Fishing the rappahannock river the best thing about many of the western shore tributaries of the chesapeake is that theyre almost like microcosms of the bay itself, offering a range of chesapeake bay fishing opportunities from freshwater to salt and a range. For that matter, so will the tidal parts of the river that surely will be. Recent studies conducted by the virginia department of game and inland fisheries suggest a bright future for smallmouth bass angling on the rappahannock river. Fishing a quiet pocket behind a mid river boulder or targeting the tailout of an island where two current seams come together is a good idea. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Following the precedent set in his other catchguide books, steve starts the coverage at the mouth of. Following the precedent set in his other catchguide books. The rappahannock river fishing report is here for anglers to share catches, fishing conditions, and all things pertaining to the rappahannock river and surrounding bodies of water.
Smallmouth bass fishing on the rappahannock river in. Warm weather is on the way and with it the beginning of the fly fishing season. Rappahannock river fishing is a fantastic outdoor activity, especially when the weather is warm. Regulations regarding season and creel limits for american shad, hickory shad, river herring, and striped bass in the tidal rappahannock are set by the virginia marine resources commission vmrc. The rappahannock river is contaminated with pcbs and mercury from the i95 bridge above fredericksburg, downstream to the mouth of river near stingray point, including its tributaries hazel run up to the i95 bridge crossing and claiborne run up to the rt. Big smallmouth bass, rapidan and rappahannock rivers, part 1. Apr 03, 2008 and yup, ill be fishing river rd and fall hill avenue. My dad caught the biggest smallie weighing in at just over 2 pounds but i had the biggest fish with an unexpected. Jan 22, 2018 its important to know not only where to go fishing for virginia smallmouth bass fishing this year, but also when to go. The past season, the new produced 146 citation smallmouth bass, nearly twice as. Make the most of your rappahannock river fishing adventures with our guide to the different fishing. Bass fishing has slowed, as the bass are beginning to nest. With american and hickory shad, stripers, and smallmouth bass as our. Snakehead numbers appear to be growing in rappahan nock.
Good fishing, depending on river conditions, can last through october. Whether youre new to fishing or want to wade back in, we have suggestions on where to fish locally and books that will help you get your lines cast and your lures tied. Fishermans corner, hunt the successful strategies smallmouth bass fishing guru tim holschlag spells them out in his new book, smallmouth fly fishing. Rappahannock river near fredericksburg sign in to follow this.
Electro fishing temporarily stuns fish with low doses of current, so they can be captured, weighed and measured. Once you break that code, your arms will go numb from hauling in these hard charging fish. The science of shad fishing boils down to finding the right color and the right depth. Even though the book is specifically oriented at anglers who fish on their feet, kayakers and canoeists will find it equally useful as they will be able to spend more time fishing the productive water on their float downstream. Known for its smallmouth bass and sunfish fishing, the river also produces. Smallmouth bass and shad catchguide series by steve moore jan 23, 2015. Let the fly fishing season begin blue ridge outdoors magazine. The rapidan river is an anglers dream that can be fished year round since the. Smallmouth bass fishing rappahannock river youtube. As i looked up and down the river at the fishermen lining the main approach, i couldnt help. Rappahannock river around fredericksburg bass fishing forums. Day 1 of my annual camping and fishing trip on the rapidan and rappahannock rivers in fredericksburg, virginia.
Even though the book is oriented at anglers who fish on their feet, kayakers and. Catchguide fishing books the catchguide series detailed. Rwi dont think anyone is going to pull anything out of the rappahannock to challenge the two monsters that youre holding in your avatar. The upper rappahannock and rapidan rivers are home to some of the finest smallmouth bass waters in virginia. Hopping a jig a foot off of the bottom in a regular cadence will catch river smallmouth. Catchguide fishing books rapidan smallmouth fishing locations. The rappahannock and rapidan rivers provide excellent smallmouth bass and redbreast. Jan 23, 2015 wade fishing the rappahannock river of virginia. These cantankerous beasts cruise silently in the quiet pools and fast runs below old trench lines that mark the remains of violent civil war battles or in remote, oddly. The shenandoah and rappahannock rivers are ideal for relaxation and enjoying nature in a number of ways. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including perch, smallmouth bass, catfish, blue catfish and largemouth bass here. From remington on downstream to the i95 bridge the river offers some topnotch smallmouth fishing.
Im looking for any advice on where to fish the rappahannock around fredericksburg for smallmouth largemouth. This is the place for accurate and helpful information on fly fishing for smallmouth, without the jargon or hype. It is your responsibility to know and obey all regulations and not trespass on private property. These cantankerous beasts cruise silently in the quiet pools and fast runs below old trench lines marking the remains of violent civil war battles or in remote, oddly named places like snake castle rock. Took some personal time to enjoy our fishing hole on the rappahannock river in fredericksburg, va. Snakehead numbers appear to be growing in rappahannock. Ken penrod warns that at the current low river levels, the upper potomac is becoming unsanitary.
Smallmouth bass fishing on the rappahannock river in fredericksburg. Wade fishing the rappahannock river of virginia smallmouth bass to trout. Coverage starts at the fall line near the us 1 bridge in fredericksburg and ends at remington again, you did a great job on this book. Whether you are casting to smallmouth in a quiet pool, shooting through whitewater, or just taking in the beauty and history of the place, the shenandoah and rappahannock rivers guide will help you enjoy being out on the water. Rappahannock river near fredericksburg smallmouth bass. George washington grew up along the banks of the rappahannock river on his sisters. Herring, white perch and hickory and american shad are being caught around the route one bridge. Jun 30, 2017 first time taking the kayaks on the rappahannock with my dad and it was a blast. Its important to know not only where to go fishing for virginia smallmouth bass fishing this year, but also when to go. Sedgwick at salem church, military bridges, towns, farmsteads with residents names, wooded areas, and streams.
There is good bass fishing both above and below the rapids. But so are smallmouth bass, the most coveted game species in the upper river, above the fall line. Ive spent most of my life chasing the great smallmouth bass in the greatest of rivers, the new. In the lower rapp, woody cover and aquatic vegetation are abundant. Snake castle rock is a large rock outcropping on the left side of the river at the beginning of the rapids. These cantankerous beasts cruise silently in the quiet pools and fast runs below old trench lines that mark the remains of violent civil war battles or in remote, oddly named places like snake castle rock. Three tips for catching big summertime smallmouth on the. Kayaking rappahannock river motts run to fredericksburg. These cantankerous beasts cruise silently in the quiet pools and.
Wade fishing the rappahannock river of virginia book. We were on not only virginias premier smallmouth river but also arguably on the midatlantics best. Tom gilmore, who was doing research for an upcoming book on tailwater fisheries rivers below dams. For those who like excitement with their worldclass fishing for smallmouth bass, few rivers, if any, are better than the new. The rappahannock river is an excellent destination for avid anglers, novice fishermen, and everything in between due to its wide variety of fish and casting spots. An 8pound, 1ounce new river smallmouth taken march 12, 2003 by donald eaton, jr. Pictures, maps and plenty of gps coordinates take you to the different access points covering miles and miles of the smallmouth bass fishing heaven known as the rappahannock. The rapidan river is an anglers dream fishable year round since the watershed includes tough, cranky smallmouth bass as well as aggressive mountain brook trout. The most detailed guide on wade fishing ever published for the rapidan river the rapidan river is an anglers dream that can be fished year round since the watershed includes both tough, cranky smallmouth bass as well as aggressive mountain brook trout. Rappahannock river charters irvington 2020 all you. The mighty smallmouth is found in over 2,000 rivers and thousands of lakes across north america, and readily strikes flies year around. Buy wade fishing the rappahannock river of virginia.
Catchguide fishing books rapidan smallmouth fishing. We were on not only virginias premier smallmouth river but. Fisheries biologists with the department of game and inland fisheries dgif spend considerable hours on virginias smallmouth bass rivers trying to understand more about the sport fish that live there. Apr 19, 20 im looking for any advice on where to fish the rappahannock around fredericksburg for smallmouth largemouth. Beyond the putin at kellys ford landing, canoeists can find 25 miles of stream awaiting them that have changed little over time. The next two miles are very slow until you get to snake castle rock rapids. The best smallmouth bass streams in virginia sports. The rappahannock river is a gem, he said, so close to population centers, yet amazingly unblemished, offering fantastic fishing and paddling.
If its not too muddy i plan on crossing the river by the campground huge rocks go all the way across the river and fish further up the right side to the first bridge deeper water and more structure and fish habitat. Avid angler and author steve moore provided the following fishing report for the rappahannock river. Smallmouth bass fishing on the rappahannock river in fredericksburg, va duration. There is a huge population of smaller fish thoughwe had a good year class a few years back, and. From the dam to the fredricksburg city park, about 1. Rappahannock river fishing near kilmarnock, virginia. After snake castle the river is slow until you get to the islands just before the campground. The upper portion of the river, near fredericksburg, has herring, shad, and striped bass. Wade fishing the rappahannock river friday, january 7, 2011. This day was the best for rapids and i caught at least 5060 smallmouth. Jamie gold, tommy cundiff, and i, admittedly, were confused last may on the new river. Everything you need to know about rappahannock river fishing. Knowledge about sport fish populations is partially.
We cruised down the rappahannock from carters creek in irvington to deltaville and back. He also has companion volumes on the rapidan and potomac. Summer smallmouth bass fishing in virginia virginia dgif. Rappahannock river basin fish consumption advisories. The most detailed guide on wade fishing ever published for the rappahannock river. Welcome to new river smallies this is simply a place for me to share my new river with you and to waste time. Apr 20, 2016 a friend and i met up with dan dutton, a fly fishing guide on the rappahannock river in fredericksburg, virginia, for a float from motts run reservoir to the city dock downtown. Map of the rappahannock river fron sic port royal to. Pictures, maps and plenty of gps coordinates take you to different access points covering miles and miles of the smallmouth bass fishing heaven known as the rappahannock. I can usually spot the lake largemouth fisherman when he presents a tube like he would fishing a jig n pig for lake largemouth. Steve moores book, wade fishing the rappahannock river of virginia goes into much more detail concerning access points on the river.
Electrofishing rates are highest between hicks landing and port royal. My wife, two adult children and myself took a four hour tour of the rappahannock river from 10. The rappahannock is a river rich in virginia history, a river that is favored by canoeists and a river that is renowned primarily for its smallmouth bass fishing. It is the most amazing description of fishing various spots of the rappahannock river. Seasonal striped bass fishing opportunities exist throughout the tidal rappahannock, however fall striper fishing is best in the lower river. Rappahannock river fishing report public group facebook. Dec 31, 2008 in the tidal rappahannock river, the fishing for largemouth bass between fredericksburg and port royal also is steadily improving, the fisheries specialists said. Smallmouth can be found along current seams where fast water meets slow water.
Target the main river from fredericksburg to leedstown and tributaries from leedstown to totuskey creek. The rappahannock river is home to some of the biggest, meanest smallmouth bass. The rappahannock river is home to some of the biggest, meanest smallmouth bass in virginia. The river is blocked by a dam just east of the i95 bridge. Had a nice day to enjoy the river and catch a few, but as. Smallmouth bass and shad paperback the amount of detail provided in this book is beyond anything i have ever seen. Seeing some activity on the water by the launch, i threw a chartreuse damsel and within only a few casts, had an angry gizzard shad on the end of my line. Big smallmouth bass, rapidan and rappahannock rivers, part. Smallmouth bass and shad catchguide series moore, steve on. Rappahannock river fishing is a page dedicated to fishing strategies and the best spots from expert fisherman. Certainly not on the rappahannock river, at least, where virginia senator john warners passion for fishing his home rivers provided the final push needed to reconnect the 195mile river from the blue ridge mountains across the piedmont to the chesapeake bay. Coverage starts at the fall line near the us 1 bridge in fredericksburg and ends at remington. Catchguide fishing books wade fishing the rappahannock river. Catch summer smallmouth in low water kayak fishing ultimate.
Dan dutton shad and smallmouth bass on the rappahannock river posted on april 20, 2016 april 21, 2016 by theminnowbucket with the onset of spring and warmer water temperatures comes the influx of various species of fish in tidal rivers and tributaries, all. During hot, bright, summer days the fishing can be most productive early in the morning and again in the evening. Not looking too promising to fish the next 2 days or so but im ready to pull out the waders and get after it. Steve moore books list of books by author steve moore. Following the precedent set in his other catchguide books, steve starts the coverage at the mouth of the rapidan where it slams into the rappahannock at the smallmouth bass fishing heaven known simply as the confluence and ends above the old presidential retreat at. Upper rappahannock has a new dominant fish friends of. Smallmouth fly fishing really is three books in one, and will make you one with the smallmouth. Jul 23, 20 rappahannock river smallmouth jesse ewing. Can i eat the fish i catch in the rappahannock river. Catchguide fishing books rappahannock smallmouth fishing.
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