Knowing What It Takes To Make A Great Fisherman

Knowing What It Takes To Make A Great Fisherman

By Doug Reynolds

           We all know that becoming a great fisherman takes extreme dedication and hard work. It takes years of learning different fishing techniques and an understanding of the species’ biological patterns. It also takes exceptional skill to read the water and the weather to understand what the fish are doing and why. Are they hanging to cover, moving deep, on their beds or are they just sitting suspended in a school?

            Now that you have found the fish, you’ve got to figure out what bait is going to entice a strike. Maybe it’s a top-water plug or soft plastic stickbait, maybe it’s a crankbait or a swim jig?   Meanwhile, the earth, moon and tides keep turning and the weather keeps changing. A great fisherman is one who can figure out the pattern and has the ability and the tenacity to change with the conditions and stay on the fish.  Being a great fisherman is not easy but the satisfaction of knowing you figured out the puzzle for that one day or for that few days is sure rewarding. You are rewarded mentally and physically and that reward is what makes us all strive to become better fisherman.

            Heck, I’ve seen pros that would not stop to eat a pack of crackers as long as the clock was ticking. If you were their co-angler and stopped fishing to eat, they might even throw you out of the boat. Pro fishing is a totally different animal by itself. The money involved between winnings and sponsorship is out of this world. Along with that,  the responsibility and pressure of sponsorship to perform when only one man can win is enormous.

            I can tell you this though; behind every great fisherman is a great significant other. My wife put up with me for years cooking soft plastics in her microwave, using her oven to harden modeling clay, painting lures and stinking up the house. Sound familiar? Those significant others are what make our lives worth living..

            I consider myself to be very lucky, my wife has never restrained me from going fishing. She understands the passion I have for the sport and my love of spending time on the river. In my case I leave her at home to run our business and take care of the farm . She has never  complained and I love that woman to death. So whether it’s your mother your brother your wife or your husband, heck maybe it’s your best friend, take the time to stop and say thank you for your support.

            And that’s what it takes to make a great fisherman.

 

Tight Lines,

 Doug Reynolds

If you have any questions or comments please email me at dougreynolds@jamesriversmallmouth.com

You can also follow me live on Twitter as I fish the James River. @jrsmallmouth

Come check us out:  http://www.jamesriversmallmouth.com

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Addicted To River Smallmouth

Addicted To River Smallmouth
By Doug Reynolds

I happened to be talking to one of my vendors the other day and he told me he had “caught the bug”. The bug, I said….you sick? No, he said, the smallmouth bug. Yep, another victim of smallmouth addiction. There’s nothing like drifting down the river in a canoe or kayak, fishing for smallmouth and enjoying the serenity of the river. If you have never fished for river smallmouth you have to put it on your bucket list. Smallmouth are such intense fighters they will fight you all the way to the boat and then some.

I remember when I became addicted over thirty years ago and I’m still addicted today, stronger than ever. I’ll never forget my first trophy smallmouth. I had been fishing on the James near Rockcastle in June of 1978 and had been through just about everything in my tackle box with no success. I stopped and dug into the old tackle box and came out with a “Mr Twister” worm, purple with a fire tail. On the first cast a 5lb smallmouth inhaled it and gave me the fight of my life, it took me up river, across the river, down the river and through a small rapid before I could get him under control and get the fish landed. My hands were still shaking five minutes after I had caught him. What a rush! I caught twenty one fish that day and used the whole darn pack of those purple worms. That was it, I was addicted.

Of course not all days are going to be like that one but when the magic happens there is nothing quite like it. And by the way, I still carry that same worm in my tackle box today. Over the years, I have been very fortunate to have caught more than my share of trophy smallmouth, but I’m still looking for “the big one”. Once you’re hooked, you will too. There’s a bonus too, enjoying the wild life; ducks, geese, egrets, eagles and if you’ve never seen two fawns dancing in the river like little kids, you’re really missing out. Those of us who live in Virginia are truly blessed to have the James in our backyard. It is also important for all of us to pass the sport on to the younger generation and get them from in front of the TV and video games, out on the river fishing. I can’t think of any better family time than fishing and camping on the river together. Kids love it!

So get out there and find out what all the fuss is all about. The outfitters and guides providing services on the James are fantastic. They provide everything from a guided trip for smallmouth to camping, tubes, canoes, kayaks, and a shuttle.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has done a fantastic job in preserving the smallmouth population on the James River with the slot limit. Keeping the quality fish in the river by managing a must release size. We are also very fortunate to have organizations like the James River Association, a dedicated group of mostly volunteers keeping and eye on the river and its tributaries. The James is one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the country and protecting it should be one of our highest priorities.

Tight Lines

Doug Reynolds
Email: dougreynolds@jamesriversmallmouth.com
Web: http://www.jamesriversmallmouth.com
Twitter: @jrsmallmouth

The Boating Safety and Education Certification

The Boating Safety and Education Certification

By Doug Reynolds

        This blog is a bit of a departure for me. No fishing or camping talk today. I’ve had it in my mind to do a boating safety post for a while,so here it is…

       As the boating laws keep changing it’s your responsibility as a boat owner to keep current with the laws of your state. In Virginia a 10 horsepower or higher motor will require you to posses a Boating and Safety Education Card. I personally think they should require it for everyone who owns a boat, any boat. I’ve seen so many people out there that did not know you are required to have a personal flotation device in a canoe. If you put a trolling motor on the same canoe you are required to have two; your personal flotation and a throw-able flotation. It is a good idea for every boater to learn to be safe on the water, which makes us all safer in the long run. One example would be a canoe on the river with power boat traffic, to understand who has the right-of way and in what situation. This information is covered in the boating safety course along with lighting, signaling, buoys, flares and fire extinguishers. Below is the law for Virginia, as it reads from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website. You will need to check your state or locale for your specific laws.

“This requirement will be phased in over the next several years and by 2016, all operators of PWCs (Personal Watercraft such as jet skis, Sea Doos, Wave Runners) and operators of Motorboats with a 10 hp or greater motor, will be required to have a boating safety education course completion card on board when operating a PWC or Motorboat.

As of July 1, 2011, all PWC operators 50 years old and younger and Boat operators ages 20 and younger must complete a boating safety course. This is the next phase-in of the Education Compliance Requirement for all Virginia boaters. Beginning July 1, 2012, all PWC operators regardless of age must take a boating safety course and Boat operators ages 30 and younger need to take a boating safety course.

PWC Age Restriction: No person under the age of 14 may operate a PWC. Those operators 14 and 15 MUST show proof of completing an approved and accepted boating safety course either in a classroom or online. The challenge exam or other provisions of the Education Compliance Requirement do not meet the requirements of the age restriction law”.

If you’re looking to get your Virginia boat license, take an online course or a class room course.  Learn from the best the Coast Gaurd Auxiliary. The course is sure cheaper than the cost of the ticket, not to mention the cost of your safety.

If you’re new to canoeing or kayaking, you might want to consider a paddling course as well. The American Canoe Association will be glad to help you with instruction. I would definitely recommend it, especially for kids.

If you have an idea for an upcoming event or topic you would like me to cover in a blog, please email me.

Tight Lines,

Doug Reynolds

Email: dougreynolds@jamesriversmallmouth.com

Website: http://www.jamesriversmallmouth.com

Twitter: @jrsmallmouth

Finding River Smallmouth

Finding River Smallmouth

By Doug Reynolds

People are always asking me about  the best places to find river smallmouth. So, this article is aimed at helping you do just that. In order to simplify things I have broken the information down into specific areas of the river so that each section can be addressed on it’s own.

River Bank

The bank is a great place to start fishing for smallmouth. Casting your way down the river, look for anything on the bank that might help you in your quest. Rocks and flood debris are often the key, especially if they obstruct river current, providing an ambush spot for a smallmouth to attack. Keep your eyes open, searching the bank and the water for holes with rock or logs. The down river side of the hole or obstruction is generally where the smallmouth will be. I also like to fish the shade line that develops in the morning and the afternoon between the bank and the center of the river. The shade line will sometimes set up an ambush spot for smallmouth and, just like us on hot days, smallmouth like to hang out in the shade.

Center River

The center of the river is another great place to find big smallmouth. I’m always looking at the bottom of the river as I float and you should too.  Look for deep holes, rock ledges or patches of grass in order to target the structure. Find the rock ledges, log jams or grass patches next to deeper water and you will find a smallmouth.

Above Rapids

Above any rapid is a good place to find smallmouth because the restriction of water before rapids usually makes small pools form. Smallmouth love these ambush spots because they can let the current do all the work and bring the food to them.  In case you didn’t know, smallmouth are naturally lazy!  Why work for it when you can have breakfast in bed? But when a smallmouth is hungry look out, they get very aggressive and will attack the bait and have been known to eat each other. Many times I have had a small smallmouth on my line with a monster sizing it up and even attacking it on the way to the boat.

Below Rapids

Smallmouth especially like the lower ends of rapids. The water at the end of  a rapid is well oxygenated which smallmouth love.  And again, the food is being delivered to the fish. Kind of like calling for take out!  Fish any eddy or rocks that block the river current, that’s where the smallmouth will be waiting to ambush their dinner and it’s where you can ambush them!

Points of Islands

The lower points of islands are another great place for smallmouth to feed. They will lay in the eddy behind the point waiting to attack. You will often see minnows on these points as well.  Find the big fish food and you’ll find the big fish! Also don’t overlook the front point of the islands. Some islands will create and eddy in the front point where the current splits making a perfect spot for a smallmouth to sit and wait for a meal.

The bottom line is, you should always be looking for structure that smallmouth can use to gain the advantage over their prey.  Smallmouth are smarter than you think.  If you were a fish, what would you do?  Chances are that’s what they’ll do too!

I hope this information will help you find more river smallmouth. Now go out there and find that trophy smallmouth that gives you the fight of your life!  Please send us your pictures, insights and advice to share with the smallmouth family. (dougreynolds@jamesriversmallmouth.com)

http://www.jamesriversmallmouth.com

There’s nothing like the fight of a smallmouth!

Tight Lines

Doug Reynolds

Chasing River Smallmouth in The Spring

Chasing River Smallmouth In The Spring

By Doug Reynolds

     Finding smallmouth in the spring can be very challenging. If you understand the smallmouth’s migration patterns it will help you increase your odds in having success.  Water temperature is one of many factors I will watch in the spring, to get a leg up on the smallmouth. Trying to use the smallmouth’s own migration pattern and natural instincts to my advantage. 

     When looking at temperature I try to always consider that bellow 44 degrees the smallmouth are deep and stacked up on each other. When the temperature reaches 46-48 degrees the smallmouth will start moving out from their location to get closer to their spawning grounds in water usually less than ten feet.  Also note the crayfish are also starting to spawn at this temperature so keep that in mind when considering your bait selection.

     Once the water temperature get close to the 50 degree mark the male and female smallmouth are getting prepared for the spawn. Searching for nesting sites, aggressive feeding and moving into shallower water, looking for tree stumps, rocks, weeds or any shallow cover in water 3 to 8 feet. Once the water moves to the mid 50’s aggressive behavior dies down and the males begin sweeping out shallow nest sites finding a site suitable site for the conditions. The females will move off into deeper water until they are ready to spawn, meaning the males will generally be caught in the shallows and the females will be caught from the deeper water.

So when your fishing the river in the spring, remember to check the water temperature. It just could be your clue to finding that big smallmouth.

Tight Lines

Doug Reynolds

Check out my website http://www.jamesriversmallmouth.com

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Crayfish

      Sustaining America’s Aquatic Biodiversity – Crayfish Biodiversity and ConservationID 420-524 Authors as Published Louis A. Helfrich, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech; and Robert J. DiStefano, Missouri

Department of Conservation Of the approximately 500 crayfishes (sometimes called crawdads or crawfish) found on earth, about 400 crayfish species live in waters in North America, and about 353, nearly 70 percent of the world’s total species, inhabit waters in the United States. Freshwater habitats throughout the United States harbor the richest diversity of these aquatic animals in the world. The majority of crayfish species live east of the Rocky Mountains and in the Southeastern states. Many live in streams, rivers, and lakes, while others are restricted to springs, swamps, and even underground waters (cave crayfish). Native crayfish come in a variety of colors (white, blue, red, brown, gray, yellow), shapes, and sizes (1 to 6 inches in length). They serve as important links in the food chain, feeding on living and dead plants, other invertebrates, and fish. Crayfish are a primary food for fish (bass), water birds (herons), mammals (raccoons), and others. In fact, over 240 species of wild animals in North America have been found to eat crayfish. Like its saltwater cousin, the lobster, the crayfish is sold as gourmet food. Nearly 75,000 tons of crayfish, with a value of $50 million, are farmed in ponds or trapped in wetlands each year. Crayfish also are important indicators of water quality and environmental health, flourishing in clean waters and perishing in polluted waters. Most crayfish live from 2 to 4 years, although some cave crayfish may live over 10 years. Crayfish are threatened by habitat destruction caused by dams, water pollution, erosion, siltation, in-stream gravel dredging and, particularly, the introduction of nonnative crayfishes and other exotics. About 65 species of crayfish are endangered, threatened, or listed as species of special concern by the states in which they live, and 48 percent of our native crayfish species are in need of protection. These numbers are best estimates only. The exact status of crayfish endangerment or extinction rates in the United States is largely unknown because very few distribution and population surveys have been completed. Most Americans believe that we should protect our native aquatic animals as a legacy to our children. Citizens can help safeguard life in our waterways. To protect our aquatic biodiversity, they can join conservation groups, adopt a local stream or river, and report all suspected water pollution problems to state natural resource agencies. What Is a Crayfish? Crayfish are small lobster-like animals that live in freshwater streams, ponds, lakes, swamps, and marshes throughout the world. They are invertebrates (animals without a backbone) that belong to a group called the Arthropoda (joint-footed) animals related to the insects, spiders, scorpions, millipedes, and mites. They belong to the class Crustacea (shell) and the order Decapoda (ten legs).Some say the name comes from the word “cray” which refers to a hole or burrow. Others believe it is from a French word meaning “crevice.” Some crayfish dig and live their entire lives in burrows. Native American crayfish are a diverse and interesting group of aquatic animals; they come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and forms. Structure and appearance Crayfish, as other Crustacea (crabs, lobsters, and shrimp), are heavily armored with a hard exoskeleton or “shell,” that must be shed periodically so that the animal can grow. This exoskeleton serves to protect the crayfish from predators and provides a framework for the body. Despite its hard armored shell, the crayfish is agile and fast, thanks to flexible, jointed segments. The body of the crayfish consists of two sections: •the front of the body called the cephalothorax (head and chest) and, •the abdomen or rear half of the body. The cephalothorax of the body is entirely covered by the shell (carapace), whereas the back part of the body or abdomen consists of seven jointed segments and a large, fan-like tail. They have two large, compound eyes consisting of thousands of eyelets (providing a mosaic view like that of insects) supported on stalks. They use their two pair of antennae (short, jointed inner antennules and long outer antennae) to taste the water and find food. The inner antennules are used for chemoreception (tasting the water and food). The outer ones are used for the sense of touch. The overlapping mouth parts and heavy tooth-like mandibles are used to crush and shred food before it is eaten. Crayfish have ten legs (one pair of large claws and four pairs of slender walking legs). The first pair of legs has the claws (pincers), which are used for defense, mating, burrow building, egg laying in females, and feeding. These strong claws are specialized for capturing, cutting, and crushing food. Their pinch can hurt. When threatened, the crayfish assumes a defensive position with the body lifted and the claws elevated and spread. At this time the crayfish may retreat slowly by walking backwards. The first two pairs of small walking legs are tipped with small pincers that are used to probe in cracks and holes for food, and are used for eating, walking, and grooming. The last two pair of legs are used for walking and mating. Crayfish can regenerate their limbs if they are broken off, but regenerated legs and claws often are smaller or misshapen when compared to the originals. The large, fan-shaped tail, flattened from top to bottom, is used for quickly swimming backwards. Large muscles in the abdomen curl the tail fan forward beneath the body propelling the crayfish rapidly backwards. Typically crayfish walk slowly forward on their legs, but if they are startled, crayfish use rapid flips of their tails to quickly swim backwards in a series of jerking movements to escape danger. Crayfish breathe by internal gills like fish, but many (especially burrowing crayfish) can remain out of water for considerable amounts of time under humid conditions. The plume-like gills are located in gill chambers on each side of the body. Gill flaps attached to the mouthparts help circulate oxygenated water for breathing. Scientists use the size, shape, color, shell markings, and reproductive organs to identify the many species. Crayfish can vary in color from white to blue to red to green to black or brown. Most crayfish are brown-green in color in order to blend into the stream bottom and hide from predators. Where do they live? Crayfish live in a range of habitats including clean, flowing waters (streams, rivers) and standing waters (ponds, lakes, marshes, swamps). They are found in almost any wetland, including drainage ditches; wherever there is water. Some species have adapted to living in ponds, but most live in streams and rivers where water flows provide an abundant oxygen supply for breathing. Crayfish live in a wide range of water temperatures from 55šF to >80šF.Nearly all crayfish use some type of shelter during part or all of their lives. Many spend most of their lives walking on stream and lake bottoms (largely at night), but quickly burrow under rocks and logs to avoid predators. Some crayfish spend their entire lives underground and only come out to feed and mate. Burrowing crayfish are rarely seen above ground during the daytime. Burrowing crayfish dig holes in stream banks and in moist soils. Crayfish usually dig tunnels from 1 to 5 feet deep or to the water table, so that they can stay moist even during droughts and dry periods. When crayfish burrow into the ground they create “chimneys” made of mud balls that are excavated and rise above the tunnel. Burrowing crayfish may dig their tunnels on lawns and golf courses with moist soils that can be a long distance from surface waters. Lawn owners and golf course managers dislike burrowing crayfish creating holes and mounds on their turf. Pond owners worry that too many crayfish burrows can cause their dams to collapse. What do they eat? Crayfish are often found under rocks during the day, and most feed actively at night. Older crayfish usually are more active at night and on cloudy days than young crayfish. All are nocturnal, well adapted to using their antennules to “taste” and “feel” for food at night and in the dark. Crayfish are opportunistic feeders and will eat nearly any plant or animal, dead or alive. Adults generally are herbivorous and prefer to eat aquatic plants, leaves, and woody debris, whereas young crayfish are more carnivorous and prefer to eat animals such as aquatic insects, tadpoles, snails, fish, and salamanders. Both adult and young crayfish are cannibalistic. This wide range of foods allows crayfish to be very adaptable to living in many habitats, and is important in transferring energy up the food chain. As crayfish consume dead and decaying plants and animals they provide food for smaller aquatic animals and improve water quality. How do they grow? The hard outer shell provides protection, but limits growth. As a result crayfish get too big for their shells and regularly molt (shed) their hard exoskeletons (outer shells) to allow room for new growth. During molting a new soft shell develops beneath the old one, then the old shell splits between the carapace and the abdomen and the whole crayfish emerges through this opening. The old shell, including that covering the antenna and eyes, is left behind. Molting is stressful to crayfish, and sometimes crayfish die when halfway out of their old shells. The new shell of the crayfish usually is soft for two to four days. At this time, crayfish usually hide because they are more vulnerable to predators and water pollution. Molting occurs six to 14 times during the first year of life when young crayfish are growing rapidly, but occurs less frequently, one to three times per year, as they grow older. Growth and molting slows or stops in winter. Crayfish native to the United States range in size from 1 to 6 inches in length. Newly hatched crayfish are about 1/3 inch long, whereas adults can grow longer than 6 inches. The world’s largest freshwater invertebrate, the Tasmanian crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi), can grow to over 24 inches in length and weigh over 10 pounds. How do they reproduce? The mating season usually occurs in the fall, but can occur during other seasons for some species. During mating, a male grasps a female with his claws and transfers sperm to the female sperm receptacle. Fertilization and hatching are usually delayed until the following spring when eggs are released. Females of most species lay eggs in the spring. During egg laying, the female cleans her abdomen, releases eggs from her vent, and attaches (glues) each egg to small appendages on the underside of her abdomen near her tail. A female carrying a bunch of eggs is termed “in berry,” because the eggs look like a bunch of blackberries attached to the female’s abdomen. A female may carry from 20 to over 700 eggs for two to ten months before they hatch, depending on the species and water temperatures. The egg color becomes lighter toward hatching. During egg incubation, the female protects and aerates the eggs by tucking her tail forward and fanning the young. Females of some species are inactive during the egg incubation period. After hatching, crayfish remain attached and close to the female for safety and protection for two weeks to four months when they become independent. Depending on the species, some crayfish mature and are ready to mate their first year, but others do not mature until their second year. Most crayfish live only about two to four years, although tagging studies have shown that individual crayfish of some species such as the Tasmanian crayfish can live 20 years. Because most crayfish live short lives, rapid sexual maturity and many eggs are important for the survival of each species. Males can be distinguished from females by the presence of gonopods, rod-like structures that extend forward between the bases of the walking legs. Females have a depressed sperm receptacle between the bases of the last two pair of walking legs. Collecting Crayfish Crayfish can be trapped, netted, or simply picked up by hand. Crayfish can be caught by hand after locating them by turning over rocks in stream riffles. A minnow seine can be set across stream riffles and the upstream rocks turned, scaring crayfish downstream with the current into the set net. Some collectors use a funnel-shaped minnow trap baited with fish or meat scraps, dog food, corn, or aquatic plants to attract crayfish. Because crayfish are nocturnal, using lights to collect them at night is more efficient than hunting them during the daylight hours. In most states, crayfish are subject to fishing laws that regulate what species, how many, and where they can be harvested legally. A state fishing license usually is required to harvest crayfish. In some states, the use of crayfish for fish bait and the introduction of crayfish into natural lakes or streams are illegal. Laws against the importation and transport of crayfish are intended to limit the introduction of nonnative crayfish, some of which can eliminate native crayfish, frogs, and fish. What Good Are They? Crayfish are ecologically and economically valuable animals. In many streams and lakes, they are the most important link in the aquatic food chain. They eat algae, waterweeds, and aquatic animals, and are, in turn, eaten by over 240 species of wild animals. Raccoons, black bears, otters, mink, herons, and other wildlife feed heavily on crayfish. Smallmouth bass and bullfrog diets, for example, are nearly 75 percent crayfish. Crayfish play an important role in breaking down dead plant material, and promoting decomposition and recycling. By crushing and chewing, crayfish make organic materials more available and usable as feed for smaller aquatic animals, thereby helping to link the food chain. What would happen if all of the crayfish in a lake or stream were suddenly removed or killed? Crayfish are important indicators of water quality. Many crayfish species are sensitive to water pollution, and can be used as biological monitors to forecast present and historical water quality conditions. A sudden kill of freshwater crayfish is an indicator of toxic chemicals or other forms of water pollution. Crayfish also are a flavorful, nutritious, and valuable human food (similar to lobster) and are sold in fish markets throughout the world. Every year, nearly 75,000 tons, valued at over $50 million, are produced in the United States alone. Crayfish are trapped in the wild and farmed in ponds in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas to be sold as food or fish bait. Crayfish Killers: Threats About 65 of the 400 crayfish species in North America are endangered, and 195 native crayfish species are in need of protection. These numbers are best estimates only. Honestly, no one knows the exact status of crayfish endangerment or extinction rates in the United States or elsewhere because very few distribution and population surveys have been completed. For crayfish and other aquatic animals, habitat loss (sedimentation, siltation, dams, in-stream gravel dredging, water pollution, and the removal of submerged logs, rocks, and plants) is the leading cause of extinction and population declines. The introduction of exotic nonnative crayfish and other animals is the second leading cause for declines in numbers and species. Nonnative crayfish are a major threat to aquatic biodiversity, causing the decline of native crayfish, fish, amphibians, and water plants. Nonnative crayfish are those that come from other countries, other states, or other river systems and lakes. Most states have laws prohibiting introductions of nonnative crayfish, which sometimes are introduced illegally or escape from bait anglers or from pet aquariums. Nonnative crayfish cause declines of native aquatic plants and animals through the spread of diseases, such as crayfish plague, to native crayfish; by predation on eggs, young fish, amphibians, and native crayfish; by out-competing or preying on native crayfish; and by the elimination of native water plants and habitats. The rusty crayfish (which is native to four states, but has been introduced into 18 states) is an aggressive crayfish that has been linked with the decline of native crayfish and other aquatic species in states where it has been introduced. If you collect crayfish for an aquarium or nature study, please return them to the same waters from which they were captured. Many native crayfish have a limited geographic range. Some species of crayfish are found only in one location in one river system where only one pollution spill could cause their extinction. Crayfish Web Links •For a list of crayfish species in your state check out this site: http://crayfish.byu.edu/country_pages/species_by_state.htm •The crayfish corner: All about behavior and anatomy of crayfish: http://www.mackers.com/crayfish/index.html •Problems with the rusty crayfish and other exotics in the Great Lakes: http://www.great-lakes.net/envt/flora-fauna/invasive/rusty.html •Tasmania Giant Crayfish site: http://www.tased.edu.au/tasonline/dorsetww/Lobsterpage.html •The Crayfish Homepage for teachers and students: http://crayfish.byu.edu/crayhome.htm •See how crayfish move on this site: http://www.monroe2boces.org/shared/esp/crayfish.htm •Missouri’s Crayfishes: http:// http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/arthopo/crayfish/varcraw.htm •To see how crayfish breathe: http://www.espsciencetime.org/teachers/unit_resources/subpages/crayfish/respvideo.htm •The Crayfish of North Carolina: http://www.ncwildlife.org/ pg07_wildlifeSpeciesCon/nccrayfishes/nc_crayfishes.html Acknowledgements We greatly appreciate the editorial review of Nancy Templeman, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the support of Randy Rutan and Hilary Chapman, National Conservation Training Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. ——————————————————————————–

Tight Lines,

Doug Reynolds

Check out the website http://www.jamesriversmallmouth.com

Esentials For Canoe Camping

Essentials For Canoe Camping
By Doug Reynolds

  

As the seasons change so do your camping requirements. First and foremost is being comfortable in your canoe, a good back rest with extra padding, a quality sleeping pad and a real fold up lawn chair for camp. When you spend ten hours fishing and paddling the river you need a good back support, the same goes at camp with the lawn chair. Most of the bag chairs are comfortable for about thirty minutes before they become uncomfortable. On a multiple day trip canoeing for six or eight hours the last thing you want is a sore back.

Camping I normally carry a basic pack that consists of a two-man tent, tarp, camprest mattress, blanket & sheet, water, MSR stove, MSR cook set, rope, first aid kit, rain gear, toilet paper, head lamp, change of clothes and a pillow. I add remove gear as the seasons change. I also use a cover on my mattress pad. It’s an air mattress cover with a one inch piece of memory foam inside the cover. The one inch of memory foam and cover make a BIG difference. It also keeps you from sliding off your mattress pad in the middle of the night.

In the spring I carry the basic gear adding an extra blanket a second tarp and a light jacket. Also, remember you can always use your rain gear if you get cold. As for food anything goes this time of year from the dutch oven to the charcoal grill.

Summer time my gear load is the basic pack. Virginia has low water this time of year so I want to keep it light. The food preparation is kept to a minimum. I’ll try to carry easy things that don’t require cooking. Such as, cold salads, cold  chicken, cold shrimp, cooked crabs, fresh fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hot dogs, subs. The idea is I’m trying to avoid anything that requires an extra effort. In Virginia the summers are really hot and humid, you need to save energy so you can enjoy the time fishing.  

As we move into fall and winter I’ll add to the basic pack again adding a blanket or two depending on the weather. I will also will add a second set of clothing and light jacket. The second set of clothing is good idea in the winter, in case you get wet!  The light jacket and rain suit would keep you warm long enough to get you off the river. You might be miles from a vehicle. I also advise not keeping your second set of clothes in the same dry bag…just in case.

Tight Lines

Doug Reynolds

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Home of the hand painted lizards & craws.

Yard Bird and Hog Rub Seasoning

Yard Bird & Hog Rub Seasoning

By Doug Reynolds

                                                  

I have people ask me all the time about making your own bbq rubs.  Here’s one I have found over the years to be the closest  to the commercial brand of Oklahoma Joe’s Yard Bird & Hog Rub. It’s real easy,  just mix all the spices together and store in an air tight bowl.  You can use this on ribs, chicken or any bbq dish. Enjoy!

1/4 cup kosher salt

 1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons garlic powder

2 tablespoons onion powder

2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon celery salt

1 tablespoon lemon pepper

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Tight Lines

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Easy Caramel Popcorn

Easy Caramel Popcorn

By Doug Reynolds

      Since it is Christmas time I thought I would break out the caramel popcorn recipe. Easy to make and easy to carry with you on the river for a nice energy boost. Put the butter, brown sugar, salt & Kayro syrup in a pan over medium heat and combine well. Bring to a boil and let boil for four minutes without stirring. Pull from the heat, add the baking soda and the vanilla stirring well. You can also add nuts now if you like. While the mix is cooking I cook the two bags of popcorn and put it in a large bowl. Now you’re ready to mix. Add the mixture slowly to the popcorn, stirring often as you add mix. Once all the mixture is added pour the popcorn onto a large cookie sheet and pop it in the oven at 250 degrees for one hour stirring the mix every fifteen minutes. Let the mix cool, then break it up and store in zip lock bags.

1 Cup Butter

2 Cups Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup of Dark Kayro Corn Syrup

1 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon vanilla

2 Bags of Microwave Popcorn or Five Quarts of Cooked Popcorn

1 Cup of Pecans, Peanuts, Cashews (optional)

Enjoy.

Tight Lines!

Check out the website http://www.jamesriversmallmouth.com

Testing of River Rock Baits on Lake Anna

Testing of River Rock Baits on Lake Anna

By Doug Reynolds    

     We recently did some testing 11/25/2011 of some new plastic baits, River Rock Baits. We were fishing on Lake Anna for largemouth bass. Conditions were blue bird skies, high of 64 with a steady barometric pressure. We were testing around the docks and in the flats on the upper part of Lake Anna with a very stained lake and a water temperature of 51 degrees. We started with the 3″ Hula Grub cinnamon w/black and were getting a bite but very light so we altered it with a Chartreuse marker on the tips of the skirt and tail. We also used a clear bead with a 1/4 oz bullet weight and a number 2/0 offset worm hook. (See Photo to the left.) This is a great color grub with good action on the twin tail and a large front skirt. The lure produced a fish on the third cast!  Over the years I have found Lake Anna to be a great testing ground because it can be a very tough lake to fish. On this day the strippers were on the move and we had schools shad ticking the water all around us. We were fishing for largemouth so we had to stay focused on the project at hand. Testing the River Rock Baits for largemouth bass.

      We started testing some of their tube baits and again found results with the 3 1/2″  Tube banana blast, fished with an 1/16 oz. E-Z Tube Weight inside the tube and a number 6 hook. (See photo below right.)  This is a great looking grub with a long skirt for a tube bait and great action in the water. The plastics are very well made and compare with most of the other commercial baits in softness and sink rate. Their color selection and the quality of the product, such as glitter size and plastic compounds are outstanding. At $5:50 per bag, these plastics are way less in cost than a Yamamoto bait of a similar type. The plastics also held up very well on multiple bites and were used out of the bag, no scent was added as the baits are already scented. If your going to fish Lake Anna I would suggest picking up a couple packs of these and see the results for yourself. I plan on doing further testing of their baits on the James for smallmouth. I have no doubt that these lures will produce on smallmouth as well as they did on the largemouth.

      River Rock Baits is a Virginia based company and is growing in its distribution. I’ll be proud to say I was testing these baits before they went world-wide. And, after fishing them I think they will be world-wide. River Rock Baits, LLC is located in Staunton, VA and is owned and operated by Brian Kopia and Bob Shue. They, being anglers themselves, decided that baits needed to be more closely matched in colors to the natural baits and provide a full line of stick baits, tubes, grubs, worms, jerk baits and creature type baits. Great job fellows! I’ve been saying that for years. We have some more testing to do on the James River but I think these guys have got a great line of plastics. Special thanks go out to Bob Shue for allowing us the opportunity to test River Rock Baits and providing us with a small selection of samples to conduct our test. Bob Shue also made himself available to me to discuss the rigging, designs and their manufacturing processes. As a fishing product tester, I could not have ask anything more from this manufacture. As always, James River Smallmouth keeps you informed as to the baits, tackle, tactics and riggings. That’s it for now, keep reading the James River Smallmouth Blog for our next test results for River Rock Baits on the James River. 

You can check out River Rock Baits at http://www.riverrockbaits.com. Tell them James River Smallmouth sent you!

Tight Lines!

Visit our website at http://www.jamesriversmallmouth.com