*** The Last Hunt...For Now Update
03/04/10
***
Me and Josh both took this last Friday off so that we could finish out the rabbit season with a BANG!!!!. The wind blew like hell Friday and the hunting was slow at best. We hit a spot that looked promising but only killed 2. Carl & John both agreed that the weather and the time of year was to blame. Hopefully, next year we will get in there a little earlier. Around lunch time we hauled tail to a different spot and had a little better luck. It was still tough hunting and at the end of the day everyone was dog tired....especially the dogs.
Saturday, we were back at. Carl was the first to pick up a rabbit. We hunted and hunted...and walked and walked. Carl picked up another rabbit. Then like a flash, Josh kills 3. I blasted on one 'em with 3 shots from the .410 but he was a little too far and moving a little too fast. But it's the last day of the season....so no need holding back! We hunted and hunted....and walked and walked. Then John picked up his rabbits. We hunted and hunted and walked and walked....but Ol' Jonah Bug never did get another shot.
Once again, we can't thank Carl & John enough for letting us hunt with them this year. They are all around great guys and we made some great memories. The RBO boys are looking forward to next year for sure. I enjoyed myself so much so that I'm planning on slacking up on the late season deer hunting so that I have more time to stomp some briar patches for ol' Peter Cottontail.
So now it's time to slay some crappie and wait for the Spring Gobbler season. I know I can't wait.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Hunt...Hunt...Fish...Life Is Good Update 02/22/10
***
The RBO boys had a pretty good weekend and we needed it. I think I speak for all of us when I say that Mother Nature has caused us to come down with a severe case of weekend cabin fever. This weekend the weather broke....and we took full advantage.
Friday Night
You know where to find us when the sun goes down. Nope, not the local watering hole. We were in the red light district though. The red spotlight district. Handing out red light specials. Doing it with the light on...I think you know where I'm going with this.
First setup: We road the fourwheeler into a real good looking spot. The moon was only a sliver in the night sky. It was crystal clear and the little snow that had not melted yet made for a somewhat bright night. We setup in the shadows with the 1187 and let the FoxPro go to work. It didn't take very long for the first fox to slide in. She zigged, zagged and then made a bee line right for us. I dropped her at less than 12 yards. If I wouldn't have shot she would have jumped in my shirt pocket I think. On the same set and within minutes of the first kill, here came fox #2 trotting down the road. He slipped into the broom straw and made his way in. Thirty yards out...BBOOOMM!!! Winchester Supreme #5s dropped him like a drunk driver's insurance plan. We kept gettin' it while the gettin' was good. A 3rd fox snuck in undetected to around 10 yards. He made us, got nervous but didn't bolt off. He offered up some shots but no good shots. With 2 in the bag I didn't feel the need to try him. The night was lookin' good.
Second setup: We hooked up with our buddy Kevin Satterfield and went over to the spot where a few weeks earlier we smoked 17 rabbits. We called in one loner. He trotted in from a good ways off. About 80 yds out he saw something he didn't like. He slipped into some cover and we never saw him again. 80 yds for a lot of predator hunters is a good shot. We like 'em close...real close. To us, it's just more exciting.
Third Setup: It was Josh's turn and he made good. Within seconds of turning the call on we had two in. They juked and jived in the cover. Just when Josh would get the cross hairs on one, he would dance a jig. One of the pair finally came out into the open. Josh put a .17 hollow point right through the boiler room. Fox #2 ran back and forth and back and forth in the cover. Barking and growling. It was pretty cool. We've heard plenty of foxes bark at the call but none quite like this. He never offered up a good shot, so he lived to see another day. We finished the night with 6 foxes called and 3 KIAed. Batting .500...not too shabby.
Saturday
Finally, like a relapsing dope fiend...we were back on the rabbits. I know I had a bad case of the DTs. The story of the day goes to Dad. He was looking for a new challenge so he left the shotgun at home and strapped on the pistol. He has one of those Taurus "The Judge" pistols. It shoots the .45 Long Colts or .410 gauge shells. The dogs pushed two rabbits by him. He Judged one, found him guilty and sent him straight to execution. We were a little handicapped by a home surrounded by the land we were hunting on. We didn't want to get too close and it seemed the rabbits new that fact. When the dogs jumped he would take off for the house. We lost at least four or five because of it. When it was picture time I ended up with two, Josh picked up two, Carl 2, John and Dad had 1 a piece. Once again, it was another good hunt with John & Carl; jumping 14 rabbits and killing 8.
Sunday
Dad is itching to start crappie fishing. We met around 8am and headed towards the lake. We stopped at the place were we usually get minnows but they were closed. We waited thinking surely they would open at 8am...but they didn't. We drove up to another store. They had a minnow tank but it was under repair...denied. To hell with it...let's go fishing. We trolled and trolled....and trolled...and trolled for around 4 hours. I saw only a couple of fish on the fish finder. We finally picked up one fish!!!! Yea....one fish!!! Back at the boat ramp an ol' crusty fisherman told us they were slaying them on a different part of the lake. Sonuva@#$%&!!! But hey....A bad day fishin' beats a good day workin'.
Fulled sized pics in the RBO Photo album.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Ol' Dogs Don't Need New Tricks Update 02/18/10 ***
Mother nature has been a pain for most of the month of February here in Southern VA. If it's not snowing, it's raining. If it's not raining, the wind is howling. She's really puttin' a hurtin' on our huntin'. But this past Tuesday night we finally got to make something die. We loaded up and headed out for some after dark fun with the FoxPro. We setup facing the direction that we thought the fox would come from...so naturally he came from the opposite direction. We called...saw nothing. Then Josh said, "Shine the light behind us." There he was coming across the field. He slipped into the woods and made his way down towards the call. Broadside at about 60yds and the Ol' Man don't miss. The red light was on, but for the fox it was lights out.
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** R.I.G. Rest In Grease Update 02/01/10 ***
A moment of silence for 17 cottontails that lost their lives this past Saturday. Then a 21 shotgun salute!
The RBO boys got an invite from Kevin Satterfield to do a little rabbit hunting in his neck of the woods. So we took him up on it....and we're glad we did. Of course, we were with Extreme Rabbit Hunters Carl & John. What a beautiful spot. We dropped the dogs at about 8 am...less than 15 minutes in I smoked one with the .410. The day was off to a good start. We covered a lot of ground and walked some big hills. Good for the ol' waistline....bad news for the rabbits. You can't run...you can't hide.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** No Elmer Fudds Here Update 01/26/10***
This past Saturday we hooked up with John & Carl for some more EXTREME Rabbit hunting. I just can't say enough good things about these guys. I really enjoy hunting with 'em (understatement!). Everyone made something die but me. But you know...didn't bother me one bit. The few people that read this blog are the type of people who already know that it's not about the kill. It's about the camaraderie, the experience, the life long memories. It's about giving your Dad a hard time for missing one and him putting his arm around his son at the end of the day to pose for the picture. That's what it's all about.
We hit the briars hard. Things didn't start off too well. Frost on the ground made it hard for the dogs to track. Mid-day we hit a dry spell. We kicked every bush and stomped through every thicket but we couldn't buy a rabbit. On our last push through a huge thicket we hit pay dirt....the dogs were giving mouth and we were giving lead. For most of the day I somehow got stuck guarding the road. I don't know what works you more, fighting through briar patches or running up and down the damn road trying to cut him off. I like to died! We finished up with 8 rabbits. Josh also got a Snipe. Dad cooked the snipe, he said it tasted like liver. Pics in the RBO Photos album.
Also want to give a shout to my buddies Michael Connor and Adam Morris. They took 1st place at the annual Ice Bowl tourney put on by the fellows over at AddictionOutdoors.com. Pictures of them with the winning Buggs Island hog in the Git-R-Done.
~Jonah
*** Great Weekend!! Update 01/17/10 ***
What a weekend!
Friday night me & Josh took Jughead out for his 1st fox hunt. The night didn't start off too well. 1st setup: nothing. 2nd setup: zip. 3rd setup: Driving in we had to cross a mud hole that was frozen over. It didn't look like much, but I was still hesitant. Josh in true good ol' boy fashion says "You can make it...". Famous last words, right? So, I put her in 4x4 HI. We broke the ice and the trucked stopped short so quick that I lunged forward and knocked it into neutral. I could reverse back just a little bit but she wasn't going any further. Locked her down into 4x4 LOW.....but we were stuck. We worked and work....rocked and rocked....put limbs under the tires. It was just too much ice. Finally, after about 45 minutes I had an idea. Reached in the back and grabbed my Poor Man's Steadycam that I use for videoing. Basically, it's a small length of steel pipe with a 2.5lb weight on one end. I used it like a industrial strength ice pick and chipped a path for the tires. Booyah! We were out! We took a couple of pics. Check out how thick that ice was...at least 4.5 inches.
4th setup: Was a winner. Called in 3 greys. Jug smoked one with the 1187. I knocked down one with the .17. He got over into some thick stuff and we just couldn't find him. 5th setup of the night: Another winner. Called in two just as pretty as you please. Josh smoked both with the .17. Check out the RBO Photos for pics.
Saturday we hooked up with Carl Chandler and John Hamlett, the hardest hunting rabbit hunters in Halifax....possibly the world! We always enjoy hunting with these guys. Hunting, in all forms, is an art and these guys are Van Goghs. So whenever we have a chance to hunt along side them...we're there...in briar patches thicker than spoiled buttermilk. We killed 10. I put the wop on 3 with my 1100 .410, Josh fed lead to 2 and Carl & John picked up the rest. The day before Carl, John, and Josh killed another 10.
~Jonah
Well, I finally got it done with my new TC Omega muzzleloader Saturday….but I didn’t get a chance to try out the Nikon Omega’s BDC reticle, (it doesn’t have a 10 yard circle). It started as fast as it ended with the deer approaching from behind me at a fast paced walk; I only had a few seconds to make a decision and BOOOOOM. That 150 grains of powder and 250 grain TC shockwave knocked his front legs out from under him and he bulldozed with his nose for about 15 yards and it was over. I had only been in the stand for about 30 minutes so I decided to sit tight and see what happens. About 20 minutes later another buck walked by and I decided to let him walk in hopes of another one bigger. After about an hour or so I couldn’t take it anymore and I had to put my hands on my deer….not bad for my first one with my new gun. D.R.T. – Dead Right There (I stole that from the guys at Double Bull….I like it!) 2009 is the year that I’m going to tag out with the bow….3 down….3 to go. Check out the photo album for the pic, nothing special...just a small 8. ~Jonah *** Flyin' & Dyin' Tomorrow Update 09/04/09 *** Bow Season is slowly approaching. In it's honor I put together this little vid as a precursor. Josh and Dad shot the footage last year This year just wasn't our year for the flatheads. I guess we're paying the piper for the bumper year we had last summer. That and maybe Josh used up all the luck on that 41 pounder he cthaught on the crappie rod. So, what have we been up to since the last update? Staunton Float: Long Island to Brookneal Staunton Float: Watkins Bridge to US360 Boat Ramp
*** When The Sun Goes Down...We'll Be Shootin' Update 12/28/09 ***
The RBO boys are starting to get into gear for some night time predator hunts. We've been a few times this year but last Monday night was our most succussful so far this year. I'm a little late updating but I've been sick as a dog.
On the way over to my place, Josh stopped off for a solo hunt. Working the light with one hand and the 1187 with the other he smoked one grey who just couldn't resist that FoxPro call.
At my place I told Josh that I wanted to take the bow with me. I knew we could get them into bow range and I felt like either of us are good enough with the stick and string to make the kill. And my opinion is if maybe...possibly...I just might get a shot with the bow then that is my weapon of choice.
First setup yeilded a fox. We spotted him far off and watched him slowly make his way to the call. With the shotgun or rifle, he was as good as smoked...but he didn't offer up a bow shot. That's the name of the game...but it got the jitters out of me (which I always get whenever I'm hunting anything with the bow). Second set up gave up another fox. Something just wasn't right with our setup and he left as quickly as he appeared. The last spot of the night turned out to be the WINNER WINNER Chicken Dinner. The fox couldn't have cooperated any better if he was bribed like a politician. I sent the Rage2 flying and it impacted like a battle axe.
Pictures in the RBO Photo Album.
The NEW mission: Get a night hunt bow kill on video
~Jonah
*** New Videos!!! Update 12/21/09 ***
You asked Santa for 2 new videos from the RBO boys??? Well, it's Christmas come early for you then!! ;-)
Check out Monster Catfish - James River, VA. This footage was shot on my fishing trip with Michael "60lb Club" Connor. Adam Morris gets his very own 60lb Club membership.
5yr Old's 1st Smoke Pole Hunt - Josh took his step-son Trace on his first deer hunt. This video shows what hunting is all about. The excitement and enthusiasm of a kid on their first hunt is simply awesome.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** I got the blues....I got the James River blues Update 12/16/09 ***
Even though the weather only cooperated for one day out of the 3 day trip, I still had an awesome time. Friday it was superduper cold and windy, we finished the day with a big goose egg. But the deer roast Micheal cooked on the grill made up for it. Something about grilling on the water... Saturday was beautiful. We landed a 44lb blue (my personal best) and more than a dozen pushing 30lbs. Sunday, we fished a local 2 fish, winner-take-all tournament. It rained all day. We finished in 2nd place with 53lb and 23lb blues.
I want to thank Michael "60lb Club" Connor for inviting me and showing me the James River ropes. It is much appreicated.
Check out the RiverBottom Photos for a few pics from the trip.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** The Invitation Update 11/20/09 ***
Got an invite from buddy Michael "60lb Club" Connor to go fishing on the James this weekend. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. I've never been fishing on the James and never done any winter catfishing. It's going to be a learning experience and I'm looking forward to it. Check out the Git-R-Done Gallery and the Kerr Lake Catch of the Day. 60 lands the big ones, it's as simple as that. I'm taking the video camera so expect a new video sometime soon.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Overdue Updates Update 11/20/09 ***
After doing some midday scouting I decided to go to a spot that looked more than promising. The ground was torn up and the buck sign was everywhere. Not in the stand long I heard something over my left shoulder, a small 4 pointer walked up right under my stand, stood there and turned around and walked off… I thought to myself “this is going to be a good evening.” I sat there the rest of the evening watching the squirrels work away at stowing their acorns and even saw a ground hog eating acorns, but as the sun started to set I still have only seen that one deer. At last shooting light I heard something over my right shoulder and as I turned my head there he stood at 12 yards. He was looking away so I stood up and was able to draw the bow. He started walking away from me so I picked a hole and when he hit it I stopped him and shot almost all at once. It was a quartering hard shot but it looked like I hit right where I was aiming. The deer took off and I watched him run about 75 yards and crash. While not a giant deer I think almost anybody would’ve been happy with it as a bow kill
Pics of both in the RiverBottom Photo album
~Josh
*** 3 Tags Down Update 11/01/09 ***
Another flash hunt... Here’s how it all went down.
For the first time this year I laid a drag with Doe Estrous piss (sorry, I don’t say urine). There were no ideal trees to climb. The best of the bunch had a ton of small limbs. It was a slow climb having to trim the limbs as I ascended. With the stand secured, I pulled up my gear bag and bow. Everything was situated, release strapped on; I was ready to nock an arrow. As I was taking the arrow out of the quiver I heard footsteps approaching from down wind. He popped out at less than 20 yds. I normally hang my quiver up but in the haste I just laid it across the front of my stand. You could tell the doe pee had him. As he circled about I stood up…and knocked my damn quiver off of my stand. It clinked and clanked and he skedaddled. I waited a minute or two then hit the bleat can followed with some tending grunts. I see him. He’s circling around. I repeat this until finally he started coming straight to me. He turned, I stopped him…let loose and the arrow glanced off of a limb hitting him high in the back. Spine shot. Not wanting to deal with horns I sent another Rage2 into the boiler room. D.R.T. at 4:30pm on Halloween.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Give 'em The Cold Steel!!! Update 10/12/09 ***
Saturday morning I added a doe to my list of bow season victims. It was a flash hunt just like my albino kill. Before I had a chance to pull my bow up, two does quickly wandered up within 30yds. I eased my bow and gear up and strapped on my release. I had already made up my mind the night before that if a slickhead came into range, she was gonna get the cold steel. After waiting and waiting I finally took a 10 yard, slightly quartering away shot. I don't really like those close shots because the angel of attack is so steep. I've learned that in those situations I have to aim lower than I normally would. I picked my target and loosed the arrow. The Lumenok disappeared exactly were I wanted it to. If you didn't know the scenario you would probably think the shot was high and slightly back, but actually it was perfect. The arrow passed through leaving an exit hole right around the 12 ring. Her lung was shredded. Easy tracking job...I like that.
Dropped her off for processing and picked up my albino. I had 7 sticks of summer sausage made from him...the rest cubed and ground. I also brought home the hide. I'm looking for someone to make a rug for me. I want the felt backing and all, but I'm only finding people who can do the soft tan part. I may just go the simple route and forget about the backing....we'll see.
Rage 2 broadheads leave a mark. These broadheads are amazing.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Stick It To Whitey Update 10/06/09 ***
I passed up on hunting the morning of opening day so that I could film Dad. He put the smack down on a small buck, compliments of his Hoyt Alpha Max and a Rage3. Man, those Rage broadheads do some damage. He also stuck a doe. We tracked her for a least 200 yards. At one point we were on hands and knees crawling through some thick stuff. Unfortunately, we didn't find her. I shot some pretty good footage of a fawn with spots and some does eating acorns, but I flinched on the actual shots.
That afternoon all 3 of us had bows in hand. Dad saw zilch. I passed on a doe, I should have whacked her. Josh put one trough the boiler room on a 6 pointer.
I took Monday off. The day didn't start off too well for me. I stuck a doe with what looked like a good shot. The Lumenok disappeared a little farther back than I would have liked but I was confident it was in the kill zone. The shot was a pass through and the arrow had good blood. I tracked her 150 yards until the blood just stopped as if someone had turned off the spickett. Disappointment....the highs and lows of bow hunting would have an ordinary man on prescription meds.
That afternoon it was a different story. A story of a lifetime. Picture me climbing the tree in my Summit Viper. Picture me settling into my seat. Now picture seeing a snow white deer at 40 yards walking straight towards me. The adrenaline kicked in instantly. I eased the two Velcro straps on my release loose. I was quite as could be but it sounded as loud as a jet engine to me. I strapped it on with my heart thumping like a bass drum, luckily my arrow was already nocked. The deer was within 30 yds now. He milled around behind some saplings crunching acorns from the white oak stand. I thought to myself, "Go right...or go left...either way". He started making his way left. He was ready to step out into the shooting lane. I drew, he stopped short. I held it for as long as I could but he never moved. I let the bow down and waited. Finally he gave me a near perfect broadside at 20 yds. I put the Rage2 right through the 12 ring, double lunged. He made it about 40 yds and crashed. I immediately called Josh...he didn't answer...I called Dad. I couldn't wait to tell someone. Turns out the small buck was not a white deer, but a true albino. Pink nose and all. I read on one website that albinism affects 1 in 30,000 white tails. It is a recessive gene and albinos often have poorer eyesight because of the lack of eye pigmentation. Tell you what....he never saw it coming. ;-)
Few more pictures in the RiverBottom Photos album...
~Jonah
*** Birds Of A Feather Update 09/21/09 ***
Die together...when the RBO boys are around.
Saturday it was back up to the Jones' for some more Dove action. The birds didn't cooperate very well early on. Most were high and fast. Things got a little better as the day went on. The shot of the day went to Josh who got two birds with one shot. Pretty cool...I saw it happen, wish like hell we got it on video.
Sunday, Me and Josh put the canoe in at Hyco and paddled down to the log jam at Dan River. There was just enough water to float the canoe through the flats. When I say just enough...I mean literally there was just enough. On the ride down I missed a small gar with the bow.
At the log jam I caught a few channels on catalpa worms. Ten minutes after getting there, Josh got hung up and some how managed to snap is pole in half. Naturally, he was pissed. But he made the best of a bad situation and kept on fishing. "The best" meaning he fished with a pole that was about 2 feet long from handle to tip with 1 eye on it. We had a real good laugh calling it the Popeil's Pocket Fisherman...don't know if you've ever seen that infomercial...it's kinda ol' school. We should have taken a picture of it.
On the paddle back I swapped the catalpa worm out for a small crank bait. Caught one small bass. Josh made up for the pocket fisherman mishap with two carp kills.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Meet Virginia Update 09/15/09 ***
Me and the missus took a couple of road trips here recently. This past weekend through the Shenandoah National Forest, otherwise known as the Skyline Drive, and a few weeks ago we stopped by Natural Bridge. The abundance of beauty in this great state is impressive.
Skyline Drive - Can't remember which overlook this was on the 50 mile long road of vistas.
Natural Bridge
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Flyin' & Dyin' Holiday Weekend Update 09/10/09 ***
Every weekend should be a 3 day weekend!
Last Friday night we put in at Gravel Hill on Buggs Island for some flathead fishing. The moon was full, the lake was calm and boatless; the fish were not biting. We fished for about 3 hours and called it quits.
Opening day of dove was a breath of fresh air for me. Nothing like the boom of a shotgun to get the juices flowing. The doves flew good enough. Me and Josh put the 20 gauge 1100s to work and killed our limit. I put the gun down and picked up the video camera. This was my first try at videoing a wing shooting hunt. It was a little more challenging than I anticipated. Now that I have a feel for it and the limitations of my cheapo camera, I think the next time around will yeild better footage.
We had a jammed pack Labor Day. That morning we met at 6 for some channel cat fishing. We used catalpa worms, which usually slay 'em, but we only ended up putting 3 or 4 eaters in the boat...this could possibly be my last fishing trip (I say that until Dad says, "You wanna go fishin'?"). That afternoon it was back up to the Jones for some Flyin' & Dyin' action. It was breezy and the doves flew mostly high and fast. Josh was in the feeding trough (no not litelally Mr. Game Warden) and ended up with the limit. I had a hard time with the high & fast birds of which most flew directly at me, the shot I like the least. It started raining at just about the time when the flying should have started picking up. We tried to wait it out and even killed birds, but the weather eventually cut the day short. Gettin' the guns wet was a good excuse to field strip 'em and give 'em a good cleaning and a shot or two of oil.
We want to send another Thank You out to both Dwight and John Jones. Whether the doves are flying or not, we always enjoy ourselves. Being in the field with friends, ribbing each other and shooting the shit is what it's all about.
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
Tomorrow is opening day of Dove and I can't wait. We're lookin' foward to gettin' together with our buddy John Jones and letting the 20 gauges loose!!! I haven't heard a good BOOM in awhile. My mouth watering just thinking about some bacon-wrapped doves on the drill...hot damn!
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Why They Call It Fishing Update 08/20/09 ***
Where oh where is my flathead tonight? We searched the lake over and thought we'd found one. Then the line snapped and SPLASH you were gone.
We put some lines in the water on the Bluestone side of Buggs Island Firday night. It was windy and the water was choppy. After hours and hours Josh finally got a flathead run. He set hook and well....watch the video. With all good things coming to an end, we're looking forward to the approaching hunting seasons. I know I'm ready to down some doves and loose an arrow or two.
Didn't have much footage to work with. Just more or less wanted to use my new video editing software.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Slacking On Updates??? Update 08/06/09 ***
I took a break from updates to work on some new graphics for the site. Although, we're just a basic templated HTML site I think it's come a long way and is looking better and better.
My neighbor and friend Coach Garrick Vogt (GO COMETS!!!) and I floated from Long Island to Brookneal a week ago. It was a first for both of us. It was absotuely awesome. Like a dummy, I left my camera's memory card in my card reader so I only took a few pictures. The water was a litle down so we bumped the rocks a few times. I'd like to go back when the water is high and the rapids bigger. Still great fun. We lost it at the rapid they call Fish Trap (listed as a class 3 rapid). I think loosing it added to the fun. Being in the rushing water gives you a new appriceation for it's power. I almost lost my fishing pole, but thanks to Garricks quick thinking, his ass and the treble hook on my lure....it was saved. We caught around 2 dozen fish. Some smallies, largemouths, and sunfish. We fished with 1/16 and 1/8oz roostertails and grub jigs.
This past weekend me and Josh floated from Watkins Bridge (just up river from Staunton River Battlefield State Park) to the landing on US360. The water was muddy...the float was for the most part, uneventful. Of course we caught a few fish.
Couple of Pics from the Long Island to Brookneal float
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Banister Float Pt. 2 - Halifax to Wolf Trap Update 07/19/09 ***
Saturday me and Sophia (AKA: Termite AKA: Turd AKA: Spoodell) dropped the canoe behind the hydroelectric dam in Halifax. The objective: The bridge on Wolf Trap Rd. The water was low despite a recent rain that left it dingy.
The trip took around 6 ½ to 7 hours, my pace was easy; I wasn’t hauling the mail after all. I caught 20 or so small largemouths, a baker’s dozen bream, even one small catfish on the ol’ 1/16oz roostertail and enjoyed lunch on a mid stream rock formation. I would hesitate to do it again if the water level drops anymore. One thing is for sure, after an up-close look at the amount and size of rocks and the number of logs; I would never motor a boat up Banister regardless of the water level.
Dam to Terry's Bridge (US 360)
The Banister’s downstream slope is at it’s greatest for most of the first leg. I can’t quite remember the exact number of wing dams and bateaux sleuths; maybe a combined six or so. All had their own unique but small rapids and were crossed without much effort. I liked the close-up look at the old bridge pillars from Kings Bridge (circa early 19th century).
Terry's Bridge to Wolf Trap Bridge
Shortly after passing Terry’s bridge the experience of the trip begins to change. The river gets sandier and shallower. I had to hop out and float the canoe a few feet over into deeper water a time or two or three Nearly every turn consisted of the outside channel being full of logs and the inside being a sand/gravel bar. A log jam would usually follow. I found only one that proved impassable. Preparedly, I had brought my small camping ax and a tube of elbow grease. I hacked my way trough two 8” limbs to get through. Otherwise, the only scare was a gigantic spider that somehow got in the canoe. There wasn’t enough room for both of us. It was me or him and he knew it. When he made his move on me, I juked him and almost got wet; then scooped him out with the paddle. Crisis averted…
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Hyco Float Hat Trick Update 07/13/09 ***
Continueing with my conquest of all things wet in Halifax, I floated and dragged Josh's 3 person Old Towne canoe down Hyco River from "Start" (Hyco Road Bridge) to "Finish" (Hyco Landing on 58 E). I didn't mark it on my GPS but I'm going to guess a distance of around 6 miles by crow; you can probably add at least a mile or two to get the actual distance traveled.
The first leg of the trip from Hyco Road Bridge to Lowery Road Bridge was a rough one. With just me and my trusty Boston Terrier, Sophia, we had to drag the canoe 3 times. One of the drags was around 3 consecutive log jams about 80yds down a sandbar that was covered with that soft beach sand. With two guys in the canoe I think we would have spent more time out of the canoe than in on this leg of the trip. After Lowery Road Bridge I didn't have to get out any, but I'm sure with someone else in the canoe I would have.
I enjoyed the trip. Hyco has some nice rock walls and lots of fishing holes. Of course I took the ultralite rigged with my favorite small lure (1/16oz Worden's Orginal Rooster Tail). I wouldn't be skeered to say that I caught around 50 - 60 bream. Some of the prettiest catfish bait and at least a mess or two of eaters. Also landed a handful of bass. One probably went a pound and a half. For the "big one got away" story, I did have a nice bass nail it about 5ft from the canoe. I couldn't get the drag turned down fast enough; he swung around in front of the canoe catching the line of the very tip of the bow and the hook pulled out. I just did catch a flash of him when he hit it....I'd say 2 1/2 pounder....good fun on an ultralite. Pulled the hat trick off with the last fish of the day, a white bass from under the 58 bridge.
6 hour trip from Hyco Rd. Bridge to the 58 landing.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** 10,000 Hits & 1 Knock Out Blow Update 07/09/09 ***
RiverBottomOutdoors.com reached a small milestone today - 10,000 hits on the site. Not a big deal in the big scheme of things that we call "The Internet" but pretty cool for a small time blog by a couple of po' boys from Halifax, Virginia.
So what's the knock out blow?
Ding Dong the video camera is dead!!! Don't know what happened...it just quit working. I was looking for an excuse to by a higher-end camera...looks like I've got one. Now I just have to cough up the $$$...not really looking forward to that part.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
*** Independent Independence Day Banister Float Update 07/07/09 ***
What better way to celebrate Independence Day than with an independent (synonym - solo) float down the Banister River?
With 2 cans of beanie weenies, 2 packs of Nabs, 2 cans of Pepsi, 2 bottles of water, 1 roll of TP, my GPS, digital camera and ultralite rigged with a 1/16oz chartreuse Worden’s Original Rooster Tail I was ready to take on the raging Banister River. Well...maybe "raging" is slightly overkill...How about the trickling Banister River. The plan: Make it from the "START" point on Meadville Road to the "FINISH" point at the Banister Lake boat landing in Halifax, VA - a distance of 5.5+ miles by way of crow - before dark...and maybe do a little casting along the way. Doesn't sound like a big challenge until you take into account the 12" to 3" of water and the numerous log jams that I would likely have to traverse.
Things didn't start off too well as an easy looking "START" turned out to be more of a challenge than expected with a bottomless mud pit cleverly disguised as a solid and stable sand bar. The trip hadn't even started and I was already marring waste deep in the river mud. A premonition of things to come? I hoped not.
I knew the first half of the trip would be through the shallowest of shallow water, at times only a few inches deep. I was certain that the canoe would have to be dragged at least a hand full of times. But that didn't worry me. It was the log jams that held my concern. With each approaching one I thought, "Damn...this is gonna be the one. I'm gonna have to drag this damn thing up the bank and around it". Thankfully, those concerns never materialized. In fact, I only got out of the canoe twice. Once was to stretch my legs and do my part to raise the water level. The other was to walk to my truck at the boat ramp.
The first 1.5 to 2 miles of the trip went pretty quickly with the water keeping a steady pace. Around the 2+ mile mark the water started to slow down. At 2.5 miles out from the landing I entered the numerous islands and slack water of the lake...it was a ssssslllloooowwwww paddle from here on out; the journey made longer or shorter given my route through the islands. Keep in mind I'm measuring the distance to the landing as a straight line with my GPS. Finally, I rounded the last turn and there was the ramp...I picked up the paddle pace and just as quickly slowed back down the paddle pace. What was I thinking...Lance Armstrong of canoeing??? I don't know...but it kind of made me laugh as I slid back into a steady paddling groove. The journey completed in approximately 5+ hours.
I did manage to get a few casts in along the way. No state records but I was happy with the few sunfish, largemouths and crappie. There’s no two ways about….fishing with an ultralite is just plain fun. I saw more ducks and blue herrings than I could count. A few deer. And enough carp to make me wish I had brought the fishing bow. It was a good time. Sometimes a man needs to get away from everything and everybody. And what the tripped lacked in grandeur it more than made up for in peace and quite. Not silence...but the relaxing peace and quite of the Virginia outdoors.
Sounds of the Virginia woods punctuated with the calls of the Blue Herring, Wood Duck, and King Fisher made for a peaceful relaxing journey down the shallow Banister.
~Jonah
jonah@RiverBottomOutdoors.com
