Bruce Ingram.

In the classic 1941 movie The Maltese Falcon, the Humphrey Bogart character Sam Spade, when asked about the statue of the infamous raptor, proclaims it “the, uh, stuff that dreams are made of.”

I like to think of this annual story on fishing destinations as providing Virginians with the stuff that angling dreams are made of. Few if any of us will be able to take all of the 12 major trips profiled in this article, let alone the 24 additional ones listed. But we can all fantasize about the angling adventures presented, and, maybe, enjoy many of them this year and more in the years to come.

JANUARY
Blue Catfish
Tidal James
Pursuing catfish during the summer months is a traditional Virginian and Southern pastime, yet Roger Jones, who operates Hook, Line, and Sinker Guide Service, points out that the wintertime action has been outstanding on the lower James in recent years.

“January is a fine month to go after blue cats, but really the entire cold weather period from November through March has been good,” he said. “The blues range from between 5 and 60 pounds, and it’s no surprise for my clients and me to catch fish between 30 and 40 pounds. The fishery for big blues just keeps getting better and better.”

Jones related that wintertime blue catfish infrequently move shallow, staying away from flats and shallow tributaries of the tidal river. Where these fish do congregate are at the edges of main channel dropoffs and where flats adjoin the channel. However, structure situations such as these are considerably sweetened if wood cover exists. The guide looks for cover on structure situations, such as where logs, sunken barges and debris from duck blinds exist. Rockpiles can similarly make fair structure excellent.

For guided trips, contact Jones at (800) 597-1708 or online at www.hooklineandsinkerguides.com

FEBRUARY
Walleyes
Upper New River
One of the most exciting fisheries to emerge in the past decade has been that of the walleye on the lower New River below Claytor Lake. Mike Smith, who operates Greasy Creek Outfitters in Willis, said that solid numbers of fish in the 5- to 10-pound range haunt the waterway.

“Look for the walleyes to be on gravel bars, points, and ledges,” Smith said. “If the water has some stain to it from winter runoff or if the day is overcast, the fishing can be especially good. Generally, the fish will hold deep, at least 8 feet and sometimes as much as 20. At night, these same types of areas will hold fish -- they just move shallower.”

Interestingly, Smith noted that as a byproduct of angling for these trophy walleyes, he and his clients also catch some jumbo smallmouths. March can be just as good a month as February, the guide continued, so there is really a two-month period where the chance at a trophy marble-eye is excellent. The focal point for the fishery is the section from below Buck Dam to Claytor Lake.

For guided trips with Mike Smith, contact him at Greasy Creek Outfitters, (540) 789-7811 or online at www.greasycreekoutfitters.com

MARCH
Black Crappie
Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain is primarily known as a striper lake, but don’t forget to consider the crappie that swim there, said Dan Wilson, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) biologist for the 20,000-acre impoundment.

“Black crappie are the primary crappie species,” Wilson said. “We do see an occasional white crappie, but very infrequently. About the only area we see white crappie is in the upper Blackwater arm around Buoy 50.” Wilson related that although the lake produces many quality-sized crappie, anglers should not expect to consistently catch large numbers of these fish. The crappie population is smaller than at some other Virginia reservoirs, but the quality of these fish is very good.

Wilson said that the March through May period is a prime time to visit the lake and that the upper ends of the reservoir should be the best place for anglers to set up shop, especially near fallen trees or brushpiles. Many boat docks dot the impoundment and these, too, draw papermouths.

For more information, contact the Smith Mountain Lake Visitors Center at (800) 676-8203 or online at www.visitsmithmountains.com