started talking they were fine.  and no i did not catch anything.

[Carrington]

even though the people were nice i probable will not go to dock st again though because there was this homeless guy following me once it got dark and i was leaving which freaked me out a little bit.

[endless]

I never had a problem at dock street and I fished there at night time. Just a bunch of drunks. Now it may have it times of trouble.

I did hear you don't want to be on other side at the park at night. I only been on that side at night once and not for long cause it was cold and the heavy rain forced us out. Sorry for no luck.  Since you went where at you fish? down near the river boat?  I use to fish off that gated high dock( not pose to but i did anyways) to the left and off the floated dock near that restaurant passed dock street.

[Carrington]

i was actually at the park, i couldnt figure out how to get my car across the river to go where alot of the prople were.  i was fishing off a sandy bank with alot of trees behind the beach.

[Sam]

Carrington, there are bridges across the James River you can take to get across the river.

Are sure you have been accepted to Virginia Tech?  ;D   ;D   ;D   ;D   ;D   ;D   ;D   ;D   ;D   ;D

             

[Carrington]

im new to cities lol  plus im not the best navigator so ill need to look at a map.

[Sam]

The ADC Map Book of Richmond and Greater Richmond and Chesterfield County is a must to find places to fish and how to get around.

Please get one or two.

You will find them to be of great value. 

[Carrington]

i checked out bing maps this time and went to this place but there was like 300 people there so i just left and came back home.

[Sam]

If you want to try your luck on the upper James around Tarrington PM me and I can give you a place to try.

Once upon a time there was a hole where the catfish hung out.

I never fished it but I can tell you where it is and give you the secret code to get in and what to say if anyone comes by.

[hokiefisherman93]

I have had luck fishing down by maury street between the 95 bridge and railroad bridge tossing out cut bluegill from a local pond on a three way swivel (8-10in line with 1oz pyramid sinker, and about 24inches of steel leader with a hook and slab of bluegill).  Let me know if you interested in fishing it sometime, but until the shad calm down fishing is going to be crazy hectic

[Carrington]

ya i was down there today and looked for 1 hour for a spot to fish.  there were to many people.  let me know when ever you would like to go.

[NewAngler]

Fellers. Send me a PM if you guys go after those bigass cats. I wouldn't mind crossing a 50 lber of the bucket list. Gotta be a weekend though. Thanks, dudes.

[hokiefisherman93]

Weekends are the best time for me as well, but Newangler we will keep you in the loop

[Carrington]

ya just let me know when you would like to go hokie, we can go bass fishing or catfish idc either way.