Buzzbaits in colors such as white, chartreuse or black are typically fine here. But don't be afraid to toss colorful lures in shades such as pink, yellow, green, red or blue; they'll all catch fish at times. If the bite slows, try modifying the blades to offer the fish something they haven't seen.

Work the spider grubs and jigs along any rocky areas with strong current. Most anglers find that swimming the lures in the current works best. If that technique fails to draw strikes, try bouncing the jigs along the bottom, taking long pauses between each movement of the lure.

When the bite gets really tough here, fish one of the numerous bluff banks.

Crayfish are the primary food source of the James River smallies, so grubs and jigs should resemble crayfish in size, color and action. Small crankbaits are also good choices here. Work these lures in the larger pools, specifically the first and second pools upstream from the Highway 13 bridge. Also, work the crankbaits near underwater ledges, dropoffs or any other discernable piece of cover or structure. These lures are best fished by bouncing them right off any object in the water. For example, allow the crankbaits to deflect off rock, wood or even the bottom in shallow areas.

Crankbaits have been known to trick a number of the larger fish in the river. The best place to find big smallmouths in the pools is at the headwaters, where the water empties into the pool. Toss your lure into the running water and bring it back across the current. Anglers typically won't catch many fish using this technique, but the fish that are caught will usually be large fish.

Crankbait color is largely a matter of angler choice. But anglers should use either shad or crayfish-imitating colors. It's hard to go wrong with either.

Nowhere is tackle more important than on this stretch of the James. The water, at least in places, is relatively clear and shallow, but the smallmouths are big -- sometimes real big. On top of that, there's a lot of rock and wood to complicate matters. You'll need tackle suitable for fishing small clear water yet is strong and tough enough to handle large fish.

Most anglers fishing along the James use spinning tackle. Medium or medium-light rods are the norm. Rods that are 7 feet in length are ideal, and fast tips are a must, since many of the lures will be rather light. Besides aiding with the casting of small lures, fast tips are great for quick hooksets while still offering the strength and backbone to land a 17- or 18-inch smallmouth.

Lines used here should be abrasion-resistant and yet of light weight and small diameter. Either 4- or 6-pound-test will generally get the job done. Many anglers are tying short fluorocarbon leaders to their main lines. Fluorocarbon is nearly invisible and offers very little stretch. Don't use too much of it, however, since it nicks easily and won't hold up very well on the rocks.

Do a little scouting before fishing the James. There are plenty of different types of water to select, and anglers need proper equipment to be successful. In the pools and larger runways, a small boat or canoe will be most useful. On the other hand, a set of waders will be more appropriate in some places.