Virginia Free Fishing Days

Got a tip on one of my forums that no license is required to fish in Virginia the first weekend in June.  I've been wanting to fish a few smallmouth rivers in central/eastern Virigina for a year or so.  So, with the incentive of a free license and a quick call to and old friend (Frank) in Richmond, we had a float trip planned.

I was introduced to smallmouth fishing by sitting in the middle of Frank's canoe on a cooler with my dad and Frank paddling me down the James river.  I've floated the James many times with Frank, but we've never fished anywhere else. 

I convinced him to meet me on a small flow south of Richmond just after daybreak.  When we arrived it was pouring rain as a large thunderstorm was moving through the area.  We were concerned this would be wet trip.

Water was in the mid-70s and running very clear. 

We headed upstream of the put-in to explore a little.  I started by throwing my trusty chartreuse strike king minibuzz in search of smallmouth.  As we made it to a nice pool, I got a strike near the bank on wood.  I tossed the buzzer back into the area and landed the first fish of the day, a largemouth!  I know there are largemouth in this river, but was surprised to find one here.

Shortly after, I landed my first and only smallie of 2011 on the same buzzbait.  Nothing to write home about.

Scenery was great and Frank was having a good time exploring.

As we made our way downstream, the river continued with a pattern of shallow sandy/rocky pools and very shallow shoals.  We weren't getting any strikes on our typical smallmouth lures and the fish seemed extremely spooky, so we went oldschool with some nightcrawlers and bobbers.  We landed a few creek chubs, one of the hardest fighting fish pound for pound, as well as bream and yellow perch.

Frank and I both landed a few nice bream.

It was nice catching up with Frank and we actually had great overcast or partly cloudy weather the entire day. 

Not sure if I'd go back to this river again, but I always welcome a float with Frank. If I do go back to this river, it'll probably be further downstream where we can find a few largemouth along with the occassional smallie. 

Hope my smallmouth fishing improves this year.  Next up, the Potomac basin.