Biologist Yokum stressed that Stonecoal will not put up great numbers from a muskie standpoint, but if you are after a 45- to 50-inch fish, then Stonecoal is tough to beat. Jerry's Sporting Goods is just off the western edge of the lake and carries most of the latest, hottest baits the avid muskie angler may need.

NEW RIVER SMALLIES
For those folks who have a hankering for some top-flight smallmouth bass fishing, you can hardly go wrong when focusing your efforts on the lower New River from Thurmond, upstream to Shanklins Ferry at the Virginia line. Over the past 10 years, a number of the whitewater outfitters have been targeting the fine black bass fishing later in the season as it often gives them additional business before the fall whitewater releases.

This fishing, if you can catch it when the water levels are right, can be world class. Four- to 5-pound smallies are not uncommon and there are occasional 6-pound-plus fish boated by anglers with the expertise and the prerequisite amount of luck.

A recent conversation with former outdoor television host, Ed Hayne (Channel 12, WOWK, Charleston), who has floated and fished the New River extensively from the Virginia line downstream to Hawks Nest State Park, provided considerable grist for the fishing mill. Hayne said that the New could be super through the first two weeks of October.

Hayne also stressed how critical it is to have a properly fitting personal flotation vest, as this huge, brawling river should not be taken lightly. He also mentioned that you would do well to focus more on the middle river structure and not the river's banks, as many folks are prone to do.

Hayne said that he likes tiny Torpedo plugs, Bass Assassins, crankbaits), super flukes and pig-and-jigs when using spinning or casting gear. When fly-fishing, he said his best success is on Woolly Buggers with a tungsten beadhead, Clouser minnows, Sneaky Pete's, popping bugs, and bubble puppies. Hayne favors a 6-foot medium-action spinning rod and a reel loaded with 8-pound-test mono. When fly-fishing, he opts for a 9-foot rod that would comfortably handle a 7X, weight-forward floating line.

These trips often can be turned into multiple day adventures when you add in a night or two of camping on the river. There are a number of outfitters who provide top tier guiding service on the New River. The key here is to make certain you do the requisite background homework to ensure you are connected with a good outfitter. If you really want to get the most out of your initial exposure to this super fishery, hire a good guide and the expenditure will be more than offset by the fabulous fishing this river usually provides at this time of year.

How you approach the New River will more than likely be determined by water levels. If it is still down at late-summer flows, chances are good that both spin- and fly-fishing anglers can have a good time of it with their topwater offerings. However, if flows are up, you will probably have to fish subsurface lures, especially if want a chance to hang the bigger smallmouth bass. Again, do not forget to focus your efforts on the middle river structure! Chances are good you may catch a 4- to 5-pound bass. You might be able to hang one of those bigger bronzebacks.

TYGART LAKE WHITE BASS
When I start thinking about super white bass fishing, Tygart Lake immediately comes to mind. After all, Tygart Lake contains excellent numbers of these voracious panfish. Fall is a great time to be on Tygart. All you will need to get into a mess of these hyperactive fish is a small ultra- light spinning rod and some small pearl spoons, in-line spinners, micro jigs or spinner-fly tandem rigs.

Just cruise the edges of the cover and search for the schools of white bass chasing down pods of emerald shiners. When you spot a pod of the schooling bass, cast out ahead of the school and quickly retrieve your lure back through it. Kind of like fishing to stripers except on a much smaller scale!

You will usually find white bass in some type of cover or just off one of the points that project out into the lake. Tygart Lake is easily accessed either off U.S. Route 119 at Pleasants Creek or through the state park on the east side of the lake off county Route 44 out of Grafton.

For this type of fishing, lightweight tackle, such as 4 1/2- to 5 1/2-foot ultralight spinning rods and reels filled with 2- to 4-pound-test monofilament, is the way to go. If the lake is ultra-clear, which it normally is at this time of year, you will probably want to lean toward the lighter line.

The fly-rodder can get in on this action, too, by casting small wet flies and little streamers once a pod of fish is located. Tygart Lake is also home to some jumbo-sized yellow perch, which you will turn up on occasion while crappie fishing here. A tastier bonus fish one will never find!

There's a state-run campground that can handle a decent number of RVs, a tent camping area and the cabins at the state park that are moderately priced. These cabins each have a fireplace, a kitchen, comfortable beds and a shower.

OHIO RIVER CATFISH
When it comes to top-drawer channel catfish angling, one needs to look no farther than the mighty Ohio River. There are a number of areas one might consider; but for just numbers and accessibility, the Hannibal Pool and its tailwaters would be a good place to start one's efforts. Moundsville sits almost smack in the middle of the Hannibal Pool, which is approximately 42 miles long. There are 70 different tributaries that enter the river over the length of this stretch of river.