Train Trestle

🅿️ Parking: A bit tricky. There is street parking available on Riverside Dr. where it intersects with New Kent Rd., but access from here is difficult and requires walking down where the train bridge crosses. The best option is to access this spot is to park at the Pump House parking area and walk up to the bridge.

⭐ Accessibility rating: 7/10

🛶 Kayak/canoe launch: There is no where to launch a kayak or canoe.

🐟 What to expect: Big fish, small fish and trophy fish.

🍨 Inside scoop… Apparently smallies love train bridges and their structures…

The Details:

You’ve probably looked out at this iconic train bridge driving into the city, or at least seen a photo of the bridge pictured in some RVA-themed memorabilia, but what you don’t know is that beneath this bridge and the section between the Powhite Bridge is home to some of my favorite smallmouth fishing here on the James. I have spent more hours in this section of the river compared to anywhere else and am always drawn back to the quiet solace I feel hopping rocks in between these two bridges. It’s peaceful and dynamic with large rapids, small side riffles, deep holes, a side creek and plenty of grassy islands throughout. People tend to skip over this spot due to its lesser know access points, but the hike into this rock garden is well worth your time.

Starting from the train trestle, take your time casting deep jigs into the pillars and log jams that have piled up. There are often smallies stacked up against the log piles. I also love throwing a top water bait upriver and letting it drift up into the logs. It seems like the smallmouth are lurking beneath the tree cover waiting for a tasty meal. As you make your way to the south side of the river, start heading up until you reach a beachy/rocky area where the two islands separate on the other side of the creek. From there, walk across (you should be equally in between the train bridge and the Powhite Bridge). Walk across this shallow section and cast where the river meets the small island. There are usually lots of fish hanging in this area, especially with higher water. From the middle of the river, make your way upstream and cast in the rapids where fast riffles exist. You should be rewarded with solid action throughout this section. As you make your way up to the Powhite bridge and across to the other side of the island, you will find deeper water, especially the further north you go. I love the other side of the island in the middle. There’s lots of grass on rocks and the main island, and fish seem to feast all around this area. If you decide to be adventurous and go up past the Powhite bridge, it gets much deeper, and I have seen some big smallmouth grouped up against the rocks just up from the bridge.

As a precaution, this spot is really remote, even with traffic buzzing above you. It’s best to bring a friend out here or at least a phone zipped in a waterproof pouch (you’'ll most likely need it for photos of your big smallmouth anyways). I also recommend waking up early for a top water blitz. The place can turn on early and be well worth the few lost hours of sleep.

Have fun, and enjoy one of Richmond’s most iconic river spots right in the outskirts of the heart of the city.

Local tip: There’s a really deep hole right below the Powhite bridge directly in the middle of the river. You’ll see a flat stretch of water. Cast deep, and you will be rewarded.

If we were stuck with one lure: Top water all day long! Whopper Plopper or basic fly popper will do the trick.