[jconna]

Hello.....I've been going back and forth between trying the Lower James, or the Santee in SC. I still have no idea what I'm doing yet.....Just looking for a good 4 day weekend with a good chance of getting into some fish. Completely catch and release, I just don't want to go through all the planning and go somewhere to get skunked for 3 days straight. Is the James fishable for someone unfamiliar with the area or river? Is it fishable from a 14' Jon with a 9.9 or am I going to get sunk? I am hopeful to make the trip around the May/June timeframe but I'm very flexible there too if there are other suggestions? Sorry if that's alot of questions....I'm just trying to gather some initial information so I can at least try and narrow down the river that I want to hit. Thanks

Jeff

 

[jconna]

Thanks Jpritch......I appreciate the info. Sounds like hauling my Jon down is out of the question on that river......That's OK and why I asked though.....I want to have fun (and be able to go to where the fish are), not worrying about drowning.

The guide sounds like a pretty good idea actually, but I think I would only be interested in that for the first day....After that...I'd probably look to rent a boat for the remaining days. (If possible) I'm sure that first day with a guide would be a tremendous learning experince also. Probably well worth the money.

OK....So if not May and June.....Any suggestions? Earlier, later? Excellent months? And again....Thanks!

 

[jconna]

Thanks everyone!! Looks like I'm going to move my plans up a little bit. It sounds like I'll have better luck March or April so that's my new timeframe. I also think that I might just look at renting a boat for the remainder of the days after my guide. I want to be able to fish good water and not be limited by my boat. So questions:

1) I think I've decided to go with a guide for my first day
2) Will renting a boat open up my opportunities considerably?
3) Any suggestion on where to rent a boat?
4) Suggestions on cabin rentals / campsites, etc
5) Can I buy bait or will I need to catch it? Casting nets are illegal up here so I've never used one before. Hate to waste half my time trying to figure that out.

Sorry for all the questions. I'm excited for the trip though, and it looks like things have moved up a little bit giving me less time. I need to get all of these things figured out and reserved if I'm going to make this happen. Thanks in advance....Jeff

 

[jconna]

Thanks again for all the contrubutions from everyone. It looks like a good ways to get anywhere from the marina at Chickahominy. Last question and then I need to do some serious thinking I guess? It doesn't sound like the James is going to work out for me very well without a good boat and I doubt I'll talk my uncle into my hauling his pontoon down. I know that I'm not going to get into the big cats I may on the James, but any idea what the fishing is like on the Chickahominy? General area I'd rent the boat. That really sucks that there isn't somewhere closer to the good fishing. Sounds like a business opportunity to me

 

[jconna]

Deep Bottom it is....Thanks again! I sent captain Hugh an email and will let everyone know how things work out. You've all been a big help in helping me determine my best options under my circumstance. Hopefully, I'll be posting some pics of my trip If nothing else, you'll get a few stories I'm sure.....Thanks again, and everyone take care...Enjoy catching those fish! Wish it wasn't so freeking cold up here....I want out on the water!! The bug has bit...haha

 

[jconna]

Well, I'm still looking at Deep Bottom at the moment, but my uncle is now telling me that he might be willing to take down his pontoon boat. I believe it's a 25 foot. Is this area deep enough and easily navigable with a pontoon or would there be different suggestions if we go that route? I'll try and give captain Hugh a call because I didn't get any response to the email and I'd like to make my final arrangements. Recommend March or April? Does it matter? I don't want to freeze but I do want to catch fish and not wait until the spawn if things slow down that much. Either that, or wait till after the spawn if it will then pick back up.

 

[jconna]

Yea, I saved your site as one of my favorites. It has alot of good informaion and is very well put together. Unfortunately, I have no idea what those tide charts are telling me...haha And I didn't see anything giving area depth readings anywhere. Thought it safer to ask someone familiar with the area......And as for those birds.....I would flip if they scratched up my truck!!! I may not get them all but the glock would be doing some damage....lol (kidding??) The tarp is probably the best advice I could have gotten because it will save me big money! So thank you again!

 

[jconna]

Disregard....I found the depth maps