Fishing Virginia: The New River

Key species: Smallmouth, spotted, largemouth, rock, striped, white and hybrid striped bass; muskellunge; walleye; black crappie; channel catfish; flathead catfish; yellow perch; redbreast sunfish and bluegill.

Best time to fish: March through November.

Directions: The New River runs through western Virginia. To get to one of the main sections, take Interstate 81 east out of Wytheville. Turn south onto Interstate 77. This crosses the river at Jackson Ferry, very close to a section of New River State Park.

Description: The New River is unusual in that it flows in a northward direction. It starts in North Carolina, crosses into Virginia then back into North Carolina. The stream reenters Virginia and empties into Claytor Lake. It eventually becomes a tributary of the Mississippi. For most of its journey, the New is surrounded by magnificent scenery. Areas of Class II and III rapids often give way to slow, deep sections.

The fishing: While bigmouths are available in many sections of the river, many trophy fish are caught between Claytor Lake and the West Virginia border.

The state record walleye is from the New. Two hot spots are frequented by pike-perch anglers: Fosters Falls and Buck Dam. The state record muskie also came from the New. Flathead and channel catfish are found throughout the river. Some of the best areas are below Claytor Dam and below Pepper’s Ferry Bridge.

Great panfishing is found throughout the stream. Don’t overlook the side streams.

Fly patterns: Patterns that look like minnows, flashy streamers and bass poppers work well.

Special regulations: Be sure to check with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) for regulations on bass and walleye.

Access: A VDGIF boat ramp is river-left off Route 94 at Riverside Park in Fries. Another ramp is at Byllesby Dam at the end of Route 739 near River Hill. More ramps are in Austinville at the Route 636 bridge, in New River Trail State Park in Foster Falls Village, in Allisonia off Route 693 and at Dedmon Sports Complex at Radford University. VDGIF boat landings are off Route 623 in Whitethorne, on the right bank below Narrows Falls and above the Route 460 bridge in Glen Lyn. Read more at www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/.

Camping: New River Trail State Park parallels the river for 39 miles and operates five campgrounds. Contact the park at 176 Orphanage Dr., Foster Falls, VA 24360, 276-699-6778, www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/newriver.htm. Contact VDGIF, 1796 Hwy. 16, Marion, VA 24354, 276-783-4860, www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing.

Reprinted with permission from Fishing Virginia, written by Martin Freed and Ruta Vaskys and published by The Globe Pequot Press. Fishing Virginia will be released in spring 2007. For more information, e-mail editorial@globepequot.com.