Ed Pfister of Madison Heights unhooks a 3-pound February smallmouth he caught from the Bedford Power Dam pool on the James. Photo by Bruce Ingram

By Bruce Ingram

When Ed Pfister of Madison Heights met me at the put-in above the Bedford Power Dam, I could tell that he was understandably very satisfied with his angling efforts. Pfister pulled two 3-pound smallmouths from his livewell and then regaled me with the story of a muskie that he had caught right after he landed the smallies.

As I climbed into Pfister's canoe, I found it hard not to share his optimism that we would both soon be into bass. According to my angling log from that February day, the air temperature when we launched was 45 degrees and the water temperature was 40 degrees - not bad conditions for a winter outing.

But two hours later, an on-rushing winter cold front, dropping temperatures, brisk winds and the failure of either of us to receive a bite, sent us home to the television and an ACC basketball game. Such are the highs and the lows of wintertime bass angling in Virginia - jumbo smallmouths or largemouths on one trip . . . bitter cold, piercing breezes and no fish on the next excursion. Here are some possible destinations where, hopefully, you will encounter more of the former than the latter.

"The area just below Cushaw Dam runs for almost a mile before the next dam, Bedford Power," he said. "The area has large boulders and 12- to 15-foot-deep pools. All along the river right bank are deep cuts and current washes."

The Bedford Power pool is accessible only by canoe or similar craft about 100 yards above the Bedford Power station. Parking exists on the opposite side of Route 130 from an old concrete pier. Anglers will need to cart all their gear over a guardrail and down a slight incline to reach the pier.

Pfister also likes the Monocan Park launch area near Elon in Amherst County. This access point is located on river left at the end of Route 652. The ramp is concrete and is suitable for most boats. The ramp gives access to the impoundment created by Reusens Dam. Pfister especially likes the section between Holcomb Rock and the dam. Both smallmouths and largemouths populate this pool, but the latter is more likely to be caught.

Some anglers like to bank-fish above Scotts Mill Dam in Lynchburg. Be careful if you do so, however, that you do not trespass across private land. Obviously, other fishing opportunities exist above the other dams on this section of the James. However, access is a major problem, and portaging is not possible around these dams. Anglers will have to gain permission from private landowners if they want to access the river.

For wintertime action, Pfister prefers a large 1/2-ounce spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades and a curly tail grub as a trailer. He also relies on a 3/4-ounce spinnerbait with a chartreuse skirt and a No. 5 willow-leaf blade and a curly tail grub as a trailer.

A medium-heavy baitcaster and 12- to 17-pound-test round out his arsenal. As one would expect, Pfister likes to slow roll a spinnerbait over boulders, stumps, logs, and other forms of cover.

And I must emphasize now that the New is probably the most dangerous river in the Old Dominion to float or to wade during the cold-water period. Every winter, it seems, newspapers report that people have perished on this Western Virginia waterway because of hypothermia or drowning after their boat has overturned. During the cold-water period, do not attempt to float the New unless water levels are ideal, unless you are a well-qualified paddler or unless you go with a guide.

The Pembroke float has one Class II rapid (and a notorious midriver rock obstruction) at the beginning of the float. Other than that, this excursion features riffles, rocky shorelines, downed trees, and shoreline eddies. The river right put-in is off Route 623, via Route 460. The river left take-outs at Ripplemead are nothing more than wide dirt spaces in the shoreline upstream from the Route 460 Bridge. The take-outs are off Route 636 via Route 460.

Another possibility is from Claytor Lake Dam to the Peppers Ferry Bridge (11 miles). Few anglers run this trip from the river right put-in, which is off Route 605 via Route 232, to the river left take-out at the Peppers Ferry Bridge (Route 114). This excursion is fairly mild for the most part, except for a Class II and a Class I rapid. What many anglers do is launch at the put-in and motor upstream and down from there. Catches of both smallmouths and largemouths are possible.

For wintertime action, Britt Stoudenmire opts for a 3 3/4-inch Case pumpkinseed tube, rigged Texas style with a wide gap 3/0 hook and a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce slip sinker inserted inside. Britt suggests that anglers crawl this bait across deep-water ledges and through pools and eddies. Stoudenmire also favors a 3 1/2-inch soft plastic jerkbait in white pearl. Don't twitch this bait during the cold water period, he instructs, instead let it flutter to the bottom. The outfitter rigs the bait with a 2/0 hook that has had a weight molded to it; this style hook aids in creating the fluttering motion.

Marty Shaffner, who operates High Country Outdoors, likes the traditional 3/16-ounce jig-and-pig for wintertime river bass.

"The jig-and-pig was really popular with wintertime fishermen 10 years ago, but now the tube had replaced it," he says. "The jig-and-pig is just as effective now as it was then, maybe more so because fewer people throw it today. Fish the jig-and-pig slowly around rocks, and you will catch smallmouths."

Shaffner pairs a jig with a soft plastic trailer. The guide also relies on a 4-inch hard plastic suspending jerkbait.

"Give a jerkbait four or five cranks, then let it suspend for a few seconds until the bait starts to rise," he says. "Then try to walk the dog with this bait in short twitches as you reel it in."

Sadly, I must add that the Pembroke float last winter was the last time I fished with or saw Jack West, who died in early May. He was one of the best river smallmouth anglers I have ever met, and, more importantly, a good and decent person.

For guided trips with Marty Shaffner, contact him at 336-957-4630 or 902-0044; www.highcountryoutdoors.net. For guided trips or canoe rental from Britt Stoudenmire, contact him at (540-921-7438); www.icanoethenew.com.