THE GAULEY RIVER
I always find it amazing that relatively few people view the Gauley as a quality smallmouth river. That lack of understanding is, well, understandable. After all, the first 10 miles or so of the river below Summersville Dam are mostly known as a trout and walleye fishery with a fair sprinkling of muskies. Like its sister stream the New, the Gauley is a river best experienced with professional guides who are trained oarsmen. Statistically, the Gauley exhibits even more serious rapids per square mile than the New River does -- reason enough to be cautious.

Also, note that the Gauley is much more inaccessible, especially at its upper reaches, than either the New or Shenandoah. The Lower Canyon section, which basically begins about 10 miles below the Summersville Dam, extends for 14 miles to the town of Swiss. This is the heart of the smallmouth fishing on the Gauley.

On this 14-mile float, you will encounter such rapids as Backender, Junkyard, Diagonal Ledges, Heaven Help Us, Stair Step, Rollercoaster, Rattlesnake, Roostertail and Pure Screaming Hell. The Gauley also receives the nod as the West Virginia stream with the most colorful rapids. All of the preceding rapids rate at least as Class IIIs and many, depending on water levels, go beyond the Class IV ranking.

TACKLE CHOICES FOR WHITEWATER BASSING
Don't tote along ultralight rods and reels, 1/16-ounce jigheads and 4-pound-test mono when you visit any of these three rivers. Ultralight outfits won't enable you to pull lures free of the numerous rocks, boulders and ledges that characterize all three waterways. And small baits and jigheads have no chance of descending far enough into the water column to reach feeding bronzebacks.

I often bring along four or five rods when I am fishing West Virginia's rivers, but I restrict myself to three when I am floating this trio. The reason why is that given the seriousness of the rapids, a rod could bounce from the boat at any time. Of the three I do bring along, one is a medium-heavy baitcaster spooled with 12-pound-test line. This rod is good for muscling fish up through the onrushing water column and for setting the hook hard through tubes, plastic worms and craw worms.

The second rod is a medium-heavy spinning rod, also spooled with 12-pound-test line. I use spinnerbaits, jumbo-sized minnow plugs and 3/8-ounce jigheads with 3- to 4-inch grubs attached. Again, you will need a medium-heavy outfit to wrestle the fish out of the swift water.

My third rod is a medium-action spinning outfit, which is utilized for tossing topwaters. Good choices include buzzbaits, prop baits and chuggers. Buzzbaits are especially good because they can be tossed across the push water that lies immediately above the many rapids.

I enjoy taking my wife, Elaine, on fishing trips where we drift through Class I rapids and scenic pools. West Virginia certainly has a number of these types of trips. But every summer I also like to go whitewater bassing and charge through Class III and above rapids and joust with the super-sized smallmouths found within. So may you.

IF YOU GO
For information on planning a trip to the New or Gauley, contact the Southern West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau, (800) VISIT-WV, www.visitwv.com, or call the New River CVB at (800) 927-0263. For guided trips, contact Class VI River Runners at (800) CLASSVI.

For information on planning a trip to the Shenandoah, contact the Jefferson County CVB at (800) 848-TOUR. For guided trips and boat rental, contact River Riders at (800) 326-RAFT, www.riverriders.com.

Editor's Note: Bruce Ingram is the author of the following books (cost in parentheses): The New River Guide ($15) and The Shenandoah/Rappahannock Rivers Guide ($18.25) post paid. To obtain a copy, send a check to Ingram at P.O. Box 429, Fincastle, VA 24090.