January 8, 2017

Caution; Tape On The Water
Spirit of Moonpie and I spent the 20th through the 22rd on the Blackwater below Franklin. The water was low and 40 degrees. Air temps ranged from 23 to 56. It was really cold, especially with the really crappie wood I had to use for a fire. Read more →

December 19, 2016

November 9th, 2016
As recorded by John Bunch, acting Secretary

The monthly BNRP meeting, held at The Paul D. Camp Community College Workforce Center, had 8 people attending. Board Members were Jeff Turner, Sherri Woodard, Nancy Turner, and Curtis Newsome. Bobby Turner, Jim Hart, Scott Thomson, and John Bunch (acting Secretary) were also in attendance. Read more →

December 10, 2016

The Lord Will Provide
Spirit of Moonpie and I spent the 7th through the 9th on the Blackwater above Joyner’s Bridge. The water was 47 degrees and 4.70 on the USGS gauge at Burdette. Air temps ranged from 24 to 50 degrees. It was cold. Read more →

December 9, 2016

Crappie Trip
Spirit of Moonpie and I spent the 1st through the 3rd on the Blackwater below Rt. 189. The water was low and 49 degrees, air temps ranged from 30 to 60 degrees. Read more →

November 30, 2016

Fall Turnover
Spirit of Moonpie and I spent the 26th through the 28th on the Nottoway below Round Gut. The water was clear, very low and 47 degrees. Air temps ranged from 32 to 50 degrees, right chilly trip especially with all that wind. Read more →

November 25, 2016

Blackwater Low
Spirit of Moonpie and I spent the 20th through the 23rd on the Blackwater below Franklin. The water was very low and 49 degrees. Air temps ranged from 26 to 53 degrees. Read more →

November 16, 2016

I Can See Clearly Now
Spirit of Moonpie and I spent the 12th through the 14th on the Nottoway below Delaware. The water was CLEAR, LOW, and 50 degrees. Air temps ranged from an arctic like 26 degrees to 65 degrees. all us fisher-people have been upset all year that the rivers had a strange muddy like tint to them. I guess the Mathew event took care of that cause the rivers are so clear now the fish can CLEARLY see you a mile away. That’s what I’m blaming the poor fishing on anyway. I was fishing for Jacks, but only caught two keepers. I had many many hits but its like the fish would not commit, and I think it was cause they could see the boat. Anyway that’s my story and I’m sticking with it! I caught a few bass but they were mostly very small. Bout all were caught on a Mepps Minnow or a CC Shad. I really did not see much of any water quality issues, there was a strange brown splotchy looking film on the surface of the river in some places, but I think that’s just stagnant water from the swamps. I saw very little trash. I did find this odd piece of heavy iron on the West shore of the river about a half-mile upriver from Checkerboard Corner. There is nothing on that side of the river except swamp. Don’t know if this thing is something from logging years ago, like maybe from a small gauge RR track? It could be it’s just a piece of whatever that was being used as a trotline anchor and got thrown up onto the shore. A long time ago there were lots of long trot-lines set in this part of the river. If you think you know what it is by looking at the picture with this article, please contact me. All of my base camps were pretty much destroyed during the high water from Mathew, my base camp on this trip was no different. A thick layer of stinking swamp mud covered the entire little hole I stay at, which is in the swamp so it was of no surprise to me the place was blasted. I got it back in shape though and even with the rotting vegetative smell that was pretty bad, we had a great trip. It had been like 7 months since we were last there and evidently during our absence a new family of beaver have moved into the neighborhood. Both nights by the light of that giant bright supermoon those beavers protested us being there. Yes, I said protested. Over and over they would cruise past my campfire and slap their tails scaring the Moonpies out of us. I guess just like the rest of this crazy world even the River Spirits sometimes feel the need to protest on the two rivers we call the Nottoway and Blackwater.

November 9, 2016

I have written a book. “The Tails of Moonpie and the Riverkeeper” The book is $15 and available now. The book is a collection of Moonpie and my adventures on the rivers over the years and includes sketches of the antics of Moonpie.You can purchase the book by sending a check for $15 to Jeff Turner P.O. Box 44 Sedley, Va. 23878.

November 9, 2016

Attack of the Hawk
Spirit of Moonpie and I spent the 5th through the 7th on the Nottoway below Round Gut. The water was 60 degrees, low and clear as glass. Air temps ranged from 39 to 70 degrees and except for being fairly windy, the weather was bout perfect. Read more →

November 7, 2016

Spirit of Moonpie and I spent the 23rd through the 25th on the Blackwater below Franklin. The water was back to normal level and 60 degrees. Read more →