New River Fishing Spots for Catching Smallmouth Bass and Catfish in West Virginia

The New River offers some great fishing opportunities in southern West Virginia from Hinton to Prince. The best way to fish the New River is either by a one-man rubber pontoon boat or a larger rubber raft so you can go through the current and maneuver around the rocks during the summertime when the water level is low on the New River. Plus, by rafting the different sections of the New River you can fish spots that are not accessible by fishing from the bank.

One fishing spot that is fished a lot during the summer and at nighttime is right below the Bluestone Dam in Hinton, West Virginia. Some anglers go out on the dam's spillway at night to fish for catfish. You need to be careful on the spillway because it's slick and the current is strong if they have some of the gates open to the dam.

About a mile down from Bluestone Dam is a bridge that crosses over the New River. There's a public access point on your left driving across the bridge where you can put your pontoon or boat in the water. Fishing this section down to Sandstone Falls offers some great fishing for smallmouth bass. The trip will take all day so be sure to get in the water before daylight. There are a few different sections of rapids on this stretch of the New River where you'll need to use caution such as Brooks Falls. Once you get across the Brooks Falls be sure to fish back toward the falls because you'll catch some nice smallmouth bass in that area.

Remember; exit the river before coming up on Sandstone Falls because you'll kill yourself if you try to go over those falls. It's dangerous and not worth risking your life.

Another great section of fishing the New River is at McCreery located close to Prince, West Virginia. This section of the river has a few more rapids and you should use caution while floating this section of river. The common takeout point of floating this section of the New River is called Stone Cliff. You'll catch some nice smallmouth bass through this section.

Also, if you just like to catfish or what I call bucket fish just about any spot on the New River from Hinton to Prince is great. I've had some luck using chicken livers fishing for catfish on the New River. Some people use smelly cheese and other type baits when fishing for catfish. A great fishing tip to keep your bait on your hook is to use sewing thread so you can wrap the bait on the hook this will help when you cast out into the water and for letting your bait set out in the water.

There are a lot of great fishing areas on the New River, but use caution if you're floating the river. If you've never floated an area try to hang to the right side of the river while floating because it will keep you closer to the bank in case you hit some rapids that might flip your boat.