Drifting The James, What Bait To Use?

[hard ripples]

Going on a Canoe trip with the boys 15 of us total. What are the best bait to catch all the smallies on the James? Pumpkin grubs, crawfish cranks?????

[redcat]

We used to kill the smallmouth and bream with a #2 gold bucktail mepps spinner or a 1 1/2" rappalla shallow diverfrom Scottsville to Maidens

[Scott]

We always found white 1/8 oz. curly-tail jigs hard to beat. Cast & retrieve, cast & retrieve. They catch anything that swims. 6 lb. line on ultra-lite spinning rigs was our "perfect" setup for the upper James. Now, though, I've switched to Power-Pro line since it's more durable, less apt to memorize the shape of the spool, and is more limp for casting.

[nirschman]

pumpkin grubs and crawdad cranks are good, senko or case worms as well in pumpkin, little chartreuse grubs, lots of things will work - you should be good to go!!!

[hard ripples]

Cool Thanks! We re putting in at Scottsville and getting out in Columbia at some ramp....Should be fun and plenty of BEER!!!

[striperjoe32]

Be safe.

[hard ripples]

Thanks for all the advice. We will try to be safe as possible.

[Tim Clinton]

Rooster tails white on white are my all time favorite- from Va to Conneticut

[blizzard]

Here are my favorites.

Case Jack worm
Case Magic Stik
2 3/4 inch rapala
beetle spin
inline spinner
white and chartruese spinner bait
zoom super fluke
broken back rapala

I am 100% positive you WILL catch fish if you use those.

[gateman4]

In addition to what has been suggested, the 1/16 oz. jig with a 2" white twister tail works great as does a 4" purple worm with a firetail rigged on a 1/8 oz. slider head bounced along the bottom. Small, 2" black over silver floating Rapalas are deadly when twitched near the banks and behind large rocks. A #2 Mepps spinner will also work with a steady retrieve. Don't forget the Rebel Pop-R and a Tiny Torpedo for great topwater action. Fish these in the long, slow pools with a popping action. Use light and UL rods with line from 4# to 8# test. Finally, travel light and tie all of your gear into the boats in case you turn over. Wear wading shoes! Remind the boys to respect other anglers.

Have fun!