The blue catfish population continuing to expand, both in numbers and in size, enhances the possibility of your catch of a lifetime.
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Tips - James River Catfishing
If catching a trophy size blue catfish is something you want to do, here are some tips that may help you land a monster. Chasing one of the largest fresh water fish on the James can be very challenging at times, but that's what keeps me coming back.
Also remembering the Virginia State record of 102 lbs - 4 oz in May of 2009 and the former state record of 96 lbs coming out of the lower James , and both still swimming the tidal waters of the James River along with numerous monster catches . Blue catfish exceeding 30 pounds can be impressive opponents at times, especially around structure. Most consider any catfish over 40 pounds World Class Trophy catch. If you are going to try to catch these trophy size blue catfish , you will need to fish a little differently than you do for smaller cats.- We need big fresh bait for that big hook and the big fish , out of a 12-14" shad I only get 3 pieces of bait, leaving lots of hook exposed. Have the bait just barley hooked but enough that you don't throw if off the hook when casting. Use at least 5-12 oz sinkers to make sure the bait is on or near the bottom depending on the current.
- Big Blues are not always in deep water, look for a mud flat that has a trough running through it. The trough does not have to be that much deeper than the flat itself, but located near deep water where the fish can access it easily looking for a meal.
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KEEP IT QUIET...so many times I have people with me that want to talk loud, walk heavy-clanking around in the boat, sliding coolers around, ect. I think the larger cats spook easy and especially in shallow water. ...when all through boat it's quiet as a mouse! ...this is true!
- Fillet style cuts of gizzard shad will work at times when heads or standard "chunks" fail to bring a fish in the boat.
- Scale the shad to release more oil through the skin for better scent in the water.
- Winter time look for warmer waters like the power plant outlets.
- Look for wooded banks with blow downs.
- Sharp channel drops off with fish at the bottom of it.
- Scour holes at the end of wing dams.
- Bridge pillars are another popular target.
- Current breaks and eddies provided by structure.
- Sunken barges.
Best Fishing For Blue Catfish In The State
I
would guess 75-85% of the catfisherman use chunks for cut bait...but some do
scale all the shad they use, some will fillet the shad, using the head and
carcass on other lines. I have seen some cut the fillet up to the head leave it
attached and run the hook through the fillet and head.
Just remember never leave a scale on the point of the hook and always leave plenty of hook exposed...
Filleting a shad, with
the fillets cut and then the remainder
of the shad cut into chunks..
Read
John Sherman's complete article with lots of info, bait, tackle, the river:
Trophy
Blue Cats
Fishing Tips from Jimmy Weir If you are not after altogether trophy size blue cats, eel makes an great bait and would keep one more interested as usually you will bring more fish in the boat just smaller. Eels will bring a lot of the smaller size fish to the boat, fish them live or in 4" chunks. Fishing them live cut off 4" from the tail and hook them at the cut. Run the hook from the inside meat at the cut then through the tough skin...makes it a little easier. If you hook the head they will wrap around the leader. You can go to a bait store and buy a few of the biggest eels that they have, then cut them in 6" lengths and butterfly them open to present a big bait.
James River Tackle and Fish Tales Bait & Tackle Shop are 2 shops in Hopewell.