Stone's Keep Wade

Yesterday I spent a few hours at Stone's Keep on the Roanoke River south of Dixie Caverns. There were some beautiful deep spots and lots of shady cover. I caught 5 smallies, 5 redeye and a brim. No significant size to them though.

Count for the day: 11

Cumulative Count: 38

Lure: Amazingly I kept the same lure all day despite getting hung a lot. It was my favorite Mepps Aglia #3 Silver with a brown bucktail.

Disaster on the James

Within 5 minutes of pushing off...

• Lost my glasses
• Lost my fishing pole
• Flipped the kayak
• Filled my waders

I floated in 60 degree water for the next 45 minutes before I could make it to shore. The true disaster was not catching any fish. I hate kayaks.

13th St. Roanoke River (click on the pic to see how little he was hooked)

Very difficult place to wade. I had visions of wading downstream to the dam but only made it about 1/10th of a mile before I had to turn back. Too much bog lined the bottom of the river.

As I came upstream, I noticed deep indentions in the sides and decided these could possibly hold some smallies. I was right. Three hit very hard and two of those were 12 inchers. All in all it was a pleasureable couple of hours after work.

Count for the day: 4 (3 bass, 1 brim) Cumulative Count: 27

Lure: Red and White Mepps

Productive early morning

At 5:30 am I awoke and headed for the river. The boys had all piled into the bed, and we were all crowded anyway. By 6:30 I approached the shore and came upon a family of five otters. They frightened me as much as I must have frightened them.

After using the red and white Mepps, I decided to try a broken back plug for a while. No luck. I switched to a gold Mepps number 3 with a white bucktail and that seemed to do the trick. 6 smallies, 1 redeye and a brim.

Count for the day- 8 Cumulative- 23

Lures: Mepps 3 gold with a white bucktail

Fish injury

Headed to Rutrough Road after work since Joyce said I could fish until dark. (wow I love that girl.) Before I got too far down the river I made a fatal step under a log and a branch took it out on my face. It was a blessing in disguise because I could just as easily be blind in one eye. For the day I caught three kinds of bass...Smallmouth, Redeye and a White bass.

Count for the day- 3 Cumulative- 15

Lure- Mepps white and red #3

Snow Bass

You know things are weird when it's April and you can't figure out whether it's blooms or snow blowing past. I played around with Google Earth and found another spot to hit on the Roanoke River after work. I only stayed a few minutes but I did manage to catch this beauty. It sure was cold though.

Count for the day: 1 Cumulative Count: 12

Lure: Mepps 3 Silver Bucktail (lost in a tree now...R.I.P)

Barger Botetourt Fishing Tour

My good friend Dave Barger invited me on a fishing trip yesterday and God's beauty was all around us despite the rainy conditions.

We headed up 220 North and visited Craig Creek. This was my first view of this little creek and it was absolutely immaculate and crystal clear. I slipped on the waders and was pleased to find a rocky bottom. A slight drizzle came down but it didn't diminish the thrill of wading a new watering hole. Dave was trying minnows and I was using a #2 Mepps Aglia spinner silver with an orange targeting spot. Neither one of us got any bites.

I can't give good directions after that first spot but I do know we hit Roaring Run then the James River at a very good entry point over some railroad tracks. I do remember there was a Gas company nearby. Excellent wading there at the James. Dave caught an orange breasted bream and followed it up with a nice 10 inch smallmouth. Both were caught on nightcrawlers. I enjoyed the spot but remained fishless for the day.

Our last stop was Catawba Creek. It was my favorite spot of the day. It followed the pattern of rapids then deep holes. About 200 yards upstream I found a deep hole and reeled in my first fish of the day. Some folks call it a river jack or a fall fish. (I've attached a picture so you'd know what they look like. It's not the actual fish) I followed that up with a 10 inch smallmouth and a 6 inch one. It felt good not to get skunked. Great day.

Lures/Bait: Used a bit of everything... Nightcrawlers, Minnows, Mepps Aglia 2 Silver, Mepps Aglia 3 with brown bucktail and Gulp Spray. (caught all three fish on the bucktail)

Count for the Day: 3 Cumulative Count: 11