"We like to use bait-casting reels with clicker models for detecting the lightest of bites, plus the sound makes it easy to detect a bite when multiple rigs are in the water," Coleman said.

Tollerson uses medium or medium-heavy rods in a 5-foot, 9-inch model, with Ambassadeur 6500 reels. This guide generally uses 30-pound-test for the standing line and 20- to 25-pound line for the leader.

Tollerson said finding a concentration of blues is the absolute key to success. "If you can find them, they are going to be good sized and plenty of them, but finding them can be difficult," he said. "They can be anywhere, but 25 to 35 feet is somewhat normal in places we usually catch them; however, we can catch them deeper and shallower than that."

"A good fish-finder is a must," Coleman said. "A catfish's signature is a flatter arch than that of a striper."

Tollerson believes visitors should target creek mouths (Rudds, Grassy and Bluestone) that have well-defined, deep channels. Sharp dropoffs that paint a clear break on the depthfinder are tops for Tollerson.

"I can't emphasize enough that people should not come down here and just throw lines out -- you have to find the fish first on the depthfinder," he said. "Sometimes Chris and I will ride around for an hour or more before ever fishing. If you find them on a certain day in the winter, they are unlikely to move much in the following days. Likely areas are old river channels and channel banks."

"A prime location in Grassy Creek is past the Route 15 bridge," Coleman explained. "Come out of the Longwood Ramp, turn left, go under the bridge and follow the channel to the mouth of Buckhorn Creek. There are ledges, channels and flats here that are attractive to blue cats.

"Another good spot," Coleman continued, "is at the mouth of Bluestone Creek on the main lake. Bluestone is a good creek all around, but the mouth of the creek dumps into the Staunton River channel in 35 to 40 feet and is an excellent winter hole."

According to Tollerson, 25- to 30-pound blues are not uncommon in the winter and the numbers can be good if you find the pods.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The most productive areas of the tidal James River are from Richmond and points southeast to about Queens Creek. This 30-mile stretch has deep water, channels and flats, baitfish and gravel pits. The following launch sites are in close proximity to this area: Osborne Landing (Henrico County), Dutch Gap Boat Launch (Chesterfield County), Deep Bottom Boat Landing (Henrico County), Hopewell Yacht Club (Hopewell City) and Jordan Point Yacht Haven (Prince George County).

GMCO produces the Pro Series Map of Tidal James River that details the stretch from Richmond down to Chickahominy River and the Pro Series Map of Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake). Contact them via e-mail at gmco@adelphia.net, by phone at (888) 420-6277 or visit their Web site at www.gmcomaps.com.

For questions concerning either fishery, contact VDGIF at (804) 367-1000 or visit www.dgif.virginia.gov.

To request a brochure or to book a guided trip with Mike Atkinson's CAT-MAN-DO Guide Service, call (804) 469-7874 or (804) 691-2570, or on the Web at www.catmandofishing.com.

To contact W&W Outdoor Adventures, call Chris Coleman at (434) 374-4011 or Steve Tollerson at (434) 374-2245. They can be reached by e-mail at wwoutdoors@kerrlake.com. W&W Outdoor Adventures' Web site is www.kerrlake.com/whiskers.

For general Buggs Island Lake information, go online to www.kerrlake.com. Buggs Island has numerous public and private launch facilities. The public ramps are open year 'round, barring high or low water. Two ramps in close proximity to sections discussed in this article are Occoneechee State Park and Longwood Ramp (Grassy Creek).