Thread: Crappy James River Trip

Rappmaster-H and I hit Dutch Gap this morning. Launched at 7am with a bucket of minnows and some new Strollers (thanks Panman and Monk). Tide had just got full, slack high. As we idled away from the ramp, I asked Howard "Do you wanna go where I know we can catch some fish or do you wanna try something new like we keep saying we need to do?"

He chose Something New. Boy-O-Boy am I glad he did. Our first stab was the ticket. We caught 35 crappie, 8 bream and 2 bass out of this one spot. 30 of the crappie were nice keepers (we put them all back). Literally, 30 fish between 3/4 and 1.75 pounds. Most caught on a white/chart Bobby Garland Stroller. 12-16' of water, counting down to 7-10, and a painfully slow retrieve and they could not stand it! We hammered the hole until the fish quit, then we stayed another hour because we couldn't believe what we just did. As the tide fell, the fish quit/moved or got sick of us. So we moved on.

Second stop gave us 6 crappie, a few bream and bass (small, real small). One nice crappie from this spot, about 1.5 pounds. Others were dinks. Third spot, not much. We called it a day at noon.

Sorry to do this to the pick, but I ain't sharing this spot with the lurkers here. We were not smart enough to take the picture to not show the background. Anyone who fishes above Hopewell would be able to find this spot.

We filled the livewell with clones of the fish in my right hand. When it got full, we talked about the worms and would we really eat them. So they all went back.



Caught this one at the second spot. Got lucky pulling him over a limb and then he hung in the line/bobber that I had just broke off. He was a nice one too!



Thanks for the trip Howard.

I will tell this. I have been wanting to try James river jetty walls / wing dams. Howard and will be back soon and will hit spots at High tide. Then move up river as the high tide moves up river in hopes that we can duplicate this morning at more locations up and down the main river.

Nice specs!!! Looks like a great day

Fatman

ya'll done good, they are some pretty fish!

Thanks for going Dayton, that was great!. They were some quality fish, just a shame about them having those worms in them.

Ok, Dayton whooped me again. Of the 35 caught at the new spot he caught 25! I am just not proficient with that jig, he was flat weraing 'em out, literally catching them on every cast.

We had a great time----gonna hit them again next Sunday.

Thanks again Dayton.

Great report Dayton. You and Rapp had you one heck of a fishing trip. I take from what Rapp says most where caught on plastic? Is that plastic tipped with a minnow or just plastic alone. Now about that spot. I wouldn't show shoer or Crex being that it seems they will go to great distances to fine ones' fishing hole. But a simple old country boy like myself wouldn't go back once you showed me without you. If you know what I mean.

AC

Originally Posted by Andy Clayton

Great report Dayton. You and Rapp had you one heck of a fishing trip. I take from what Rapp says most where caught on plastic? Is that plastic tipped with a minnow or just plastic alone. Now about that spot. I wouldn't show shoer or Crex being that it seems they will go to great distances to fine ones' fishing hole. But a simple old country boy like myself wouldn't go back once you showed me without you. If you know what I mean.

AC

Andy---Dayton was using a Bobby Garland Stroll'r. White/Chartreuse with a black 1/16 oz jig head. The few that I caught on the jig were caught on a Chartreuse Shad Kailins Tripple Threat.

I did better with the minners!:D

Dont be so hard on us AC. we dont need to know the spot we just want the fish. I used to be funny about the worms but after a few i just pluck them out and keep cleaning. I few minutes in hot oil and it dont matter anyway. Next time holler i will come after a nice mess!:D Glad yall hade a good trip.

Originally Posted by Andy Clayton

Great report Dayton. You and Rapp had you one heck of a fishing trip. I take from what Rapp says most where caught on plastic? Is that plastic tipped with a minnow or just plastic alone. Now about that spot. I wouldn't show shoer or Crex being that it seems they will go to great distances to fine ones' fishing hole. But a simple old country boy like myself wouldn't go back once you showed me without you. If you know what I mean.

AC

Man that's just plain wrong postin pictures of them Big Ol Slabs caught right in my back yard while I'm stuck at home in bed sick.:D

Glad Yall got on em man. I'm gonna try and get out there one day this week if I get to feeling better.

You talked about worms in the fish. The fish I cleaned from the chick last week had a few. Do you guys throw out the whole fish when you find a worm or just cut out the bad parts?

Where you can see adult parasites there should be smaller offspring you can't see. Has anyone ever read anything indicating what it takes to kill them while cooking? No longer than they stay in the hot grease, it may not be enough (like undercooked pork.)

Originally Posted by Corker

Where you can see adult parasites there should be smaller offspring you can't see. Has anyone ever read anything indicating what it takes to kill them while cooking? No longer than they stay in the hot grease, it may not be enough (like undercooked pork.)

I'd be more concerned with the kepone contamination than the worms.
I'm pretty sure a well cooked filet will kill the worm/larva, but....it's the thought of it.