As the air crisps and the leaves on Virginia’s iconic trees turn brilliant shades of red and gold, the James River Blue Catfish  begins its most aggressive feeding period. Fall is widely considered the best time of year to target trophy-class catfish, as they gorge themselves in preparation for the coming winter. If you’re heading to the tidal James River this season, abandon your summer spots. The fish are moving! Here are three essential and proven fall catfishing techniques  to help you...

Rahsaan, Lloyd, Earnest, and Kenton joined us on the James River for a morning of hunting trophy blue catfish. We started the day with a mixed bag of live baits in the livewell. After running up the river, we set the gill net and chopped up some fresh white perch and gizzard shad to fish our first channel ledge. The bite began slowly, with just a few small taps as the outgoing tide slowed down. Just before the river went slack, a Hellcat Revenge spinning rod took off, screaming drag. We...

The James River  in Virginia is a world-class destination for landing trophy blue catfish , fish often exceeding the 50-pound mark. Unlike many fisheries that slow down dramatically, the James offers phenomenal catfishing action year-round. Understanding the seasonal movements of these massive predators is the key to consistent success. 🌱 Spring : The Pre-Spawn Feast and Shallow Push (March – May) As river temperatures climb, the blue catfish bite explodes. This pre-spawn  phase is one of...