Bakers Dozen X 1000 - August 27th, 2025

 I floated from Brooks to Sandstone alone. Fishing was solid for numbers but lacking size. I boated 32 in 2.5 hours before the wind kicked up but none bigger than 12”

Total Fish = 32 

Biggest Fish = 12.5”

Best 5 = 58”

Minutes per Fish = 4.68

2024 Fish Totak = 1311

That One That Got Away - August 20th, 2025

I was fishing solo again this morning. I got a late start around 7:45am and the fog burned off earlier than usual to give way to a hot, humid, bright, sunny day making the bite a little less friendly than I would like. I managed to catch 26 in 2 hours and 45 minutes of fishing,  Around 9am on a ledge set adjacent to some deeper water in the middle of the river I hooked a really nice 20" plus class fish. Had a good fight with him that included a couple jumps then for no reason I can explain other than I sloppily had my drag set too tight and had not retied my hook in a month of Sundays he broke off. Not gonna lie that stung a little, maybe a lot. Other than that both size and numbers were down due most likely to persistent heat and falling water levels. 

Total Fish = 26

Biggest Fish = 12.5"

Best Fish Fish = 56.5"

Minutes per Fish = 6.34

2025 Fish Catch Total = 1279

Back At It - August 13th, 2025

I found my way back to the river on cloudy overcast morning for a solo float with a rain front pushing in. Bite was slow early and they did not seem to want top water for some reason. As the rain pushed in things improved and took off. I found a few good fish but the fish were spread out to all manner of areas. 

Total Fish = 37

Biggest Fish = 16.75"

Best 5 Fish = 71.25"

Minutes per Fish = 5.67

2025 Annual Fish Total = 1253

Summertime Smallies - July 7th, 2025

Brad and I floated the New on a hot, humid, summer afternoon post Fourth of July weekend. We did better in both size and numbers than I thought we would do, it was an awesome day to be on the river, we had a great time, 

Total Team Fish = 59

My Fish = 36

Biggest Fish = 18.25”

Best 5 Fish = 68.25”

Minutes Per Fish = 4.58

2025 Fish Total = 1,214

(100 Fish per Month Average Goal Reached ) 

Summer Heat - June 25th, 2025

A few days in the mid 90’s have the fish starting to spread out but bite is still good, typical of an early summer bite. I could not get them to hit a plopper. Size was down bit did loose a nice one around 18” on a break off. 

Total Fish = 61

Biggest Fish = 13.5”

Best 5 Fish = 60.5”

Minutes per Fish = 3.44

2025 Fish Total = 1,178

Size and Numbers - June 14th, 2025

A near perfect Saturday morning float. Brad, Colt, and I landed some better quality fish but also collectively boated 136 fish. The water had dropped some since earlier in the week and the fish were spread out more towards deeper fall lines. They had been super shallow on the brown parts of the fall line and now they are sliding into the green, typical of Summer one pattern coming out of post spawn conditions. As an added bonus I broke my own personal annual fish catch total today that was set at 1,111 in 2011. 

Team Fish = 131 

My Fish Total = 73

Biggest Fish = 17.5” 

Best 5 Fish = 77.5”

Minutes per Fish = 3.69

2025 Fish Total = 1,117 

Virginia Prime - June 11th, 2025

Mike and caught New River Virginia at close to its best, We boated a collective 87 fish in 5.5 hours including a 20.5”, 19.5”, 19.75” and several 14” pluses. Really solid day. Only saw one other boat and it was a guide boat of fly fishermen. Great day on the water. As an added bonus I caught my 1,000 fish of the year, by far the earliest in the year I have ever reached that marker, 

Team Fish = 87 

My Trip Fish = 67 

Biggest Fish = 20.5”

Best 5 Fish = 85.74”

Minutes per Fish = 4.92

Six Day Fish Total = 419

2025 Fish Total =  1,044

Early Morning Window - June 10th, 2025

Greg and did a daylight run on what is my fifth day in a row on the river. The bite was great from 6 to 9am, once the fog burned off and the sun got strong it slowed way day. Greg did his damage with a swim bait and I did mine with a fluke. 

Team Fish = 118

My Fish Total = 57

Biggest Fish = 14”

Best 5 Fisj = 64”

Minutes per Fish = 3.94

5 Day Fish Total = 352 

2025 Fish Total = 977

Rolling On - June 9th, 2025

Jacob and I floated from daylight until 11am. The shallow rock and grass line bite stayed great. I tried getting fish to bite a buzz bait but it just didn’t quite have the magic that the fluke did. I am giving up on finding anything that works at the level that it does when applied properly. I did manage to find some size today with four fish over 15”. 

Team Fish = 104 

My Fish Total = 63

Biggest Fish = 17.25”

Best Five Fish = 74”

Minutes per Fish = 3.33

2025 Fish Total = 920

Last Four Days Fish Total = 295