[JPritch]

The James is a hot river, and definitely fishable for somebody not familiar with it, provided you know what to look for. However, I personally wouldn't feel too comfortable with a 14' Jon and 9.9 on the back in that river. There are certain spots you may be able to fish, but you would be missing out on alot of fishable water due to the small boat. Between wind and wake, it would be a rough ride at times and potentially dangerous.

And your timeframe of May/June, you would be arriving at the slowest time of the year due to the spawn. The bite slows down alot.

I know it's costly, but perhaps you could get a guide and I guarantee you'll get on some fish.

 

[JPritch]

If you go with a guide day one, ask if you can catch extra shad for the rest of your trip. Or you can find out who will be on the river and meet up with that person and I'm sure they will be glad to share. There is also a guy by the name of Neil Renouf, he runs a shop, and if you give him a call a day or two in advance, he can catch fresh shad for you and have it waiting at his store.

I couldn't find a boat rental outfit on the James anywhere. I looked long and hard before I bought my boat.

 

[JPritch]

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

On the VDGIF website, I count 26 citation blues from the Chick in 2006, compared to over 700 on the James. It's for the most part bass and crappie water with alot of eating size cats.

Give a definite date on when you're coming down and I'm sure you could hook up with somebody on the site.

 

[JPritch]

Good luck! I'm sure Capt Hugh will put you on some nice fish.