Eastbound and Down River - March 25th, 2026

 

Easterly wind on the New river pushes you down the river, which in a kayak is much much better than an up wind river that stalls you out and prevents you from fishing effectively. 

I floated solo again on the New. Warm day about 65 degree with 53 degree water temps. Pretty steady and at times heavy wind from the East pushing me down the river. I got on a square bill bite early again. This time with bigger 1.5 and 2.0 size. Mad Tomato Craw was the best color until one broke me off and took my only one in that color. I should have replaced my line before now. Still a pretty solid day for March. I think my Coldwater = 60 degree strategy is changing. I used to sit in one spot dead sticking tubes forever and fighting hang up after hang-up. But that is so slow and really never fit my style. I think the play now is get a square bill and cover an obscene amount of water with it.  Could do the same typle thing with suspending jerk bait or slow rolled spinner bait. Looking for big bait but covering a lot of water to do it. Either way this tactic is 2 for 2 in March. 

Total Fish = 6

Biggest fish = 15"

Best 5 Fish = 68"

Minutes per fish = 37.5

2026 Fish Catch Total = 15

First Smallmouth of 2026 - March 22nd, 2026

 

 

I floated solo on the New for the first time after along winter layoff. The water was up just a touch and had some stain, typical for mid March. With the water getting above 50 degrees and the afternoon air at 80 degrees I figures some smallmouth had to move up, even if only for the afternoon. I started off fishing slow with Ned rig and tube jig, but he wind was blowing 10 to 20mph and shifting directions up and down river. I was not able to maintain boat control and finsesse fish int he higher flows and wind so I switched to a sqaure bill and started covering water. I soon started finding fish on very shallow, sunny, rocky banks that also had some wood near by. Several times I got strikes after banging the KVD 1.0 off of wood. I ended up catching 6, loosing two more, and missing one more. Not bad for a March afternoon. 

Total Fish = 6

Best 5 fish = 67.5"

Biggest Fish = 16.25"

Mintues Per Fish = 26.5

2026 Fish Catch Total = 9

Something For the Effort - March 11th, 2026

 

I made the loop from 219 in Lewisburg up to Marlinton, fished Knapps all the way down to 92 then fished Anthony all the way back to 219 in Lewisburg. I caught only 3, missed two and lost two. The weather was nice and the water was more low and clear than I would have like. There were way too many people out on the water for it to be a mid week day. After a long enjoyable day at least the first fish of 2026 are in the books. 

Total Fish = 3

Hours Fished = 3.25h

Minutes per Fish = 65

2026 Fish Catch Total = 3 

End Of The Year Stats - December 26th, 2025

 2025 has proven to be a good year for number of fish and fishing efficiency while also being a year that lead to significant transition in how I want to fish going forward. In 2025 if fished 51 days at 12 different venues (Two farm ponds, Glade Creek, Knapps Creek, Bluestone Lake, Claytor Lake, Mountain Valley Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Norman, New River VA, New River WV,  Greenbrier River).  In those 51 outings I documented landing a record for me 1,551 fish over at total of 212.5 hours fished. I averaged 30.41 fish per trip, also a record high for me. I landed on average a fish every 8.22 minutes over the course of a year which equates to 7.29 fish per hour while on the water. 

  I made the decision this year to go away from lake fishing and spend more time on rivers and streams. The minutes per fish has been running between 4.5 to 6 times higher on rivers versus lakes. Lakes have become a zoo since covid and forward facing sonar. I want to spend more time on less pressured waters and avoid other anglers where possible. The other decision that drives this is cost. The cost of traveling to good lakes the cost of maintaining and insuring a boat just don't add up when we have arguably the best smallmouth river fisheries in entire country at my doorstep. I sold my Ranger in September and plan on using my Jackson Coosa HD to pick up the slack created by no longer having a big boat. There was one trip to Smith Mountain Lake after a three day Cabalas Big Bass Event that also involved a cold front that was a primary driver of my decision making process. 

In 2026 I want to spend more time on the New River in VA and WV as well as the Greenbrier. I hope to see a few sections of each that I have yet to fish. I want to get back to Cranberry and Smoke Hole for a day or two when the conditions are right. I also want to do a trip to the South Branch of the Potomac and a trip to the Susky in PA this spring/summer.  My fish catch goal will be lower this year likely only 1,000 instead of 1,500. I want to pursue quality over quantity and I may do some mid summer fly fishing for bass also that will drag my catch rate and totals down some. 

2025 Year End Stats: 

- 51 days fished

-12 fishing locations in three different states

-1,551 fish caught 

- 212.5 hours fished = 12,750 minutes fished. 

- 30.4 fish per trip

-8.22 minutes per fish 

-7.29 fish per hour

- Biggest fish = 5lbs. 8oz. LMB from Bluestone Lake in March only bite I got in 7 hours of fishing

- Most productive Lure = Zoom Super Fluke (Chartreuse) 

- Runner Up = Joe Fly Elite in line spinner. 

Sunday Afternoon on the River - September 28th, 2025

 Mike and I did an afternoon float. There were some storm that come through yesterday and knocked a bunch of dead grass loose that made it a little tougher than last time. The water temp is till hanging around 76 degrees in the afternoon and bass are chasing good. We did have a little wind but we were able to get in some cloud cover that helped with the bite. 

Total Fish = 51

Biggest Fish = 17.0"

Best 5 Fish = 74"

Minutes Per Fish = 3.8

2025 Annual Fish Catch Total = 1,551

Fall's Very Best - September 24th, 2025

 

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

 I fished solo on what was the best conditions day of the fall so far. I caught a rain front pushing in and fished much of the day in the rain. It started off slow but as the rain picked up the numbers and size of fish did as well. I ended up catching 92 in 4 hours and 45 minutes of fishing, but also had 7 fish over 15" while somehow managing to loose two 18 to 20" class fish. I pushed forward and longer to try to reach my 2025 goal of 1500 fish which I was able to do. You never know when hurricane rain is gonna close out the year early. They were on deep structure ledge in the middle of the river primarily. The water was a perfect level of clear and what little wind I did have was pushing down river. 

Total Fish = 92

Biggest Fish = 17.25"

Best Five Fish = 80.5"

Minutes per Fish = 3.4

2025 Fish Catch Total = 1500

Quality Overtaking Quantity - September 17th, 2025

 I fished my usual run. The bite was good from daylight at 7:30am until 9:15am or so when the wind kicked up and the fog burned off. I am seeing the number of fish > 13" go up while numbers are slowly trending down as we begin the ascent into the darkness of the winter months. I crosssed over the 1,400 fish mark for the year. My goal is to try to get to 1,500 fish in 2025. 

Total Fish  = 35

Biggest Fish = 18"

Best 5 Fish =  71.25"

Minutes per Fish = 6 

2025 Annual Fish Catch Total = 1,409

September Runup - September 6th, 2025

 

                             

Brad, Colt, and I floated at day break with some rain headed in for the afternoon. Other than about 20 minutes of wind it was near perfect conditions. We caught size and numbers not seen since spring, Colt was pumped because he caught a 16” fish right at takeout. 

Total Trip Fish = 115

My Fish = 63

Biggest Fish = 18”

Best Fish 5 Fish = 67”

Minutes per Fish = 3.33

2025 Fish Total = 1374