Where is the best place to catfish on the James River?
Some of Jones’ favorite catfish lairs are the 295-bridge area on the main stem of the river, Deep Bottom, Hopewell and the Benjamin Harrison Bridge area. The Hopewell area and the Benjamin Harrison Bridge are located near the mouth of the Appomattox River, which is the home of the former state-record blue cat.
What’s the biggest catfish ever caught in the James River?
The biggest Channel Catfish caught measured 31 inches long and weighed just over 13.5 pounds, while the biggest Flathead Catfish measured 44.5 inches and weighed 47.8 pounds.
What type of catfish are in the James River?
Other species are also plentiful in the James River, including channel catfish, flathead catfish, and various sunfish species (redbreast, bluegill, and rock bass). Flathead catfish appear to be more numerous upstream from Lynchburg, and channel catfish are more numerous below Lynchburg.
What fish are biting in the James River now?
Smallmouth bass are the dominant game species, but spotted and large mouth bass can also be caught. Other species are also plentiful in the James River, including channel catfish, flathead catfish, and various sunfish species (redbreast, bluegill, and rock bass).
How do you catch bait on the James River?
The go-to method for catching them is to swim a live bait (small bluegill work well) in deep holes. The big predators in the Downstream James are mainly blue catfish. The current record – set in 2009 – is 102 pounds, and several fish over 50 pounds are caught every week throughout the year.
What is the best catfish bait for Rivers?
10 Best Catfish Bait – Both Live and Artificial
- Crawfish.
- Nightcrawlers.
- Stink Bait.
- Punch Bait.
- Blood Bait.
- Shrimp.
- Skipjack Herring. Slightly bigger than shad, skipjack herring is a great bait when you’re going after the big cats.
- White Suckers. White suckers are known in the angling world as a no-fail bait for catfish.
Is there catfish in the James River?
Catfishing on the James River in Virginia can be a fishing trip of a lifetime. Trophy blue catfish are caught on a daily basis. And according to Bob Greenlee, district fisheries biologist for VDGIF( Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries ), the James River is now a nationally recognized blue catfish fishery.
What is the NC State record catfish?
127.1-pound blue catfish
Rocky Baker of Four Oaks, N.C. caught a 127.1-pound blue catfish while fishing in the Roanoke River on July 10, 2021. The fish has been certified as the new North Carolina state record. It beats the previous record of 121 pounds, 9 ounces, which was caught last year by Joey Baird on Lake Gaston.
What is the Virginia state record catfish?
Blue Catfish 143 lbs.
Updated: May 24, 2022
| Species | Weight | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Catfish | 143 lbs. | Picture |
| Bluegill Sunfish** | 4 lbs. 8 oz. | |
| Bluegill Sunfish | NO ENTRY TO DATE; MINIMUM WEIGHT TO QUALIFY IS 2 LBS. | |
| Bowfin** | 17 lbs. 8 oz. |
What fish are biting now in the James River?
Are there sharks in the James River?
(WTVR)—Two bull sharks were caught in the Potomac River, and it wouldn’t be the first time a shark was caught in a Virginia river. He is a fixture along the banks of the James River, and “Catfish TC”, as he is known, is quite content on solid ground, thank you very much.
What’s the best bait to use in the James River?
Use fresh cut bait (various species of the shad family) in deep holes, on shallow flats, along dropoffs, and all sorts of other places. The river is full of blue catfish, and if you keep trying different locations, you’ll find some.
What fish are biting in the James River?
Smallmouth bass are the dominant game species, but spotted and large mouth bass can also be caught. Other species are also plentiful in the James River, including channel catfish, flathead catfish, and various sunfish species (redbreast, bluegill, and rock bass). Fishing regulations on the Upper James.
Where can I catch big catfish in Virginia?
The major containing a healthy population of catfish include Claytor Lake, Kerr Reservoir, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, Lake Drummond, Lake Gaston, Lake Moomaw, Leesville Reservoir, Occoquan Reservoir, Philpott Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, South Holston Lake, Swift Creek Reservoir and Western Branch Lake.
Where can I find flathead catfish in Virginia?
Fishing for Flathead Catfish My top two favorite destinations for Flathead Catfish are the James River around the boulders of the fall line in Richmond and the Dan River in southern Virginia.
How old is a 50 lb blue catfish?
How old is a 50 pound blue catfish? Individual growth is highly variable in larger fish and fish in the James are known to reach 50 pounds by age-11 although age 13 – 15 is more typical. For blue catfish ages 1 – 8 in tidal rivers total annual mortality is low (29%).
What is the biggest fish ever caught in Virginia?
Of all Virginia fishing records, the most coveted is held by Richard Tate. It may also be the most likely to fall. Tate was fishing on Lake Conner, near South Boston, in 1985 when he boated a 16 1/4-pound largemouth bass. Ten years later it still stands as the largest ever caught in Virginia.
Can you catch blue catfish on the James River in Virginia?
Catfishing on the James River in Virginia can be a fishing trip of a lifetime. Trophy blue catfish are caught on a daily basis. And according to Bob Greenlee, district fisheries biologist for VDGIF ( Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries ), the James River is now a nationally recognized blue catfish fishery.
Can You catfish the James River for bass?
Jones, 49, has been guiding on the James since 1988, primarily for bass, but in 1990 he quickly recognized this incredible whisker fishery and found the allure of catfishing. He has boated massive James River blues up to 55 pounds. Most successful anglers like Jones use simple rigs for catfishing in the James and its tributaries.
What is the biggest catfish ever caught on the James River?
Anglers from all over the country have heard of the James River and its monster catfish and catching a trophy catfish is not an unrealistic expectation by any means. The current state record of 143 pounds was caught on the Kerr Lake, June 18, 2011 by Nick Anderson, a veteran catfisherman.
What kind of fish can you catch on the James River?
The state-record blue, flathead, channel and white catfish all came from this region, and nowhere in the state is better than the James River. Blue cats are a 12-month fishery on the James, and trophies (20 pounds minimum or 34 inches in length) are a real possibility all year long, too.