Wade Fishing the James River in Richmond

[@JasonMcGarvey]

The James between 288 and 95 is such a gem. Powerboating, paddling, bait dunking, fly fishing, whitewater, swimming, sunbathing, riverside hiking and biking. It has everything. Just need more free time!

[@aldraysmith863]

Correct

[@pablohu6935]

Where is exactly? Pony posture??

[@klb6910]

Wow, DWR finally admitted that there are fly fishers in Virginia. It seems like every thing that they post is for gear fishermen. Nothing wrong with spin and bait casters, I use a spinning rod myself on occasion. Please keep including the fly rod opportunities.

[@joshuad.3466]

Thanks Va DWR for all that you do for our waters, love these videos as well !

[@patrickrandolph6345]

Fantastic video! I am relocating to the Richmond area and it's like this video was made for me! I can't wait to try out all the new areas!

[@yambagnelson9987]

These are great, thanks for doing them.

[@fwenfwemer2145]

This is a great episode. Keep it up!

[@benmackinnon2742]

Got a smallie today while hitting Huguenot Flatwater. If you miss the early morning topwater bite window, I have found that wading is tremendous and can be productive in the doldrums of early afternoon and extreme heat. Table your expectation for size of fish, and adjust your flies accordingly. For deeper holes in rock seams/rapids, use a clouser minnow, or if the water over the rapid is shallow a Chernobyl Ant (yellow and chartreuse underbody is most effective) will draw a smallie up from the hole. Tight lines!

[@wayy_cool]

Very informative! Thank you.

[@adwhite804]

Had a 21+ @3lb12oz this past Nov. Up off of the wetlands trail just below pony pasture. And just over 4 lb largies..maybe Alabama bass, about 100 yds further east down by the golf course. She's quite blown out on that area right now. Not a whole lot biting. But, I'm not wading in the river when it's this high,rolling and looks a bit like coffee creamer. I had a good season multiple species. So hoping for another good one this season! Great video guys

[@FL-PHILLIP]

Grew up in Richmond in the 70s and 80s...you could never go down in that section of Richmond w/o risking your life...not because of the current. Glad to see this area has improved with all those factories turned into lofts, apartments and commercial uses.

[@WAEofFishing]

Wassup fellas! Good video!

[@TheNeodarkwing]

Great video keep up the great content!👍

[@rickstevenson9487]

Excellent video. Thanks!

[@JerseyTee]

Thanks guys this was incredible. Do you know of any more secluded locations? Access points to certain locations? I only know 14th street and the pipeline access.

[@LuizNunes74]

Thanks for the video. Could you all show what opportunities we have around Loudoun county area, please? Some that wouldn't include a boat, preferably.

[@Wickman123]

I've been keeping away from the James since the sewage spill from Goochland, but it looks like the water level's cleared up! I'll try to throw that fluke next time I'm out there

[@VirginiaDWR]

The Virginia Department of Health lifted the recreational advisory on the James River from Robious Landing downstream through the City of Richmond on August 4th when they found that bacteria concentrations were at levels that are acceptable for all recreational uses. www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/2020-regional-news-releases/vdh-lifts-recreational-advisory-for-james-river-due-to-sewage-release-recommends-the-public-use-caution-in-tuckahoe-creek-through-the-week/

[@pablohu6935]

What part of the James river can I fish??. Texas beach. ? Pony posture? Where exactly

[@tobypry9833]

I just got a 8wt fly Rod definitely look for a place in Richmond or Chesterfield to use it

[@larryohara6513]

Where is the parking for the James River Park system? Is it free?

[@VirginiaDWR]

There is a great map of the access in the city on the Friends of the James River Park's website: jamesriverpark.org/visit-the-park/maps/ For river flows, NOAA has the advanced hydrologic prediction: water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=rmdv2&wfo=akq And USGS has their site as well: waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv/?site_no=02037500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,62620,00062

[@larryohara6513]

How does one access the Weston river gauge?

[@klb6910]

I could not find the Weston Gauge, but here is one for Richmond: waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv/?site_no=02037500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,62620,62614 In addition, here is the overall Virginia Waters USGS site:waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/current/?type=flow

[@VirginiaDWR]

There is a great map of the access in the city on the Friends of the James River Park's website jamesriverpark.org/visit-the-park/maps/ For river flows, NOAA has the advanced hydrologic prediction water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=rmdv2&wfo=akq and USGS has their site as well waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv/?site_no=02037500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,0006

[@larryohara6513]

Are there park maps available for this area?

[@oljimeagle]

Ive fished this area my whole life. Catfiah have DEVESTATED the smallmouth population. You can see it. Schools of hundreds of blues all the way up near Scottsville. Its crazy though, back in 04 I could go out to the Nickle Bridge after school and catch 40-50 smallies. Now youl be lucky to catch 5 or 6 12-14 in smallies in a wwhole float from.Hugenot Flats to Reedy Creek. its paathetic. plety of Catfish though....

[@weskent4908]

Thanks for shout out to Chuck Kraft for his fly the lex.

[@feeshingman]

I went to Montana this summer, and every fly shop there had Chuck's Krelex!

[@alltree78]

There right about the decline. 10 years ago i could catch 30 fish a day in the city, now sometimes zero. Flathead also have disappeared.

[@klb6910]

It seems to happening across the state. The Rappahannock, Rapidan, as well as the South and North forks of the Shenandoah and the Potomac seem to be missing a lot of smallmouth as well. On the Rappahannock, Rapidan, and the North Fork of the Shenandoah a lot of us are seeing a lot more sand on the river bottom covering up the rocky bottom.

[@alltree78]

@@klb6910 upper james and the new river are down in #s also

[@alltree78]

What i dont understand is they stock trout ,stripers and other fish including largemouth but they do nithing for smallmouth

[@sm-op5sj]

That's been my experience as well. Numbers seem to be declining relative to the skill improvement (which, if I am being honest with myself, is probably marginal...).

[@tomzhang8675]

Freshwater grouper??😱😱😱

[@TB-lv2rh]

Ya know, wading in the James River in downtown RVA after all the sewage leaks from Tuckahoe Creek this past summer is not my idea of ideal wading! No Thanks, VA DWR can keep the James River downtown & I'll go upstream or elsewhere!

[@weskent4908]

Kreelex

[@YTisFASCIST]

No thanks. I value my life enough to stay away from Richmond, VA

[@mooosey]

You have no clue what you're talking about. I work in downtown. I walk all through the city every day. I have never felt unsafe. Richmond is significantly better than all major cities I have lived in. Your fear mongering is an absolute shame.

[@floresfive8615]

Excellent video. Thank you!