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Post by tateman on Jan 5, 2014 15:23:54 GMT -5
arrived at Dutch gap on the James Saturday at daylight in hope to find some catfish, weather was at 13 degrees and cold. water was back down to about 7 feet but really stained and full of trash from all the rain early in the week? backed the boat in on a frozen ramp and not thinking pushed the pedal down on the hot foot and broke the throttle cable? not sure what's there to freeze but I am sure it was, really limited the day of fishing around ramp but we tried to make the best it.  seen this on the a little flat and decided to anchor up.  five minutes later he caught another one bout 19lbs  fished till little after five and loaded the boat, 11 cats for the day,all on cut ells, with the boat not being able to get on plane we didn't even try to catch any big gizzard shad for bait, probably should have but all in all another wonderful but COLD trip fishing with maison. |
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Post by mwardncsu on Jan 5, 2014 16:10:56 GMT -5
That's a trooper to hang in those temps. Amazing how easily the cold can cause stuff to snap. Glad you salvaged the trip anyway
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 6, 2014 12:55:20 GMT -5
Love Dutch Gap. That's where I caught my profile pic catfish, almost 80lbs. I havent been out there in a while, been at least 2 months. Cool to see that they are stacking up on 15ft. flats right now. A few months back the only places that I was marking them was deep (40-60ft.) holes. I have a special shad spot out there in the winter time......
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Post by yellowdog on Jan 6, 2014 16:38:50 GMT -5
Wow! 13 degrees! I would be happy that I didn't have to throw the cast net!
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 6, 2014 17:55:44 GMT -5
We use the gill net down them parts. Aint that right Tate?
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Post by tateman on Jan 6, 2014 20:17:53 GMT -5
Yep,gill net is the way to go. I opened a drink bout 8 and it froze to the carpet of the boat!! So I was with yellow dog on any of the nets? We had a mr heater buddy, it was worth it's wait in gold I think:) can't wait to get back there again. Andy
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 6, 2014 22:33:44 GMT -5
Hit me up on here a few days before you roll out there. Maybe we can share some trade secrets down there. I think my cold limit down there is upper 20's, low 30's and little to NO wind!!!
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Post by yellowdog on Jan 7, 2014 9:40:53 GMT -5
We use a Mr Heater too on those very cold days. Take a heavy blanket and put it over the leaning post to make a tent with the heater under it. Only problem is when you leave the tent, it's double cold! Good place to warm the hands though.
Dutch Gap looks like a decent place to get out of the wind. Do you guys anchor up on the shallow flats and fan cast baits out? Is the ramp that is right there a public ramp? Thinking of making a trip up there and have never been. any advice would be a appreciated. thanks.
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 7, 2014 12:26:35 GMT -5
Yellow, if you want to go up there we should meet up one day. My good friend taught me that river very well. There are TONS of boat ramps up and down, it all depends on where you want to be on the river. We can catch bait up there in under an hour in the winter. And yes, dutch gap is public, and FREE!! Actually on a windy day, that is not the place to be. It is much easier to get out of the wind on the twisty Mataponi. As far as casting out, it all depends on what time of year you are fishing. I like to post up in some of my spots with bait fanned out in the spring/summer. In the winter months, I have found it much better to cast all of the baits directly into the hole that you are fishing. If you want to catch the big boys up there, thats the way to do it. They dont seem to forage around as much as the smaller guys do in the winter. A great site for you to check out is www.jamesrivercats.com. It even tells you where all of the boat ramps are so you can pick your ideal one. |
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Post by yellowdog on Jan 7, 2014 18:45:42 GMT -5
Thanks, I'll check the site out. Do ya'll catch the big cats all winter? I'd love to have something to fish for until the spring thaw.
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 7, 2014 21:07:15 GMT -5
In the spring/summer, you typically catch more bait and catfish. The catch is, that they are typically smaller. My two biggest, (55lb. and 80lbs.) were both caught in the late fall. So, yes, for me it is more common to catch the big boys during the colder months, but it seems to be a little tougher to drop the baits right on the fish. In the cold months, the fish dont forage as often, but if you drop the bait in the right hole, BOOM!!! I tend to fish 6-10 rods in the summer, with a wide spread, and stay in one spot for a while. In the winter, it is more productive to drop 4-6 lines into one spot, and move around frequently if you arent getting bites. This has been my experience anyway.
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Post by catsnstripers on Jan 8, 2014 10:53:10 GMT -5
Man I love it down there. Im game anytime. haven't been since Oct. We usually go Newyears. But that wind didn't let us come down. Thinking Actually next week... Cold months is when I go. Gill nets make life easier on that river. You'll be surprised on how many cats you catch in 10ft of water in winter.
We usually launch at Dutch Gap, stay in the holiday inn or white house motel.. Ive never been but once below Jordon point, I would like to learn that area more. But over the few years of going, IVe learned the stretch of river from 895 bridge down to Appomattox river pretty well.
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Post by yellowdog on Jan 9, 2014 8:04:30 GMT -5
I would love to tag along in my boat one day with you veterans if ya'll don't mind. Never done the gill netting thing. Told my son Jack about it and showed him some pics from the site you suggested. He is pumped!
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 9, 2014 10:39:01 GMT -5
I would love to tag along in my boat one day with you veterans if ya'll don't mind. Never done the gill netting thing. Told my son Jack about it and showed him some pics from the site you suggested. He is pumped! Would love to! I live about 1:15 from there, so I'm game whenever. Here's the sized bait we bag in the gill net that I use.  Here's my big boys from there.   |
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 9, 2014 10:41:57 GMT -5
Man I love it down there. Im game anytime. haven't been since Oct. We usually go Newyears. But that wind didn't let us come down. Thinking Actually next week... Cold months is when I go. Gill nets make life easier on that river. You'll be surprised on how many cats you catch in 10ft of water in winter. We usually launch at Dutch Gap, stay in the holiday inn or white house motel.. Ive never been but once below Jordon point, I would like to learn that area more. But over the few years of going, IVe learned the stretch of river from 895 bridge down to Appomattox river pretty well. I don't think you are missing much down S of Jordans Point. Tight, narrow channel, and super shallow out of the channel. Hard to really find a good spot to anchor up with all them huge barges that roll through there. Honestly, the big bridge off Jordans is about where I stop. But, my bud caught a nice 67lber down tehre. |
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