Tidal James success

A couple friends have been wanting to join me on the tidal James and try for the big blues. So I picked a day and let them know. It was cold and rainy, but sometimes... that makes for some good fishing! Two of the guys that followed me didn't have the appropriate cold rain gear so they took off after an hour on the water. That left three of us on the water. First to hook up was me.

36lb Blue Catfish

I had another one at around 10lbs (not photo worthy).

Thom hooked up next with this 32lb 38" Big Blue.

T'was good times.

On the way back to the ramp I spied this beauty.

More cats

A new fishing buddy Justin Mayer came up to Richmond from the tidewater area to give it a shot at the big cats. It wasn't the most productive day, but at least he beat his personal record.

Oh, and in case you didn't know already...

NW river Ring Perch

I launched out of Bob's Fishing Hole in Chesapeake and went toward the NC border. It took a little while, but when I found them, they were thick. Used blade baits (silver buddies) and live minnows.



Tasty River Chicken n Slabs.

Kippy Kow Print

Finally, after two snowed-in weekends I finished touching up a couple of Kow prints.










Here's a video too, for size reference. Natalie is my 15 month old daughter. My wife is in there for a brief second and so is my dog.

More Bald Eagles than Fish

I took my friend Thom Mattauch out to look for some kitties on the James. We launched from Deep Bottom and covered a lot of water. I haven't been skunked on catfish in a while, but some days.... it's just the way it goes. I didn't even get a hook up. Thom had two hook ups and lost both (one right by the boat). On the way back in we saw 4 or 5 bald eagles and several great blue herons.

Thom, sorry I couldn't get you on some fish. Maybe next time.

Finally got my Kow!

I got up at 2am, drove down from Richmond and was on the water by 5am. I was aiming for the morning tide change and finally after 6 trips of at least 8hrs each (usually 12), I got my kow. 45" 36lbs. I got him on braid early and decided to get him in the car. As I was getting back out, I get a call from Charlie Church, and told him Kevin got two, another guy got two, and I got one. According to his report, he did pretty darn good (50+lber!). I went out to the drift and got pretty close to the bouy. There were lots of boats out there. I had three take downs total. One of which I hooked up to. I had 8lb test line (looking for a line class record). After a couple of minutes the hook came out. I left out the expletives from the video. On the way back in I ran into a school of porpoises. Got back to Richmond by 5pm in time to make it to my company xmas party. Tired, but an amazing day.

Good Ol' Kitties

I got on the river at around 6am only managed about 5 or so shad in the cast net. It was a good thing I brought some frozen ones and two big eels. I ended the day with 5 around 15 to 20 lbs and one 31lber.