By C.C. MCCOTTER
Everyone needs a little adventure in their lives. Now, I’m not talking about summiting Mount Everest without oxygen or sailing around the world solo. I am talking about a trip challenge or combination of trip challenges around our region that not just everyone will undertake or accomplish even when undertaken.
Consider a trip to your local pond an adventure? You might not appreciate this article. Now, if you set the goal of catching five species in one day out of that pond using only artificial lures, that’s closer to what we are getting at here. Mix in some remote locations, some gear guidelines and logistical challenges and you have some worthy summer adventures. Here are some complete with a ranking (top score of 15) based on an average of scores from 1) accessibility issues, 2) difficulty in accomplishing the feat and 3) general sportiness of the venture.
Remember a score of 15 might not necessarily mean the trip is for you – it might be too challenging. So don’t rule out “lower” scoring adventures.
Catching A Tidal Potomac River
Northern Snakehead
Capt. Mike from Apex Predators/Potomac Creek Guide Service makes catching snakehead look easy, but you will need to know where these river monsters lurk to catch one. They like shallow, weedy water but there’s thousands of acres of that on the tidal Potomac River. Capt. Mike knows where to look and what to use.
You can certainly go it alone and catch a snakehead. Tossing brightly colored frogs and other weedless baits along shallow milfoil, hydrilla and pads is the pattern. Aquia Creek is a top sanctuary, though the fish are throughout the river.
Northern snakeheads have been in the tidal Potomac for over 20 years now and the population has stabilized and not taken over. However, there are still plenty of them to target and you are no longer required to kill every one you catch. While you cannot put a live snakehead into a livewell, you can release what you catch or keep them as they are delicious table fare.
Go it alone or book a trip with Apex and learn where Frankenfish lives and how to catch them!
Adventure Score: 3-3-4. Total score of 10. Pluses: Good river access and plenty of fish. Minuses: Seemingly endless areas to scout.
Floating The Upper James River,
Shenandoah and Staunton Rivers
Make this the summer you float the top three smallmouth bass rivers in the region. The upper James, Shenandoah and Staunton Rivers are in good shape following several years of good smallmouth bass reproduction and if you want to test yourself, this is the perfect challenge.
The little publicized Staunton River is the final leg of the trifecta of river adventures. Access here is significantly more difficult than that found for the James and Shenandoah. You might consider doing the stretch from the Long Island put-in to a take-out at Brookneal. This roughly 11-mile stretch harbors smallmouth and largemouth as well as stripers seasonally. Another bit worth visiting would be from a put-in at Rt. 745 in Halifax County, Virginia down to a take-out just below Rt. 360. This second section moves more slowly and can be accessed by anglers that operate jet drives, though caution is advised at all times.
Adventure Score: 4-4-4. Total score of 12. Pluses: Exploring remote sections of rivers. Minuses: Logistical hurdles.
Catch All Virginia Bass Species
Can you even name them all? There’s largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, striped and hybrid. There’s only one place we know of that holds all five – Claytor Lake, not far from Blacksburg, Virginia.
This lake, created by impounding a 21-mile section section of the New River is not overly large at 4,363 acres. The lake is mostly riverine with scant coves and creeks.
Anglers will find largemouths on wood in the shallow areas of the shoreline. Good areas for smallmouth bass are the shoreline across from the mouth of Dublin Hollow, the shoreline between Spooky Hollow and Texas Hollow, and in Dublin Hollow. Spotted bass like deeper water rocks and shoals. The lake’s striper remain deep in the summer months and anglers target them by vertical jigging or trolling. Hybrid striper tend to roam around more but both species stay near bait.
The lake also has a growing population of Alabama bass, considered an invasive nuisance by biologists anglers are encouraged to harvest. They are an aggressive species that outcompetes largemouth bass and readily hybridizes with smallmouth and spotted bass. Alabama bass are nearly identical in appearance to spotted bass and were formerly known as the Alabama subspecies of the spotted bass. The other former subspecies of spotted bass, the Kentucky spotted bass, is found throughout Virginia and is native to the southwest portion of the Commonwealth.
Adventure Score: 3-4-5. Total score of 12. Pluses: All fish can be found in one lake. Minuses: Recreational boat traffic in season.
Kayak And Fish At Chincoteague
Kayaks have become the preferred boat when adventuring for many area recreational anglers. It doesn’t cost much to operate them and you get good exercise doing so. One area that offers sensational kayaking and fishing opportunities would certainly be considered an adventure – Virginia’s eastern shore.
First off, many of us have to travel over and under the lower Chesapeake Bay via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to arrive on the eastern shore. Once there, you are on Cape Charles, a vast, saltwater fishery. Keep driving north on Rt. 13 and you’ll arrive at the village of Chincoteague. This old waterfowling center still maintains much of its small town charm with a sprinkling of modern shops and lodging choices. It is best known for the Chinoteague Pony Swim from Assateague Island and the Misty Of Chincoteague novels.
Adventure seekers will find plenty to keep them busy here. Visiting summer anglers can expect excellent fishing right in the Chincoteague Channel right off a public ramp. This access point allows for a mile or so paddle over to Assateague Island and some very secluded beaches. Kayak and small boat anglers can expect to catch everything from pan trout to juvenile flounder to rockfish. Oysters, mussels and shrimp abound in the marshy creeks here, too.
Adventure Score: 4-4-4. Total score of 12. Pluses: Affordable and accessible beach trip for anyone. Minuses: Expensive Bay Bridge/Tunnel toll.
Chesapeake Bay Charter Fishing Trip
So how adventurous is going fishing on a 30’ plus boat in the Bay? It could be extremely adventurous depending on the winds and weather and the time of year you go. During the summer, though the waves are usually from one to three feet and not enough to engage the seasickness trigger some landlubber’s experience. Pursue rockfish, croaker, spadefish, flounder, cobia, drum and various wreck fish with light tackle and you have a sporty adventure.
Flyfishing for some of these species is the ultimate challenge. Bring the long rod and some determination and you’re in for a fun summer. Try for a cobia, rockfish and spade hat trick. Depending on your captain, you could be hooked for life.
Adventure Score: 3-5-5. Total score of 13. Pluses: Casting a fly rod offering to big fish. Minuses: Higher price for fun than some adventures.
