By Dr. Peter Brookes
Besides being one of the finest warmwater fisheries in the Eastern United States, the iconic New River in Southwestern Virginia provides a classic case of what your high school English teacher might call a “misnomer.”
The New River is hardly new.
While the river was new at one time to the English explorers who gave the waterway its name, the 320-mile New River is now considered to be one of the world’s oldest rivers; many geologists estimate it to be the second oldest river after Egypt’s Nile. We’re talking 300 million years old.
At a minimum, geochronologists think the New River probably ranks in the top 10 of the world’s oldest rivers; most experts seem to agree that it’s America’s oldest river, certainly the oldest on the East Coast. Interestingly, the New also flows north (actually northwest) from its North Carolina headwaters through Virginia for 160 miles and then into West Virginia. This contrasts with most Eastern U.S. rivers that flow southerly. The New’s waters eventually empty into the mighty Mississippi.
And, fluvial fun facts aside, this time of year, it’s one of Virginia’s best-kept smallmouth bass fishing secrets. Indeed, the New is considered one of the best bronzeback fisheries in Virginia alongside the James, Shenandoah, and Rappahannock. It’s also one of the best in the Eastern U.S. outside of the likes of the Susquehanna, Delaware, and St. Lawrence rivers.
For trophy smallies, the New is understandably on the bucket list of many Virginia and out-of-state conventional/fly anglers. Indeed, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) told me that more than 95 citation-sized smallmouth (i.e., 20 inches long and or 5 lbs.) have been caught (and reported to DWR) in the river so far just this year.
No surprise that the current DWR state record for smallmouth bass—a brute of 8 lbs. 1 oz.—was caught in the New in 2003. While that mailbox of a fish is clearly in the “super-citation” category, I’m guessing that there are even bigger bronzebacks in the New. I’ve heard it said more than once: If you want to catch a boulder beast of a lifetime, go to the New River.
But it’s not all good news for the New.
The river has fish species of concern: the Alabama bass, a recent invasive. This aggressive bass looks very similar to the spotted bass, and biologists worry it could not only outcompete largemouth, but hybridize with smallmouth and spotted bass, potentially undermining the fishery’s vitality. To prevent this, anglers can assist DWR with its surveillance of Alabama bass in the New River–and elsewhere in Virginia waters by reporting and documenting a suspected Alabama Bass catch.
I feel comfortable writing that the New River ranks among the top-tier warm water fisheries in the Eastern U.S., especially for smallmouth bass, walleye, and muskie; some consider it a top-five to top-10 destination for warm water fishing east of the Mississippi River. Whether visiting the New River is old or new for you, you can get your Virginia fishing license online here or, better yet, download the Go Outdoors Virginia Mobile App from which you can get DWR info and or buy a fishing (or other) license on the fly.
The New has incredible biodiversity for an inland, non-estuarine river, offering ancient geology, striking scenery, and year-round opportunities for great fishing. It’s a waterway where anglers can come for a shot at something special, including a DWR fishing citation and or record.
Perhaps best of all: It’s right here in Virginia.
Dr. Peter Brookes is an award-winning outdoor writer. Hook up with him at brookesoutdoors@aol.com