Wading For New River Smallmouths

Wading for New River Smallmouths

By Ralph Scherder

The first time I fished New River was on a cold, rainy April afternoon. The cold wasn’t enough to deter the whitewater rafters, though. Rafts filled with screaming high school kids floated by with surprising frequency.

To get away from the activity, I drove upriver to a public access area near Thurmond. From there I hiked another mile up a foot trail until I was well away from the school buses dropping off more kids for their journey downriver. After I’d considered the coast clear, I made my way down over a steep embankment and made a few casts. Within minutes I hooked my first New River smallmouth, a pre-spawn 15-incher.

The most popular way to fish New River is by raft. Although a float trip has several advantages such as covering more territory and having a guide to help you, it’s not the only way to fish New River. Wading is just as effective, not to mention easier on the pocket book.

The sheer size of New River is often enough to discourage people from wade fishing. The current is powerful as it rushes down through the New River Gorge, which is dotted with class IV and V rapids. Just the sight of all that whitewater sends shivers along my spine – it’s like looking at the frothing jaws of a lion. However, there are plenty of calm stretches where a fisherman can find safe wading and ample bass.

If you plan to wade fish New River, the first thing you should do is buy a map of the region. DeLorme makes a great West Virginia atlas/gazetteer with detailed topographical maps. The atlas lists everything from railroad tracks to hiking trails and costs about $20.

I frequently consult my atlas while navigating between New River access points. Because New River winds through such desolate country, access points are few and far between, and often there is a short cut that can get me from fishing spot to fishing spot more quickly. Essentially there are three access points where I do most of my fishing – Thurmond, Cunard-Kaymoor, and the Gorge proper.

Of the three points, Thurmond is my favorite. Follow Route 19 South to Route 16/61. From there, follow the signs to Thurmond. Before crossing the bridge in Thurmond, however, bear right onto a gravel road which parallels the river. Follow the gravel road all the way to the end, where it opens up into a large parking lot.

Thurmond is the put-in place for many of the high school rafting trips. From there the rafters usually float to and pull-out at the Gorge proper, 15-20 miles downriver. The area immediately around the parking lot is usually chaos, especially on weekends, as people wearing wetsuits and carrying paddles fill the lot. If I’m fishing there on the weekend, I hike up the trail found at the far end of the parking lot. It’s a well-used and noticeable trail, and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding it.

The Thurmond area of New River is fairly quiet and easy wading. There are not as many huge boulders in this area as in the Gorge proper. Many of the banks are much more gradual, and during the summer when the water is low, you can safely wade out to fish the pools.

The Cunard-Kaymoor access point is just as secluded as Thurmond and also offers the opportunity to hike one of the trails that lead down to the river. Follow Route 19 South to Fayetteville, and then turn left onto Route 16. Follow the signs to Cunard.

The road to Cunard eventually ends in a large parking lot and small campground. Camping is $5 per night, and parking is $1 per day. I’ve never pitched a tent there but have seen many others do so. Accommodations are primitive and a small camp store offers the basic goods for sale.

The dollar parking fee is well worth the scenic hike to the river. The trail is on a steep slope, which is fine when going down; it’s walking back up that’s the problem. Many people neglect this part of the river for that very reason. The parking lot is seldom crowded, and the hike to the river gives me time to imagine the fishing I’ll encounter when I get there.

The New River Gorge proper (the part directly below Route 19) is probably the most formidable part of the river to fish. Much of the shore is lined with huge, vehicle-sized boulders as well as slick slate rock that makes for dangerous wading. When I wade this part of the river, I always wear boots with felt-lined soles that grip the bottom. In fact, felt-lined soles are a good idea no matter what part of New River you’re fishing.

This part of the river, though, is classic smallmouth water. The huge boulders provide plenty of habitat and slow backwashes to work with lures or live bait. This part of the river has considerably more ledges and drop-offs where bass like to hold as well.

Mostly I fish this part of New River in the evening, after the rafters are out of the water. This area receives a fair amount of fishing pressure, so I walk the railroad tracks up or downriver until I find a quiet place to fish.

Year-round, no matter which section of the river you’re fishing, hellgrammites are one of the most consistently effective baits. The hellgrammites found in New River are of the extra large variety, 4-5 inches long. Occasionally I seine a shallow part of the river and soon have all the hellgrammites I need. They can also be found by over-turning rocks near shore.

Salamanders work well, too. According to Frank Edwards, owner of Frank’s Bait Shop near Thurmond, when it comes to salamanders, bigger is better. “Use a size 4 hook through the salamander’s lips, and hold on,” he says, “’cause it won’t take long before a bass snatches it up.”

For artificial lures, I carry an assortment of crankbaits, with shad and crayfish patterns being my primary choice. Occasionally I switch to an in-line spinner such a Mepps and have success. I tend to catch more fish with silver blades rather than gold, but that may be because I use the silver-bladed spinners more often.

The advantage wade fishing has over a float trip is that I can fish slow and at my own pace. I work the water methodically, making sure to cover every pocket and water break within casting reach. That’s the way I fish no matter what species I’m targeting or where I’m fishing. I switch back and forth between lures and bait until I find out what’s working best that particular day. I find it more challenging and personally rewarding to figure things out on my own rather than have a guide present to do my troubleshooting for me.

During your first trip to New River Gorge, I highly suggest stopping at the visitor’s center near the Route 19 bridge, which is the highest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. At the visitor’s center you’ll find information about the history of New River Gorge. A short film plays frequently throughout the day for anyone with a few minutes to spare.

Not only is New River the oldest river in North America, but it flows in nearly the same bed as it did millions of years ago. The Gorge was formed by a unique combination of erosion and uplift – that is, as the river continued on its same course, the land around it raised to create the Gorge.

When I first fished New River, I was amazed by the loudness of the rushing water. It’s so loud you can’t hear much except the occasional train whistle down through the Gorge, or the exhilarating screams of whitewater rafters. Even still, the roar of the water is relentless and it stays with you long after you’ve left the river.

Ralph Scherder’s book The Taxidermist’s Son can now be ordered at www.rockspringpress.com.