There are dozens of private and public landings on the river where anglers can launch anything from a johnboat to a large powerboat to fish from. The best section of the river to fish for trophy catfish is from downtown Richmond to Hopewell.

Anglers need to be aware of two things. First, only one blue catfish over 32 inches may be creeled, but unlimited numbers of catfish under 32 inches may be taken on the tidal portion of the river. Second, anglers should check the Virginia Department of Health Fish Consumption Advisory Web site to determine what is safe to eat.

Farther north in the region anglers would do quite well to cast a line into the tidal Rappahannock River. The tidal Rappahannock River is teeming with an abundance of eating-sized blue catfish and good numbers of channel catfish too. The river offers outstanding fishing from the I-95 bridge just above the fall line downstream to Leedstown. There are bank-fishing opportunities at Fredericks­burg at the City Dock and along the banks of the city. Farther downriver, anglers can fish at Little Falls boat ramp, the $5 Hole, Wilmont Landing in King George and Leedstown Campground in Leedstown near Oak Grove.

Both bottom-fishing and float-fishing work very well in this stretch of the river. If you are float-fishing, be sure to cast near the bank where the logjams and stick ups hold large numbers of fish. Most of the fish caught in this stretch of the river will be blue catfish in the 1- to 5-pound range.

For more information on Capt. Ostrander's Guide Service, visit www.jamesriverfishing.com or call (804) 938-2350

SOUTHERN PIEDMONT
The Southern Piedmont Region is home to some very good catfish angling opportunities, including Buggs Island, which we feature each year, the upper James and Sandy River Reservoir.

We went to VDGIF's fisheries biologist Dan Michaelson to get his take on the catfish opportunities in the region. Michaelson suggests that Sandy River Reservoir is a great place to fish for channel catfish. The reservoir is providing great forage in the form of gizzard shad and sunfish for the channel catfish, which grow fast.

"Growth is good, with fish reaching 16 inches by year five. Fishing pressure has increased in the past five years, with fishing tournaments for the channels occurring since 2006. The largest and oldest catfish sampled at Sandy was 28 inches and was 10 years old," Michaelson said.

Michaelson also notes that the channel catfish was tied as the "third most fished for" species here, just behind largemouths and crappie. Most of the channel catfish caught at Sandy River are around 15 inches long, but there are some fish up to 25 inches.