Thread: Heck if no one else is gonna post it...James River Bash Recap

Beautiful day today, unfortunately fishing karma struck and the James didn't live up to the hype that me, Dayton, and Slab have been putting on it for the past month.

I knew something was wrong when I went to my first spot and couldn't buy a bite except one 10 incher.

I started my day in the barge pit and stayed there until about 11am. I did lose something BIG on a tree in the pits that ended up straightening the hook on me around a limb. It was either a BIG crappie or a LMB. Probably a bass considering I know a guy who caught a 7 pounder off of the same tree 2 years ago.

Came out and started fishing the old river channel by the Richmond Yacht Basin. Was preparing to go upriver when Dayton called to confirm that it wasn't just me. Decided to run down to the Deep Bottom pit which was just a waste of gas. Atleast at the other places I was getting bluegill bites. In that pit I couldn't buy a bite. I tried 3 spots with ZERO bites and bolted back outta there. Wasted time back in the old river channel by the yacht basin then ran up river for the last hour or so.

My biggest fish went 12" and was probably 1/2 pound lighter than Howards slab. I ended the day with 3 crappie (12, 10, 10), a dinky catfish, several small bluegill, and a bass.

I was disappointed in the # of recreation boaters today. The little main-river fishing I did was severely challenged by them muddying the water up.

I enjoyed meeting everyone and got a good laugh out of the fish-slap that Dayton Jr experienced at the weigh-in

A few pics:




Could not believe I didn't even get a bluegill bite on this shoreline....not so much as a tap from any fish!


Low tide seemed like it lasted FOREVER today....big ol mud flat



Thought this was my 2+ pound crappie til he came to the surface



I took this picture of a promising main-river spot right before it was completely ruined by a guy in a 30 foot cabin cruiser who idled up to me and then took off when he was 10 yards from me....pushing 4' waves at me. Water turned to chocolate milk

nice catch ,dont that just make you mad people nowdays dont have respect for anyone

Aint get togethers always alot of fun with plenty of greeting, eating and just good all around fellowship but aint it something how the fish just never really want to cooperate?!? You can be wearing 'em out the week before and then the week after, but for whatever reason the bite ALWAYS seem to shut off the day of. Atleast with our get togethers it seems to happen more that not. It still always seems to work out being a great day just getting to see the old friends again and making some new ones.

Originally Posted by dedawg1149

nice catch ,dont that just make you mad people nowdays dont have respect for anyone

I shook my head at the guy and he just smiled and waved at me like he was oblivious. I had waves coming over the back deck.....

It was actually kind of humorous because I watched him take off out of view and I gave up on my spot because it was so muddy'ed up.....pulled the trolling motor and went down to Dutch Gap.....dropped the trolling motor....and here he comes from the other direction

I don't understand why someone would want to just drive a big boat up and down the river, back & forth, wasting gas.

I had a blast today by getting back to some fishing and trying a in a new place. My guide didn't get me on many fish but he was good company.

I may have to try and take him away from Rapp.

Great pics!

I thought that one Fishman78 had was going to be the winner....it looked very wide...must notta had much meat on the bone. I actually thought my 12" had a shot at winning until I saw Howard holding his....I didn't even bother getting mine out of the livewell after seeing that

I just can't put my finger on it but there's just something about the following pic that is, um, great. :D



Good that you guys at least caught a few. It is nice fishing lakes with 9.9hp limits, no joy riders stirring it up.

Congratulations Rap. Hope you pulled him out of one of Dayton's secret holes.
You guys had good weather working for you even though the bite was not that good. Looks like it was a good Bash. Sorry I had to be away.

Dayton you know it's weird that I never thought to fish the Deep Water dock....nice smallie!

Some great pics in this thread. Kinda sorry I didn't fish around with the rest of the crowd to get some more pics of the boaters. I stayed in the pits and around the 295 bridge more than I did up-river