New River Smallmouth

[scottb123]

I'll be around the Christiansburg/Blacksburg area next week, and was curious to see what the smallmouth are curently taking?  I will be mainly fly fishing, but will also carry my spinning rod.  I heard ~3.5inch Gulp minnows work like a charm, and would love some suggestions.  Also, any good honey holes and flies that folks would like to reveal, I will take those too!  Thanks in advance, and enjoy your summer!

[SonnyDeezy]

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!

[Fat-G]

  Quote

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!

My friend (guide on the James) turned me to these...http://www.thewrightbait.com/

They're the best grubs I've ever used.

[newriverfisherman1953]

The Parrot/McCoy area is probably your best bet for wading.  Early morning or late evening will be your best time.  I don't fly fish, but a friend of mine does.  He does pretty well with poppers and streamers.  I would use small Rapalas, grubs and senkos.  If you don't mind to use live bait, it would be good too.