Hit the James this past Saturday for a short 1/2 day float trip with our very own celebrity, Ol' Three Toes. We caught plenty of fish. Here are some of the better points of our trip:

* Fish look a lot bigger in the water than out of the water
* If Ol' Three Toes threatens to pull out his magic bait, throw his tackle box overboard!
* Expect your catch ratio to be 1/3 of Ol' Three Toes
* Flying fish do indeed come out of the James
* A fighting belt can be deemed legitmate equipment needed in a boat on the James with Ol' Three Toes
* Backlashes can and do happen to those who allege to know how to throw a bait caster

Seriously folks, if you get a chance to spend a day on the the water with Freddy, you won't be dissapointed. I had a blast. Species boated included smallmouth, rock bass, perch and fall fish.

We had a blast... But don't believe Dale, his "secret" bait caught just as many and bigger fish. We each had our moments for sure.

I did catch the one I thought I would need the fighting belt for though and Dale insulted me by calling my "Fall Fish" a Horny-head! I actually think they are the largest species of the minnow family... seriously... but somebody correct me if I am wrong.

We caught a PILE of fish...

Looked on the internet for Fallfish and found the following to support what you thought Freddy. First fime I've every seen one big enough to catch on a hook.



Fallfish, Semotilus corporalis


Physical Description:
· Slightly compressed body, moderate body form
· Dorsal fin origin usually above anterior half of pelvic fin base
· Medium-sized eye
· Moderately rounded snout; slightly large mouth, almost inferior
· Fully scaled or nearly fully scaled breast
· Males get tubercles on front and side of snout over eye, lower cheek, and most fins
· Silver-sided
· Smudge at the anterior base of the dorsal fin
· Dusky dorsal and tail fin edges

Similar species:
· Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)

Mean body size:
· Adults are 150-300 mm standard length

Habitat:
· Clear creeks and rivers of moderate and low gradient

Distribution in VA:
· James, York, Rappahannock, and Potomac drainages
· Introduced into the Roanoke drainage

Food Habits:
· Young feed on phytoplankton, zooplankton, and insects
· Juveniles and adults eat insects, crayfish, fish, algae, and detritus

Reproductive Habits:
· Mature at age 2 or 3
· Spawning occurs late April to June at water temperatures of 14.4-19°C
· Nests are dome-like mounds with a pit in the downstream part, built with gravel-sized stones, topped with small rubble
· Fecundity is about 2,000-12,000 eggs per female
· Can naturally hybridize with Clinostomus funduloides and Luxilus cornutus

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance:
· Largest minnow east of the Rockies
· Constructs the largest stone mound nests known
· Popular gamefish with some anglers
· Varied opinions on the taste of the meat

References:

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Sounds like fun!

Should have kept the horny heads, they make great flathead bait!

The James is a fun place to catch fish, I live at the head waters. What part did you fish?
Keep em Gobblin!
Struttinbird

Ol' Three Toes seems to always make something happen!

Glad to hear ya'll had a great time!