Thread: Hey all. New kid in town.

Search the Va forum for Yellow Perch. Lots of reading. They are in SE Va coastal rivers big time during the Jan - Mar time frame spawning.

Welcome. Where about are you fishing the James River? What launch are you closest too? Look over the James map. All those off the channel “bays” we call pits. Crappie live n them most of the year. Brush, docks, fallen tree limbs and many times just cruising around in them enjoying being out of the current.

Moving water: they hide behind something/anything that breaks or slows the current. Poles, bundles of poles that were ship/barge tie offs. Docks wether wood or metal poles or I beam ( wink wink)

The river is littered with the man made walls perpendicular to the bank. Called wing dams or jetty walls. They break the current and fish ( all kinds) will lay in the Eddie behind them or even tight to the front of them. When the tide turns they may move to the other side of the structure. For example, have you launched at Dutch Gap? Look at all those structure poles just up from the ramp. There were zero fish on them on Sunday, but look at them. They are perfect to hold crappie. Dip a minnow or jig/minnow behind each pole until you find them. So, anything like that that has 8’+ of water can hold crappie all winter (and summer). In spring they may be n 1’ or 15’.

Even if you are a jig guy, put a minnow under a slip cork and toss it into or beside anything that looks fishy. 10 seconds then wind up and slide it deeper. Repeat until you catch a fish, get hung up
Or hit bottom. You will find some.

If you have side scan, set scanned depth same as water depth and drive right beside the structure. If there are fish between the poles you will see them. No need to stop and fish until you see the dots. Dont forget that the “depth” on side scan is the distance from the transducer not actual depth. Meaning a fish. Hold show 10’ from center on the screen but only be 5’ deep off to the side of boat. Do don’t start too deep. Easier for them to see it above them.

Crappie and small catfish will hang together. If your first fish is a catfish, go 2’ feet shalllwer. If you catch a second cat, you can probably my move on as it’s most likely a school of juvenile cats.

Ranger, yes I launch at Dutch Gap. I live out in Powhatan and it’s not to bad of a ride. So far Ive only been striper fishing and shad fishing. I did spend about an hour one day “ dipping jigs” looking for crappies but no avail. Where’s the best place to grab minners around the Dutch Gap launch?

Castaway Sporting Goods
11600 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Chester, VA 23831
804-706-9100