T. Tyler Potterfield Bridge

🅿️ Parking: Northside of the bridge (Brown’s Island): 625 Tredegar St, Richmond, VA 23219 [https://goo.gl/maps/x5avD19pX2pdgpnv6]

Southside of the bridge: 599 W 11th St, Richmond, VA 23224 [https://goo.gl/maps/LRSQsT8wBpfkgsrE6]

⭐ Accessibility rating: 8/10

🛶 Kayak/canoe launch: There is a small boat launch available just above the bridge. However, there is a large dam directly below the bridge, so take extreme caution if paddling above the bridge.

🐟 What to expect: Excellent fishing and big fish…plus stripers!

🍨 Inside scoop… Cast where they can’t swim anymore…i.e. below the dam

The Details:

Named after the legendary city planner T. Tyler Potterfield, the T-Pot bridge is one of Richmond’s newest recreation areas along the James, and it just so happens to be in a prime fishing zone literally seconds from the heart of downtown. The bridge was renovated and officially opened to the public in 2016 following its previous function as a hydroelectric dam for the city (credit: jamesriverpark.org). This multi-use bridge is open 24/7 and helps all types of people access the river and soak in beautiful views of the city skyline. Anglers interested in fishing this bridge area can access it from the north side of the river where Brown’s Island parking is available or on the south side near W 11th Street.

I know what you’re thinking when you hear about this location…are people allowed to fish off the bridge? The short answer is technically no based on the James River Park’s website. However, there are no signs posted on either side of the bridge restricting fishing, and as an avid bridge angler, I have not encountered any pushback from the city or community members who walk by as I drop a line. My recommendation would be to take caution when casting (that over the shoulder cast can be a nightmare for bikers) and try to limit fishing from the bridge during busy times of the day.

But you don’t need to stress about this ethical dilemma. There is PLENTY of amazing wadeable fishing right below the bridge and around this area. We won’t get into the Pipeline spot below this section (that’s in another spot guide) but there are miles of shoreline and deep pools to cover in this section of the James. If there’s one thing you should know about this spot, it should be that there are lots of fish and some absolute stud smallies lurking in these waters.

The basic layout of this stretch of river follows a relatively straightforward high-density fish map: fast water flows over the old dam creating oxygenated water all the way across the river. Below the dam, there are deep pockets of water where fish stack up in the warm months to get the much needed oxygen. To make conditions even more ideal in this part of the river, there is a 10 feet + deep section below the 9th Street bridge that smallmouth, catfish and even stripers can relocate to for colder water and plenty of food such as bluegill and other smaller fish. There is even another pipeline/dam that runs about a half-mile down from the bridge that acts as another buffer for these massive fish to hold in.

Enough of all this talk about the section of river… when fishing below the bridge, go deep when the water is high and jig on the bottom. I personally love spending the day casting into the water below the dam and waiting for the big ones to attack. Work your way across the river, following the dam, and then head down river to fish the deeper sections. Be ready to do some swimming in the lower portion near old bridge pilons, as the water drops off quickly.

Local tip: Walk all the way to the north side of the bridge. Toss a jig. Let it sit. BOOM.

If we were stuck with one lure: Whopper plopper in the evening on a summer day. Set your drag. Just do it.