The New River can be a rough experience, however. In some sections it’s best described as a series of rough, treacherous rapids that can be life threatening to novice boaters. It’s not all like that, however. Some sections contain long, slow-moving, deep pools.

According to Scott, some of the better smallmouth fishing is from the Interstate 64 bridge at Sandstone down to the Grandview Sandbar. This 12-mile section of the river is catch-and-release only and offers a wide variety of habitat for both fish and angler. It’s also home to some of the biggest and hardest-fighting smallies in West Virginia. Fish up to 20 inches are caught from these waters.

In-line spinners, tail spinners and grubs on leadhead jigs are the baits of choice for most local anglers. Fish them under cut banks, along any shoreline cover or around any blow-downs you can find. And never -- not for any reason -- pass by a current break, regardless of what creates it.

Light, abrasion-resistant line is a must in these waters. Make sure you take along plenty of lures and line. No matter where you throw, or what you throw, you’ll lose a bunch of both. There’s no way to avoid it. If you fish where the fish are, you’re going to lose lures and line. Accept it as the price of fishing this extraordinary river.

Biologist Scott also recommends -- strongly recommends -- a guide on the first trip or two. “It’s just too dangerous if you’re not experienced. There are several Class III and Class IV rapids in the water. It’s no place for a johnboat.” For those who choose to ignore his advice, he suggests they confine their fishing to the upper three or four miles of the river.

Water conditions on the New can change quickly. Check with the DNR’s District IV office at (304) 256-6947 before making a long drive.

THE KANAWHA RIVER
According to DNR District V assistant fisheries biologist Jeff Hansbarger, the Kanawha River, from Point Pleasant to Charleston, supports an excellent population of smallmouth bass.

One of the best places to fish is right in front of the state capitol building. (You can’t miss it -- it sports a gold dome that can be seen for miles.) The downtown area has been renovated and a part of that effort has gone into the riverfront. There’s a long stretch of rock and concrete steps and benches that extends out into the water.

This is fluke territory. Rig one weightless with a Daiichi bleeding bait circle hook through the nose and fish it with a medium weight open- faced spinning outfit. Toss it out, all the way against the bank, and twitch it along until you get a bite. Let it sink from time to time as it travels back toward your boat.

If that doesn’t work, use an old-fashioned Texas-rigged plastic worm -- any color will do so long as it’s 4 inches long. Allow long pauses between short lifts for best results. This technique allows the bait to settle down into cracks and crevices between the rocks, and gives any wary smallie plenty of time to decide if it wants to eat.