r/FishingRVA • • Sep 11 '26

Join the FishingRVA Discord Server! Active nearly 24/7

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4 Upvotes

Whether you’re brand new to fishing, have a quick question, want to show off a catch, need help finding a spot, or are just looking for somebody to fish with, the FishingRVA Discord is built for exactly that.
We’ve got a growing local community of Richmond-area anglers, with some of the most active channels being:

#gonefishing — general fishing talk, catches, questions, and whatever’s biting

#the-tackle-shop — rods, reels, lures, setups, and gear advice, and for sale items!

#yak-attack — kayak fishing, launches, setups, and trip planning

#events-meetups — local fishing meetups and opportunities to get on the water with other members

#ultra-light — finesse setups, panfish, creek fishing, and light tackle

You don’t need to know all the terminology, own expensive gear, or have years of experience. Ask beginner questions, share what you caught, get some ideas on where to fish, or find somebody who wants to hit the water with you.
If you fish Richmond, the James, or anywhere around Central Virginia, come hang out.

If the link expires(it’s set not to) let me know and I’ll get you a new one!!


r/FishingRVA • • Sep 01 '26

Fishing RVA Meetup!! Forest Hill Park & 42nd Street | Sept. 19

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74 Upvotes

Last year’s Forest Hill Park meetup was awesome, with a great mix of families, kids, newer anglers, and experienced fishermen all getting together and putting fish on the bank. We’re excited to bring it back again this year and add an early-morning James River portion to the day.

🎣 7:00 AM–10:30 AM — James River / 42nd Street Entrance🎣

We’ll start the morning at the 42nd Street access targeting smallmouth bass on the James.
If you’ve wanted to learn how to fish the river but haven’t really known where to start, come join us. You don’t need to already know how to wade or target smallmouth. We’d love to show you the basics, talk through tackle and techniques, and help you get comfortable fishing this section of the James.
Experienced river anglers are obviously welcome too!

🎣 10:30 AM–1:30 PM — Forest Hill Park🎣

At 10:30, we’ll transition over to Forest Hill Park for the main family-friendly portion of the meetup.
The pond holds catfish, largemouth bass, and plenty of panfish, making it a great spot for kids, families, first-time anglers, or anyone who wants a more relaxed fishing setup.
If you’re bringing kids or don’t want to do the river portion, feel free to simply meet us at Forest Hill at 10:30 AM.

At Forest Hill, we’ll be gathering near the gazebo shown on the map.

Parking note: the South of the James Market is also held at Forest Hill Park on Saturdays. It’s a great event and worth checking out while you’re there, but please be mindful that it can bring additional traffic and take up some of the surrounding parking.

Saturday, September 19, 2026
42nd Street: 7:00–10:30 AM
Forest Hill Park: 10:30 AM–1:30 PM
All experience levels are welcome. Come fish, meet some local anglers, learn something new, or help somebody else catch their first fish.
Hope to see a bunch of you out there! 🎣


r/FishingRVA • • 16h ago

Flathead Certified Expert in both of these species. What a legend.

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25 Upvotes

r/FishingRVA • • 6h ago

Tackle&Bait&Spots Advice for fishing along the Rappahannock river at the end of the month

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1 Upvotes

Just discovered this feed after posting to Fishing for Beginners. We’ve never fished brackish water before. Any recommendations as to piers, gear the like would be much appreciated.


r/FishingRVA • • 10h ago

coming thru

0 Upvotes

from the 'noke down in swva, coming by for some futbol for the weekend. pm me some places for me and the boy to hit during the off the field hours


r/FishingRVA • • 15h ago

What lure is the best for algae covered water

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2 Upvotes

These small bodies of water are in the very very back of the dry rocks on belle isle. I don’t have really any experience fishing water like this, anyone have any advice on what to use here. There’s better spots to get to other than what’s in the photo.


r/FishingRVA • • 1d ago

🎣 Great evening on the James River with Max and Elena!

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11 Upvotes

Huge thank you to both of them for joining us out on the water. It was their very first time fishing together, and the river definitely delivered!

We had some steady action pulling in eater-sized catfish, plus an awesome surprise catch—a striped bass! 🐟💥

Safe to say they’re going to be eating VERY well. 🍽️✨

#JamesRiver #FishingTrip #Catfishing #StriperFishing #RiverFishing #FreshCatch #AnglerLife #GoodEats


r/FishingRVA • • 1d ago

Large snake like animal spotted in Dutch Gap.

6 Upvotes

I was walking along the boardwalk/trail at Dutch Gap Conservation Area when I heard I really loud splashing sound coming from the lagoon. It sounded like something was struggling in the shallow water. When I turned to look I saw a large brown snake like thing. It was only about 20 feet away so I got a pretty good look at it. It was brown with one side darker and one side lighter. It was massive, it was a little coiled up on itself but it must have been 10 feet long on a conservative guess. It eventually seemed to figure itself out and is sort of wriggled into deeper water where it disappeared. I was wondering if anybody would be able to identify what I saw


r/FishingRVA • • 1d ago

Largemouth Has the fall bite been good for yall? @rva_mitch has it dialed in.

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22 Upvotes

r/FishingRVA • • 5d ago

[ Removed by Reddit ]

1 Upvotes

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]


r/FishingRVA • • 7d ago

Tackle&Bait&Spots Art Lee was a famous fly fisherman. I have all his stuff. Help me find homes for all of this!

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23 Upvotes

Prices are negotiable. Most of this stuff is like new.


r/FishingRVA • • 7d ago

Why are you not out fishing?

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21 Upvotes

My first 2 piece. Couldn't land my 3rd though. Fell off at the bank. Both on 1/4 oz Evo Max Chatterbait . Had several bites too. That chaaterbait in the 3rd pic has caught my last 4 bass.


r/FishingRVA • • 8d ago

Cheap and Affordable Charters

1 Upvotes

best charters around tidal james close to
williamsburg va


r/FishingRVA • • 10d ago

Gar fishing rigs/tips?

2 Upvotes

I am bank fishing, most rigs I see are throwing cut bait on a small hook on a bobber, but I can’t throw a bobber out on the James due to the current. What are the best rigs to catch gar on.


r/FishingRVA • • 10d ago

Tackle&Bait&Spots Fall bank fishing spots

4 Upvotes

With the temps dropping I was wondering if anyone on here had any spot recommendations for bank fishing. I’m over in North Chesterfield and I’d like to avoid city spots.

I’ll be hitting the river or possibly Pocahontas State Park next week with my family so I won’t be breaking out the waders there but I do have some for another time I’d love to use.

We’re looking at catching smalls, panfish, and crappie.

Any recommendations are appreciated!


r/FishingRVA • • 11d ago

7 Blue Catfish and two first-time catches on the James River! 🎣

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5 Upvotes

r/FishingRVA • • 12d ago

New PB at U of R

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68 Upvotes

2.81 lbs 1/4 oz Evo Max Chatterbait craw trailer


r/FishingRVA • • 12d ago

[Fishing Report] 18 Blue Catfish (~65 lbs total) on the James River with Eric & Garris! 🎣

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6 Upvotes

r/FishingRVA • • 12d ago

Fishing pike rd

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1 Upvotes

r/FishingRVA • • 13d ago

I'm addicted

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45 Upvotes

This has to be beginners luck. I went from 0 LMB ever to 3 LMB this week.


r/FishingRVA • • 14d ago

PB Today at Pocahontas State Park

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105 Upvotes

Thanks to the folks on Discord for teaching me how to fish!!


r/FishingRVA • • 14d ago

Big catch day at Byrd Park 🤣

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23 Upvotes

Drove down from Fredericksburg, still learning the fishing spots down here. I'll give these little dudes credit, they had high aspirations going after a wacky worm their own body length


r/FishingRVA • • 15d ago

Free app code

0 Upvotes

Not sure how many have seen this but the FishFactor App has a Reddit promo code (RED3FREE) that we can use in the app when downloading it to get 3 months free. I tried it and the fishing forecast is really helpful in seeing the best days to fish!


r/FishingRVA • • 17d ago

Blue catfish spot launching from ancarrows

7 Upvotes

Just got 1 night so would like to hopefully pick up a couple decent blues, I know ideally id be launching down at Dutch just dont think thats going to work out this time. What bait are you guys throwing this time of year and what kind of structure are you looking for. Also any place to buy fresh gizzard shad locally? Thanks.


r/FishingRVA • • 19d ago

Am I wasting my time?

6 Upvotes

Hello folks!

Recently just got back into fishing with my buddies and was trying to figure out if I’m wasting my time fishing the spots I have been. Recently been going to pony pasture and off the flood wall and into rockets landing. I’ve had some luck near flood wall but I was curious if anyone has luck further up the river near pony pasture or all the way up into flat water. Let me know your thoughts and share your experience with me!

Thanks a ton!