A report from Paul for mikescatchreport.com
Gary and I fished the New River in southwestern Virginia on a guided drift boat and had an outstanding day catching largemouth and smallmouth bass. We both caught 40 fish (Paul is holding an 18-inch smallmouth) and had a great time.
According to a report on the Virginia fish and game website, the New River is an ancient river system and the oldest in North America, second only to the Nile River in Africa as the oldest river in the world.
The report states that it begins as two streams in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and merges into the New River four miles from the Virginia state line. However it flows north, rather than south, like most Eastern rivers. It flows 160 miles through the Virginia counties of Grayson, Carroll, Wythe, Pulaski, Montgomery and Giles before it terminates in Bluestone Lake in West Virginia. It emerges later as the Kanawha River at Gauley Bridge and finally empties into the Mississippi River.
The report points out that the New River is one of the best fishing rivers in Virginia. It supports populations of just about every major freshwater game fish in the state such as smallmouth bass, spotted bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, striped bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, muskellunge, walleye, black crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, yellow perch, redbreast sunfish, and bluegill.
EQUIPMENT: Use a 7 to 7 1/2 medium to medium-fast baitcasting or spinning rod. Throw spinnerbaits, crankbaits, Bass Assasins or soft plastic worms.