The emails keep coming in from fishermen after good days on the water. This one’s from Dr. Joe Niamtu, who fished the upper James (west of Maidens Landing) recently with a friend.

Dr. Joe Niamtu (above) and fishing buddy Bob Shiro caught 101 smallmouth bass (in 100 degree heat!) on a recent fishing/camping trip in 2 days on the upper James.  The river is coming back nicely from several years of alternating droughts and floods which initially seemed to affect the smallmouth spawns over the past 3 years.  Although most fish were average smallmouths (with a few “good ones”) the fish were very healthy—as was the river.  The fish were hitting on most every artificial bait, including rubber worms, small jerk baits and grubb type baits. The attached photos are not lunkers by any stretch, but typical Virginia fighting smallmouth bass.  I will take a 2.5 lb. smallmouth over a 4 lb largemouth anytime.

Posted by Andy Thompson in • Outdoors • Fishing
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