3 days on the New River Virginia

[mzrealfish]

Every year I take my dad on a canoe trip for Father’s Day.  The past 3 years we did canoes on the New River in NC.   West Jefferson area.  Tons of fun.  Caught some small smallmouth all under 2 lbs.  We did, however, catch quite a few rainbows on lures.  Craw cranks, shad cranks, shad swim jigs.  
 

This year we moved down river into Virginia.  Day 1 and 2 day trips with Paddler’s Creekside Campground.  Brian and Ryan, husband and wife owners were awesome.  Brand new to craft rental but exceptional!

My sister and my 2 daughters joined us.  The 4 of them in canoes and I, in a kayak.  This is a new thing to me.  I am accustomed to canoes because my old crew always camps on the banks.  
 

I am now a yak fan and day tripping fan.  
 

M

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Collectively in 2 days we only caught about 25 fish.  Almost all were smallmouth   A few goggleyes.  1 Walleye.  
 

This river is almost exclusively slab bottom.  Some ruts down facing.  Others, up facing.  I spent a lot of time running “riffles” ahead of them to scope best canoe crossings.  The riffles were mostly class 1.  Some were class 2.

Dsy 3, they all had to return to the real world.  School, annual physical…

I had a grueling 14 hour solo drive back to KC so I said to myself, “self, I think it would be best to do another 10.5 mile kayak run further down river before attempting that drive!”

I was correct.

Monday I put on with Shawn and Noah at Tangent Outfitters in Pemboke, Virginia.  These guys were stud.  Shawn looked at my tackle and said “those offerings are great but this water is mostly 2-5 feet deep in the fishing zones.  You should grab a couple of square bills off my wall of goodies.”

I grabbed an iridescent red craw, a spring craw and a white shad black back.

 

I never even threw my green on green jig and worm that caught most of my fish day 1 and 2. 
 

1st cast I saw a stand alone boulder in slack water and hit just above it with the iridescent.  Gave 2 quick tug tugs and game on.   Nothing fancy but a 1st cast smallie gave me a half roll of quarters instantly.

In 5 hours I completed my 10.5 mile journey.  Gave up counting at 30.  All smallmouth.  Best estimates 50-55 fish.  15 easily over 2 lbs.  All in incredibly fast and lengthy mostly class 2 “riffles”.  I spent most of my time paddling back up to the good runs that were incredibly wide.   Some over 200 feet wide.  My best runs were the 2nd and 2nd to the last.  8-10 fish out of each.

Pictures were the challenge.  To get the phone out of my chest pocket under the IMO very necessary life jacket and out of the double ziplock bag took valuable time from staying  in the best water and catching.

 

I guess next year, waterproof camera is required.  I shall return!  Both hosts were amazing.  If I could only do 1 I’d book Tangent 6x trip again 🫡

 

 

 

[mzrealfish]

[mzrealfish]

[mzrealfish]

Sorry for not having the best of my smallmouth catches documented.  I blame my wife for requiring me to be able to check in every hour on a river in the middle of nowhere or she’s calling search and rescue.  
 

Peace

[Al Agnew]

I've floated and fished the New several times.  Gorgeous river and the rapids are fun in a solo canoe, too...but I've never been impressed with the fishing.  I do better on Ozark streams.

[mzrealfish]

I agree Al.  I’ve definitely caught better fish here in Missouri.  
 

My dad lives outside Charlotte.  My girls are in Charleston and Columbia SC.  I seem to have to go that direction if I want to see them🤔

[snagged in outlet 3]

Nice trip!!   Thanks for the report.  

[Johnsfolly]

Sounds like a fun family trip and solo effort! Thanks for the report and the photos!