It was wonderfully smooth sailing for my “flash in the pan” visit to The Fly Fishers of Virginia Club in Richmond. I arrived at 5:30 PM Thursday and the board members took me out to the family owned Grapevine Greek and Italian Restaurant. The highly touted establishment did not disappoint. I indulged on the grilled rockfish special submerged in buttered shrimps and washed it down with a pair of locally brewed Vienna Lagers. I was dog-tired when dropped off at my hotel but my belly was full.
I continue to burn the candle on both ends. Its been going on for decades. At 6 AM well known local fly fishing guru, Capt. Reid Parker of Current Culture’s Guide Service, fetched me in the darkness from the front of my hotel and we got to know each other during a 45 minute drive to Chickahominy Lake.
Chickahominy is a unique water system. Its much more like a swamp than a lake, dense with cypress trees and lily pads amongst its landscape. The target species here are largemouth bass, panfish and a flavor I’ve yet to add to my list, the bowfin.
Reid is an excellent guide. His knowledge of the local waters around the entire state of VA was impressive. This not only includes freshwater but he can get you on the stripers and redfish as well. Oh, and may I mention he guides upland game once the fishing season shuts down.
The largemouth bass fishing was great. We headed out just before sunrise. The skies were colorful and I caught myself gazing as I pulled line off Reids reel at the same time as making my cast. I landed the popper about 20 feet from the boat and started to yank a few more feet off the reel to lengthen, still admiring the morning sky. That’s when I heard the recognizable sip of a bass.
I instinctively set the hook. I was certain of the sound and went tight in an instant. Reid and I both busted out with a laugh and at the same time said, “This could be bad”, comparing this to be possibly similar to the catching a fish at the boat ramp jinx.
Over the next hour Reid kept me in casting range of the bases of Virginia’s unique cypress trees, many of which shot right out of the lake itself. To be exact, these are baldcypress trees and they live a long time. Some of the trees along the Chickahominy have been aged to over 800 years. Imagine how many big fish they have been habitat for!
After a handful of nice largemouth and bluegill we changed our focus from bass to the lesser sought after bowfin. The main reason I’ve yet to add this species to my tally is that it’s rare that we cross paths. These fish like swamps and somewhat stagnant water mostly in the southern states. I’ve tried to get friends and guides to fish for them with me on a few past excursions but they always veer away in short time for easier targets.
Reid on the other hand, he loves chasing bowfin with the fly. We were stoked to both be on the same page. Reid tied me on a badass 100% weedless popperish/frog he tied. Then he instructed me on how to skim it across the top of the lily pads and along the edge of the cypress tree knees.
For the next two hours we worked hard. My left shoulder has been badly irritated of late and launching the big fly along with the required steady short strips hurt like hell. Nevertheless, I at least wanted to see a bowfin so I sucked it up.
A usual persistence pays off. Or almost anyway. About an hour into our bowfin hunt I saw my first bowfin. The elongated tubular fish made sort of a false charge for the fly but we got a good look. While this one didn’t come back, ten casts later another sprang from the pads and devoured the fly. I strip set and felt weight. Then I proceeded to lift my rod to start the fight. Too soon. I needed another good strip set to bury that hook. Instead the bowfin spit the fly and that would be my only chance.
It was a swell morning with Reid and I have a new friend. Anyone with passion to chase oddballs is a quick buddy for life. And it was very kind of Reid to take me fishing and I’d recommend him as a guide to anyone. We share another passion as well – good southern fried chicken. Reid led me to my first ever Bojangles and it was delicious. I do wish however I didn’t spill my entire large Pepsi in his truck!
At 3:30 my full day event began. Fly Fishers of Virginia is one of the top fishing clubs I speak at and I delivered “Warmwater Fly Fishing” in the late afternoon and after the big banquet dinner I tested a new presentation called “Unforgettable Fly Fishing Adventures” to a large crowd. I didn’t go on stage until almost 9:30 PM. I guess you call today a very full day!
Its 11:45 PM now. Not sure why I’m so tired. . . . Next, I’m out of this hotel at 4:30 AM. That’s a few hours away. As usual it will be another exhausting day because once home I won’t be resting. Instead I’ll be packing for Australia, departing on Tuesday. Much more on this coming soon. Keep the pedal to the metal!
Jeff,
A good day on the water!
Tad
Not bad for a morning jaunt!
“Driven” just does not do you justice. BEAST might. Those are some packed days. Safe travels.