Members AJ Brown Posted June 23, 2011 Members Share Posted June 23, 2011 First post here, lots of useful info. I've got the day off tomorrow and I'm looking into floating/fishing somewhere on the James and/or Lake Springfield. My problem is this - I don't have the luxury of having someone else with a truck, jeep, SUV, etc take me from the bottom back to the top. Anyone ever come up with a crafty solution to this problem? How far have any of you paddled back up the James from the lake and floated back down? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonreed Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 You'd have to have a kayak to go back upstream within a reasonable distance away from a put in point. I passed my takeout point by about 3 miles one time in a canoe. And it was next to impossible to go back upstream without killing myself. So I hope you're planning on using a kayak. Usually people paddle upstream first then float back down to the put in point. I'd beg someone to help you instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSBreth Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 You'd have to have a kayak to go back upstream within a reasonable distance away from a put in point. I passed my takeout point by about 3 miles one time in a canoe. And it was next to impossible to go back upstream without killing myself. So I hope you're planning on using a kayak. Usually people paddle upstream first then float back down to the put in point. I'd beg someone to help you instead. I paddle upstream many miles at a time in a canoe - but it is a solo canoe. I do the paddle up and float back trick all the time - I start earlier than most folks want to, or places that shuttle start, so I do what I have to. As far as paddling up from Springfield Lake - it can be done, but there's better stretches to fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheatenheimer Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Welcome to the forum, Mr. Brown! If I didn't already commit myself to the honey-do's tomorrow, I'd take you up on a float somewhere. My suggestion, pick a good access on the James (Delaware, Shelvin, Hootentown) and do some upstream paddling. Paddle up for an hour or two and observe the fishy looking spots, then fish them hard on the way back down. Or, you could stop in at Hootentown Canoe Rental and give them 10 bucks to either shuttle you up to Shelvin or shuttle your vehicle down to Ponce (Goff Creek.) Have a great time, we are glad you are here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AJ Brown Posted June 23, 2011 Author Members Share Posted June 23, 2011 Thanks for the input. While I have both a 14.5' canoe and a little 10' kayak, I do plan on using the kayak. I guess I'll just put in at the lake and see how far I'm willing to paddle back upstream. I also hadn't really thought about heading further downstream, I guess it's really not too much further from Springfield to do something like that. Looks like I have so deciding to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Agnew Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Take a length of rope and tether the kayak to your waist, and just get out and walk up the riffles with it coming along behind you. If you're in decent shape, you can pretty easily go up to three miles upstream on a river like the James unless the water is higher than normal for this time of year. And I'd fish my way upstream as well as downstream. What I do is fish something different going up than going down. Like fishing a topwater lure or a spinnerbait or something else fast one way, and something slow and deep going the other way. You can fish slow pools going upstream from the kayak, and fish the riffles while wading. It's less work if you get somebody to shuttle you, though. Why not take Wheatenheimer's advice on the Hootentown Canoe Rental? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AJ Brown Posted June 23, 2011 Author Members Share Posted June 23, 2011 I may take the camper down to Hootentown and try that out and make a fun weekend out of it some time. For tomorrow I think I'm going to stick real close to home. I like the rope idea for pulling it through the shallow parts. I'm just now being enlightened by all of the possibilities of floating and fishing in the area, I guess I just never opened my eyes to it. I've never been to Lake Springfield, where should I put in? Is that access you can see from 65 the best bet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveinozark Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 yes, unless you want to fish more of the lake. You'd probably do better starting from the lake house, but under the 65 is closest to where it goes back into a river. Tons of blue gill under the 65 last weekend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AJ Brown Posted June 23, 2011 Author Members Share Posted June 23, 2011 Well it was a great day out on the water. I did more paddling followed by relaxing than I did fishing... still a good day nonetheless. I caught a sunfish and then a little logperch, but a ton of bites on the good ol worm. I paddled up from 65 to where I would have needed to mess with a decent portage... a good 40 yards or so, so I just decided to turn around then. Great relaxing day, I might head out on Saturday to do the same trip with the girlfriend and the dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Jones Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Great idea! That way she can keep the dog busy and paddle, while you fish! "Thanks to Mother Mercy, Thanks to Brother Wine, Another night is over and we're walking down the line" - David Mallett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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