I went to school at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, so the New River is familiar territory that I miss now that I live in Northern Virginia.
Try a hellgrammite on your line... the smallmouth in the New River love them this time of year. You can find them under rocks in and by the river, or you can pick up artificials or live ones from some of the local bait shops. Make sure you cut the pinchers off the back or else they'll old the bottom.
Good Luck!
