RICHMOND, Va. — A vast playing field awaits anglers competing in the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at James River presented by Lowrance, but Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Ed Loughran believes plenty of bass will be brought to the scales throughout the three-day event.
“It is a great time of year to fish there,” the 2024 Elite Series champion said. “People are going to catch a ton of bass. But, you are going to have to get those couple of bigger bites to reach the 20-pound mark. I would be surprised if it didn’t take around 60 pounds to win.”
Tournament days are scheduled for April 23-25 with daily takeoffs at 6:30 a.m. ET from Osborne Park and Boat Landing. Competitors will begin weighing in at 2:30 p.m. at the same venue. Anglers will be vying for a spot in the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at the Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance scheduled for Oct. 22-25 in La Crosse, Wis.
The James River has become a regular stop on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, hosting everything from St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, to Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops events as well as Strike King Bassmaster High School Series events. In 2023, James Willoughby and Jacob Pfundt from the University of Montevallo claimed a Bassmaster College Series title at the Virginia fishery with a two-day total of 40 pounds, 9 ounces.
This Nation tournament starts nearly two years to the day as that College Series tournament, and several of the same scenarios will likely play out on the tidal system.
Loughran expects the largemouth in the system to be somewhere in their spawning cycle. Some bass could still be on bed, but the Richmond, Va., native anticipates that most of the largemouth will be postspawn.
“There should be some fish still hanging around spawning,” he said. “A bunch of them will be postspawn and guarding fry. You will be able to do a bunch of different things. The James this time of year will be an all-shallow deal. I don’t think ’Scoping is going to be a big player.”
For the most part, largemouth will be hanging around a variety of shallow cover including cypress trees, laydowns and lily pads. Loughran also anticipates anglers being able to find success in any part of the river, from the gravel pits close to takeoff all the way down to the Chickahominy River.
There is also a variety of forage for the bass in the system, from gizzard and threadfin shad to white and yellow perch. Expect power fishing baits like spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits and Texas rigs to all play a big role in this event.
“You are going to see a lot of 16- to 17-pound bags in this tournament,” he said. “There will be a lot of different things happening. You’ll be able to catch stuff out of brushpiles. You’ll be able to go down the bank. You’ll be able to fish cypress flats.”
While the tide cycle is always a factor in some way, Loughran believes anglers should be able to catch bass at any time, not just during an outgoing tide.
Richmond Region Tourism and Visit Henrico County are hosting the event.