On August 10, 2010, a few Department of Game and Inland Fisheries employees, myself and 14 attendees from around the state got together at Pony Pasture for the second FlatOut Catfishing workshop of 2010.  What I love so much about this program is the variety of folks who attend.  Of the fourteen attendees, only three were from the Richmond area.  There were folks from Troy, Barhamsville, Tory and Christiansburg.  I'm always amazed at how far people will travel to fish the uncomparable James River. 

This project, lead by Chris Dunnavant, Angling Education Coordinator for VA, is one of my favorite adult programs out there.  In fact, many of Chris' events are well attended because of the attention to detail that Chris has, and just the overall fun of fishing at his events. 

To see the full array of images I took during the FlatOut Catfishing workshop, click here or go to photos.jamesriverfishing.com.  Click on the gallery that reads "FlatOut August".  I hope you enjoy the photos!  -- All Photos by Capt. Mike

The Photos Stories?  Top Left:  Francis, one of the students in the workshop, was surprised by the powerful tail kick of the flathead catfish as she released an 18 pound fish back into the James River.

Top Right:  Bill reels in a nice fish.  This was his third or fourth fish of the day.  Bill also happens to hold the Discover the James boat record for blue catfish. In the spring of 2010, he landed a 73 pounder!

Left: This image is a shining example of how well composed the day was.  A nice 16 pound fish proudly being diplayed after a wonderful fight.  Chris Dunnavant, once again, did a masterful job at arranging the day's fishing.  Thanks Chris from all participants!

Right:  Here is the morning instruction with a full class and most of the instructors int he background.  Barbara (lady in the middle under the tent) is a main cog in the way this event rolls.  She is the overseer of all land based actions in this event.  Thank you Barbara for once again holding down the fort while all had a great time in the James River. 

Over the last week I had the honor to work with kids from Cat's Cap (a summer program run through St. Catherine's School) and adults through the FlatOut Catfish program offered through DGIF.  Here are a couple of images from the two days of flathead fishing on the James River.

DGIF FlatOut Catfish program images.  Thirteen attendees, myself, Chris Dunnavant (DGIF Angling Ed Coordinator) and about a half dozen DGIF volunteers met at Pony Pasture for a day of instruction and fishing the river for flathead catfish. About 25 fish were landed with the biggest fish of the day being 27 pounds.  All photos on this page were taken by Capt. Mike.

Top Left:  Billy get hit in the face with the tail splash of a flathead cat.  After laughing it off, Billy grabbed that fish in the mouth and landed it for one of the attendees.

Top Right:  Michael, one of the volunteer instructors for the DGIF event, watches as a big catfish swims away after a perfect catch & release.

Right:  A happy FlatOut attendee with a nice flathead catfish.

Left:  Another happy wader from the FlatOut Catfish program sponsored by the DGIF.

Left, below:  Carol is all smiles holding her best fish of the day.  Not exactly sure of the size, but I'm guessing it was close to 20 pounds.  Nice fish Carol!!  Hope to see you out there on August 10, for Round II of FlatOut Catfishing on the James. 

Cat's Cap Summer Program images.  We me met at the Meadow and six at a time, myself and two Cat's Cap instructors worked with the kids attending St. Catherine's long standing summer camp called Cat's Cap.  All the kids had a great time and while not everyone caught one, atleast everyone was able to see, hold and marvel at these wonderful fish.  A number of them even kissed their fish before releasing them back into the river.  Here are a couple of images from the day.

Left:  Smiling girls.  These two were a part of a group of six girls that caught a heck of alot of big flatheads, including three that weighed 20 pounds or bigger.

Right:  A young man practices the art of "Thinking Fish".  This is his rendition of 'Thinking Fish', but in actuality, "Think Fish" means to picture yourself underwater, near your lure or bait and imagining all the activity around it.  The goal is to visualize as much as you can about the underwater surroundings, and when the fish hits your lure or bait, you'll be ready.

 Below, left:  Another happy camper.  This youngster caught her first fish, which happens to weigh 25 pounds.  As she reeled in the great fish with such ease, it was a total surprise to me that this was her first fish ever.  Good stuff.

I have just spent the last two weeks fishing with middle school kids through a VCU summer program called Discovery@VCU.  The weeklong camp called Go Fish!, is full of exciting angling excursions in the Central Virginia area.  We have been on the South Anna River, James River (above and below Boshers Dam), Nottoway River, Herring Creek, Harrison Lake Fish Hatchery, and the VCU Farm Pond.  The photos are a collection of the past two weeks.  Make sure you turn on your volume!  You won't want to miss Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong singing Gone Fishing!  Click here to go to the video.

Last week Sam Brock from News Channel 6 and cameraman Andy came out on an Eagle Tour.  It was a pretty good trip and we saw plenty of bald eagles, osprey, great blue heron and even a few deer.  It was a fine day.  Click here to see the story!

Click here to link to a wonderful article written by Jerry Uhlman in this past Saturday's Richmond Times Dispatch.

Currently there are openings for Eagle Tours on Saturday, July 10 (9AM and 11:30AM departures) and on Sunday, July 11 (7AM and 9:30AM departures).  All trips leave from Deep Bottom Boat Landing.  Email mike@DiscoverTheJames.com if you would like to sign up.  -- Capt. Mike

Click here to go to the story on the Eagle Tours.

This site has been 10 years in the making.  The James River Fishing School started in 2001 and today it has changed into something wonderful ... a full guide service for fishing, historical and wildlife outings.  I hopy you enjoy the site ... DiscovertheJames.com.  -- Capt. Mike

Photo Right:  Here is an image of my favorite eagle on the James River, 'Bandit'.  It's an artsy, photoshoped image.  The picture wasn't sharp, so I took it into photoshop and gave it a 'colored pencil' filter and this is what happened.  I hope I am able to post photos of 'Bandit' for the next 25 years.  Bald eagles live to be 35 years, and I'm guessing this beautiful girl is less than 10 years old because of her inability to build a long standing nest.  I love this bird.   -- Photo by Capt. Mike

On Saturday, June 12, over a thousand volunteers participated in the 11th Annual James River Regional Cleanup.  It was a great success!  Our site, the Pony Pasture Park, had 181 volunteers including a dive team and boaters.  All the volunteers walked the roads, woodlands, islands, river edges and the river itself to collect 23 bags of trash and over 20 bags of recyclable items.

What made the day a complete success was the coordination of special projects and groups. Coca-Cola showed up with 36 people who painted recycle bins, cleaned and painted curbs.  The team also had a couple of kids who helped with painting which made for a cute photo opp.

Other teams included Capital Ale House, who moved gravel and cooked lunch for everyone.  The Richmond Dive Club pulled trash from the river.  Boy Scout troop 891 clipped vegetation around the entrance and exit to Pony Pasture and did a masterful job.  Those boys and their leaders worked up a real sweat, but the difference they made was wonderful. See the images below.

I'd like to thank all the individuals, groups and organizations who made the day possible. 

Thanks and see you all in 2011.  -- Capt. Mike

Click the link below to check out the new photo and a Great story about 'Young Man and the Sea' story on our Kids Fishing Parties page.

Book a Kids Fishing Party in 2011 between April 20, 2010 and May 21 and get a free shore lunch for the entire Party.  Good for up to six kids.

Happy Fishing!  -- Capt. Mike

Our inagural Civil War Tour on the James is fully booked.  We now have a new date available and that is on July 24.

The Civil War on the James Tour offers the natural beauty of the James River as you trace the Naval actions that took place in the area of Dutch Gap and Jones Neck from 1862-1865.  Listen to stories about Confederate torpedoes, the Dutch Gap Canal, The Bermuda Hundred Campaign, and the James River Squadron's desperate attempt to break out at Trent's Reach.

2-hour tour:  $40 per person

Click here for more info on the Civil War Tour

The photo's stories?  To the right:  During the Civil War, Union troops started to build a canal at Dutch Gap in 1864 to cut off a large bend in the James River protected by Confederate forts as in Batter Dantzler.  The digging of the canal failed during the war, but was completed in the 1930's and is now the main James River channel.

For more information or to book your outing, contact Capt. Mike Ostrander at 804-938-2350.