"Guiding"

Been helping good friends get on fish the last three trips. Took KayakKevin aka DrumJesus aka WhitewaterWhitley aka Kevin Whitley to one of my favorite tidal creeks. Lent him some tackle and he quickly put them to good use. Got his first snakehead, a bunch of bass, and a 30” VA citation bowfin.

Another good friend Michael Beck got him a nice snakehead that he had been after for two years. His first encounter left him with an inverted hollow body frog, water everywhere and a broken rod tip. His stoke was infection.

Lastly, an old buddy Brian Welteroth reminded me it had been 9 years since I took him out on the river so we picked up a few bream and brews and set up above the old catfish hole. Little blue cats gobbled up most of the baits but the last one ended up being a nice 39.5” flathead.

Impromptu Good JooJoo

Life insisted on kicking me while I was down the last month or so.  Work and family drama finally let up enough for me to take a quick impromptu trip to the James. 

After catching several of these on the fly...

... I stuck them on a carolina rig with 8/0 circles, dropped them in a deep hole and they found their way into the mouth of...

43" trophy flathead catfish

I still have a lot to take care of but hopefully I'll be able to get out again soon for a nice water therapy session.

Foul Weather Flatheads

My plans for the salt were thwarted by the incessant wind.

But it wasn't enough to keep me from getting my fix.  

After a few halfling smallmouths, I set up the Predator MX over a drop off and put out two live bluegills on 8/0 circle hooks; one under a float and one on a carolina rig.  It was nice not dragging a flowtroll since the Engel 19qt aerated livewell/cooler kept the dozen or so flathead confections lively and ready to go.  

As the light dimmed, the action turned on and after several kitties in the mid 20" range, I got what I was after.  My new small game spinning reel got a proper work out on a ~38" James River jelly belly.

Gotta love 10lb braid on a 2500 spinning reel.

It's nice having a productive sweetwater hole when my salt spots are blown out.  

But you know I can't wait to get back.

The togs are calling me.

Stress Free Kitty Trip

I took a breather from my quest for VA Saltwater Expert Angler and hit the James River for some laid back catfish action.  Right after a storm blew by, I soaked live bluegills that my kids caught earlier at a local pond.  Taking deep breathes, I enjoyed the flat calm evening while several catfish found my fishfinder rig and connected with the 8/0 circle hook.

Biggest Blue Catfish went 35"

Biggest Flathead Catfish went 36"

The remaining 2 saltwater citations weigh heavy on my mind, but it was nice to stay close to home and enjoy the simply pleasure of the pullage. 

I was almost as care free as this guy...   :)