Upper James River Virginia’s Epic Smallmouth Bass Best Kept Secret? with Hunter Hatcher of the Virginia DWR

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we break down the 2025 fish sampling survey results for Virginia’s Upper James River with Hunter Hatcher with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

The James River—Virginia’s largest—begins where the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers meet in Botetourt County and winds through the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains before flowing past Lynchburg, Richmond, and into the Chesapeake Bay. Today, we’re focusing on the non-tidal Upper James, a stunning 90-mile stretch from its mountain headwaters to the 14th Street Bridge in Richmond—famous for its world-class smallmouth bass fishery.

In this episode, we cover:

·       Smallmouth Bass Update – 2024 electrofishing surveys show increased catch rates and strong year classes from 2021 and 2023. Over 1,500 bass were sampled in fall 2024, with 60% at “catchable size” (7”+), and 20% topping 14 inches.

·        Spawning Trends – Above-average spawns in 3 of the last 4 years point to solid fishing opportunities in the coming seasons, but consistent spawning is key to reaching the abundance levels anglers remember.

·       Fishing Tips – Where to find less-pressured stretches of river for trophy smallmouth action.

Link to the James River Biologist Report down below: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/forecasts-and-reports/non-tidal-river-fishing-forecast/ 

Department of wildlife resources: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/fish-stocking/state-hatcheries/front-royal-fish-cultural-station/

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