Piankatank river/dragon run

[Gotta Gaff 'Em]

any one here ever fished the piankatank river also known as dragon run up near thousand trails campground this time of year. IM heading up there this weekend for a camping trip and lookin to fish. game and inland fisheries site says it holds chain pickerel, cats, sunfish, and crappie. I knwo the crappie should be runnin well, but anyboyd got any tips? Will not have the boat with, mostly bank fishing.

[justfishin]

I fished there several years ago in the summer and we caught bass and pickeral. Should be everything you mentioned in there.Good luck

[asaltedfly]

i think i can help you out, i live on the river and fish the dragon all the time, year round, and guide some of my clients there. if you have a jon boat or bass boat you should be able to get up into the run without much of a problem. with all of the rain that we had, look out for stuff floating around. if the tide is low there are several log falls that can eat a lower unit. when you near the area to turn left into the run (no wake zone) there is a flat on the left hand side that is very shallow and exposed at low tide. i have pulled more than one novice to the run from that flat.
ok you get past the hazards, the fishing area to cover ,starts at the first pier on the left going up stream, from there just use any tyipical bass tactics that you would use in any heavy cover. personnally i do not start fishing until i get to the island.
please be curitous of the others fishing up stream, the area does get narrow and these fish can be spooked and shut down.
i personnaly have taken several trophy size pickeral and ring perch from the run. if you are into gar (as well as bowfin) take all you want.
hope this will keep you from getting stuck or breaking anything.

cheers

[justfishin]

i think i can help you out, i live on the river and fish the dragon all the time, year round, and guide some of my clients there. if you have a jon boat or bass boat you should be able to get up into the run without much of a problem. with all of the rain that we had, look out for stuff floating around. if the tide is low there are several log falls that can eat a lower unit. when you near the area to turn left into the run (no wake zone) there is a flat on the left hand side that is very shallow and exposed at low tide. i have pulled more than one novice to the run from that flat.
ok you get past the hazards, the fishing area to cover ,starts at the first pier on the left going up stream, from there just use any tyipical bass tactics that you would use in any heavy cover. personnally i do not start fishing until i get to the island.
please be curitous of the others fishing up stream, the area does get narrow and these fish can be spooked and shut down.

i personnaly have taken several trophy size pickeral and ring perch from the run. if you are into gar (as well as bowfin) take all you want.
hope this will keep you from getting stuck or breaking anything.

cheers

I know what your saying about tight spots and logs in that river. I fished with Capt. Mike and he had a jet motor to get thru the tough stuff and we actually got stuck on a log for a few minutes. But Gotta Gaff Em said he didn't have a boat and would be bank fishing. I think from the bank I would try a lil bit of everything lures , live bait such as minnows nightcrawlers and maybe chicken liver for cats ? Bowfin can be a pain but they put of a good fight.I caught over 30 one day up to 10lbs in the nottaway river using the large minnows I had that died in the bucket from the heat.

[asaltedfly]

oops did not catch the bank fishing part....pun intended
with all of the fresh water from the rains, there is a real good chance of catching some cats. very often after big rains i will get cats in crabpots
and i live about 3 miles down river from the camp ground.
take care

[Gotta Gaff 'Em]

Yeah odds are ill just have some light tackle spin gear. I was thinking about just walkin the banks maybe driving around looking for brush and trees and whatnot. Ive got plenty of beetlespins, mepps inlines, little rapalas, a few grub jigs, and catbait. Will definitely grab some crawlers im not sure if shiners will be possible.

[CaptMikeStarrett]

I have guided there for 20 years now and shore access in the Dragon is almost impossible. Do not park on RT 17 they will tow you so quick your head will spin. But all is not lost.. If you look on the map for a small bridge north of rt17 that crosses the Dragon. Good shoreline fishing is available there. White small rooster tails and small white grubs will supply some great fun. From the docks at the campground night fishing for cats is very productive too. Cut bait and live bait will give you a shot at some yellows. The white perch are running and love bloodworms. So right from the dock you can keep pretty busy.

Or go into Gloucester and rent a boat at Beaverdam.. that lake is packed with fish.

Capt Mike

[DRB]

Thanks for the good info from the Dragon experts. What is the best access for the area with a 14' Jon?

[asaltedfly]

as for the access for a jon boat, if you are in the camp ground you can get in there or the public ramp on harcum road, a bit of a run the dragon from there, but very do able.
the property on the dragon is private, so access up stream is difficult

good luck
cheers