RIVERGUARD REPORT: No fish for you on the Nottoway
Published 7:13 pm Monday, February 3, 2025
- The Blackfish Hole on the Nottoway River froze, as seen in this photo from Riverguard Jeff Turner, taken during his Jan. 27-29 patrol. (Photo submitted by Jeff Turner)
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Spirit of Moonpie and I spent Jan. 27-29 on the Nottoway below Delaware. The water was as low as I have ever seen it, I believe, clear and 33.87 degrees. Air temps ranged from 36 to 66 degrees. The wind was horrendous.
After two months of not being able to go because of one reason or the other, I was so glad to get back on the river. I knew the water temps were going to be bad and was expecting the fishing to be tough. Tough was an understatement; I was completely SKUNKED… not even a hit! I didn’t do any casting, I just jigged mostly hoping for some raccoon perch. After not catching any of those, I tried for stripers… nothing once again. I guess the water was just too cold. Maybe some minnows would have enticed some action, but I didn’t go that route.
Time for my yearly totals report. In 2023 I made my record of 105 camping days on the river; 2024 was a different story. I only did 59 days in 20 trips. Weather and health issues made a difference. It made a difference proportionately in trash collection also. I collected 730 pounds in 2023 and 335 pounds in 2024, but that makes sense. I went half as much and collected half as much. The most unusual item collected was a Santa coat. Total trash collected since record keeping began in year 2000 is 103,282 pounds. I had 13 eagle sightings in 2024 and 13 in 2023. I had three cows-in-the-river sightings in 2023 and zero in 2024… yeaaaa.
As time marches on I’m sure my numbers of river patrols will continue to decrease… it’s just the way it is. Old age issues and a higher intolerance for weather extremes will surely be the determining factor. No matter, I will always be thankful for every moment I have spent and will spend on the two rivers we call the Nottoway and Blackwater.
JEFF TURNER is the Blackwater Nottoway RiverGuard. To contact him about river issues, send him an email at blknotkpr@earthlink.net. He can also be followed on the Blackwater Nottoway RiverGuard Facebook page. Search for “Blackwater Nottoway RiverGuard” on Facebook.
