For me, one of the most pleasurable ways to enjoy the outdoors in late spring and early summer is to float-fish the lower Greenbrier River for smallmouth bass. This is prime time on this southern West Virginia waterway, one of the longest rivers in the United States that hasn't been dammed. And so it was that my wife, Elaine, and I met Dan Hudson, a part-time guide for the Greenbrier River Company in Ronceverte, at the livery's office.

There, the three of us met with Virgil Hanshaw, the long-time operator of the livery. The problem, and it was a good one to have, was to choose from among the many fine trips possible on the lower Greenbrier. The trip I have taken the most on the Greenbrier, Caldwell to Ronceverte (six miles), was certainly an option, as was another favorite of mine, the Ronceverte to Fort Spring run (8.5 miles). On a recent visit, Elaine and I had taken Fort Spring to Alderson (six miles), and we were eager to take that float again. Plus, there were four other possible float trips in the mix.

Finally, Virgil convinced the three of us to venture forth on the Fort Spring to Alderson junket, shortening the trip a bit by putting in at the Greenbrier River Company's campground. Hanshaw's choice turned out to be a good one, as we dueled with several dozen smallmouths including some keeper-sized fish. Before examining the particulars of that float, as well as reviewing the other possibilities, here is an overview of the river.

A BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) biologist Mark Scott works out of the Beckley office. He offers this overview of the Greenbrier.

"The smallmouth fishing on the river was a little slow in 2005, probably because of low recruitment caused by poor spawning success," Scott said. "The high flows in 2002 and 2003 appeared to have affected the spawn. We are seeing those effects now in the fishery because those fish would now be 10 to 12 inches, which is the size most folks catch. On a positive note, the spawn appears to have been fairly successful in 2004 and should have been really good in 2005, so look for excellent fishing in the next few years.

"The Greenbrier River is smaller than the New River but has plenty of great habitat. Since the Greenbrier is a smaller river than the New, anglers can easily cast to either shore when floating. Prime spots are above and below shoal areas, weedbed edges, and rock bars."

Scott said that smallmouths are the major game fish in the river, but anglers do occasionally target flathead and channel catfish. Both exist in fishable populations, but there are probably more flatheads in the river than channel catfish. Other than that, rock bass would be next in line in abundance the biologist guesses.

Regarding trips, Scott raved about the possibilities.