(This issue of CvilleBuzz is dedicated to oysters – to Urbanna, home of the Oyster Festival; to the rivers from which they come; and to the joy and memories of eating and cooking oysters.) For 363 days a year, Urbanna, Virginia is the arch-typical Little Town, USA. The 500 or so residents know each other well. If someone gets sick or dies, neighbors gather round. If someone … [Read more...]
Urbanna History
It all started with the arrival of the American Indians. The Nimcocks were the first to settle along the shores of the Chesapeake around 1,000 BC, farming and fishing. The built their huts within fenced villages to ward off attack. It may well have been the first gated community in America. In 1607, Captain John Smith sailed into the Chesapeake watershed. It is said that The Good … [Read more...]
The Oyster Festival
“What can we do to bring more business to our small town,” was a question raised among a group of Urbanna’s businessmen back in 1958. “Let’s have a parade, a party,” someone suggested. “People like parades, people like parties.” It was party on! They all agreed. They called it Urbanna Days, the beginning of the Oyster Festival. The inaugural event was a two-day affair. The Ten … [Read more...]
Fishing Out of Urbanna
Urbanna is strategically located on Urbanna Creek, about a quarter mile from the Rappahannock River. Because the Rappahannock is relatively narrow, water flows are stronger and the river flushes easily. Of all the Virginia tidal rivers, the Rapp is the cleanest and purest and offers some of the best fishing in the state. Striped bass, in particular. Many stripers never leave the river. … [Read more...]
Fried Oysters
What’s an Oyster Festival without Fried Oysters? On the first weekend in November, downtown Urbanna is filled with booths of vendors selling fried, baked, steamed and raw oysters. For me, the best oysters of all are fried by yours truly in the kitchen of our group’s cottage. My secret? Local, fresh oysters, House Autry Breading and a Waring Pro Commercial Grade Fryer. I believe the … [Read more...]
Rivah Real Estate
They call it Rivah Country. The counties of Middlesex, Mathews, Lancaster, Northumberland, Essex, King and Queen and Gloucester all front on the Virginia section of the Chesapeake Bay or one of the “Rivahs.” This is prime real estate, both in appreciation and enjoyment value. For those looking at or thinking about real estate in this Virginia piece of paradise, there is one name to … [Read more...]
Oyster Memories
My father, James E. Brewer, was killed in action during World War II, eight days before I was born at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC. His B 29 was shot down over Burma. My young mother then brought me home to live with her extended family – my Grandmother, Mama Ida; Aunt Pearl, my grandmother’s older sister; Joanne, my mom’s younger sister; and Uncle Sidney, Mama Ida’s younger brother. It … [Read more...]
A Pile of Leaves
There were two maple trees in our yard on Court Street when we moved to Lewisburg, WV in 1955. There was nothing unusual about those two trees in the spring and summer, other than the grass beneath them was always a good spot to catch a few night crawlers for fish bait. The trees were so thick with limbs that they weren’t much good for climbing. But when October arrived, the leaves on those … [Read more...]
A Captain’s Log
By Capt. Reese Stecher It was a bloodbath last Thursday. We started with the trout and the trout lost. I gave up on netting. They were coming over the side faster than I could keep up with. It was the best day size-wise all week as we ended up with a dozen keepers. We then moved onto the rockfish. Some days they bite like crazy. Some days you can't get a bite. And some days you … [Read more...]
Great Fishing on the South River
South River Fly Shop reports that the fishing is great on the South River. Water levels are above normal, but clear. There are lots of big rainbows and even bigger browns being caught on nymphs and streamers. Jwal's Rubber Legs Tung-stone, Reed's Micro-mop, Taleteller's Frenchie's, Arlie's Gnarlie Caddis, and Tyler's Mini-truders have been go-to patterns. Several back-to-back high water events … [Read more...]
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