My First James River Bass of the Year

I drove out to my parents’ house in New Kent and we loaded up the boat and headed down to the marina in Hopewell. It was a very temperate day for late July. About 75 degrees. My dad and I were both wearing long sleeves and a few times when we were running there was a chill in the air. A very comfortable and overcast day.

          We put the boat in the water and made our way down to Kittiewan creek. We stopped at one creek right before Kittiewan that looked great. A lot of cypress trees at the entrance and an old duck blind. But when we pulled in there were stakes going all the way across it and a chain across. I don’t know why it is closed off but it definitely piqued my curiosity.

          We decided to make our way to Kittiewan. Although going back and at least fishing the front of that creek may be a mission for another day.

          We got into Kittiewan creek and started fishing the front of it with not much action. We made our way into a thin creek that curves way back in the river. It’s Mapsico creek. We fished way toward the back of it. Again, with not much action.

          It is a beautiful creek full of grass and cypress trees. My dad saw a huge buck in the woods right off of the water as we were fishing. He said to me “it’s wild to think this is ten minutes from a city”. That’s the great thing about the outdoors; you don’t have to go far to get away from it all.

          We worked our way far back in the creek. Not all the way to the end because it seems to go forever. But we went quite a long way and then started fishing our way back toward the front.

          I was throwing a spinnerbait down a grass edge. And one time the bait hit the water and I reeled twice and felt the distinct feeling of a fish hammering it. I set the hook and felt that it was on. I kept reeling slow and steady and said my classic line “there he is!”.

          I fought this fish knowing it was a bigger one. At one point it made its way toward the top of the water. I was expecting it to try and jump as bass often do. But when it got to the top of the water, I saw the silver scales. Not the typical green of a largemouth. And the way it flipped its tail I thought it may be a catfish. But it was a Grinnell.

          Grinnell are nasty trash fish with a mouth full of teeth. I reeled the fish to the side of the boat and let him wear himself out in the water. My dad was able to get the pliers and unhook him without having to put him all the way in the boat or deal with his teeth.

          While it wasn’t the species of fish I am ever hoping to catch, it was still a lot of fun.

          We kept on fishing and got to a corner of one of the curves. I kept throwing the spinnerbait and at this curve was a large grass line. I cast just in front of it. A bass must have been lying in wait under the grass. He hammered my spinner bait and I set the hook and the fight was on. The fish pulled hard. It felt huge. I took my time and got him in slow and steady, when I finally got him in the boat it was about a 2 pounder.

          He felt way bigger than that when he first hit my bait. Those river fish are some kind of strong. Catching a big bass is quite an accomplishment and I enjoy having the bragging rights and the social media post with a big one as much as the next guy. But the small ones are just as fun to reel in and feel on the end of your line as the big ones.

 I was just happy to have one in the boat. I realized it was the first bass I have caught on the James River this year. I have caught some little white bass on the James. And I have caught bass in the Pamunkey and in the Appomattox. But my dad and I fish the James the most and this was the first Bass I have caught in it all year.

          We kept fishing that creek and I caught a couple little white bass but that was it. We made our way all the way back and fished some spots in Kittiewan where we have caught some fish before. We both had a few strikes but didn’t pull any in. Then we decided to run up to Herring Creek.

          It was low in the tide and Herring Creek was full of grass. I tried throwing a frog on top of the grass but had no luck. We fished the front of it for an hour or so with really no luck. Not the most exciting day of fishing but I was happy to check off the goal of a James River Bass.

          I still get frustrated when I am not catching a lot of fish. It definitely can get boring. But I have learned more and more to appreciate simply the opportunity to be on the water. Beautiful views, a great feeling, time with my dad, and the opportunity to get a great tan are all things that I will remember to appreciate on the river.