James River Arcadia Boat Launch

The river is high and muddy this morning so fishing here, or anywhere on this branch of the Shenandoah, won't be possible. Headed out to check the James River.

Parking area for this canoe launch has very steep grade down to water. Would not be fun with a heavy canoe! Sweet-smelling flowers along the path. Train track along the river. Saw a train pulling a long line of coal cars. Saw a Louisiana Waterthrush hop-stepping along the shoreline, busily gathering stuff for a nest. The water wasn't all muddied up like the Shenandoah, but it was moving too fast for fishing so we're moving on... 

The next launch area on the James had a pool with minnows in it so Bob switched to microfishing and he got one! We took lots of pics, then he counted scales to help with identification. What species was it? It's a mystery to be solved later... (Not trying to create a cliffhanger; we won't know until Bob studies the photos).

To count scales on a minnow, you need a skinny pointer (fine-point tweezers Tim gave Bob recently) and a steady hand (which Bob already has).  Also, you need a good reason haha because it's no fun.

UPDATE: He thinks it's a Bull ChubbRead more