Hey guys,

So I am currently in college in Blacksburg, which is more in the mountains than where I am originally from and where I learned to fish. I don’t have a kayak here, and there are very few ponds to bank fish. This led me to the new river. I have not fished rivers much at all, only maybe one or two other times. What is the best strategy to find spots and catch smallmouth from the bank? Do any of you know of good spots for me to try around the Blacksburg area?

Thanks for the help,

Bryce

Someone else can give New River specific advice, but I grew up fishing a bunch of rivers just like that. Your best bet- cover water. Have a good pair of hiking boots and put the time in. River smallies are generally pretty aggressive so moving lures will show you where they are. Inline spinners swung through the current, smaller flukes (unweighted or lightly weighted texas rig), small topwaters like a tiny buzzbait or 75 size plopper, and paddle tails in the 3" range are all going to catch fish.

Fish in current tend to want to find current breaks. Whether that is bigger holes or smaller holes in the middle of moving water. They will want some kind of structure/cover to hang out with. Finding chunk rocks (bigger than a bowling ball) in deeper runs is a pretty sure way to find fish.

2 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Someone else can give New River specific advice, but I grew up fishing a bunch of rivers just like that. Your best bet- cover water. Have a good pair of hiking boots and put the time in. River smallies are generally pretty aggressive so moving lures will show you where they are. Inline spinners swung through the current, smaller flukes (unweighted or lightly weighted texas rig), small topwaters like a tiny buzzbait or 75 size plopper, and paddle tails in the 3" range are all going to catch fish.

Fish in current tend to want to find current breaks. Whether that is bigger holes or smaller holes in the middle of moving water. They will want some kind of structure/cover to hang out with. Finding chunk rocks (bigger than a bowling ball) in deeper runs is a pretty sure way to find fish.

Thank you. I need to just spend some time out there trying things out. Do you think it’s been warm enough to start catching them?

Good bank fishing spots are hard to find. McCoy area or Parrott area is your best bet. Wading is good, but be careful. The river is dangerous. Yes they are biting! You might not get the numbers of later on, but the size is much better now. Good luck!

1 hour ago, newriverfisherman1953 said:

Good bank fishing spots are hard to find. McCoy area or Parrott area is your best bet. Wading is good, but be careful. The river is dangerous. Yes they are biting! You might not get the numbers of later on, but the size is much better now. Good luck!

Thank you. When you say McCoy are you talking about the big falls area near the junction? I have been there a couple times and caught 1. Where do you fish from the bank at parrot?

Near McCoy the Whitethorn area and below the falls are your best access. Much of it is simply too shallow from the bank but you can find a couple of places that are ok. The road near Parrott follows the river. There are a few pull off spots that you can park and fish. Most of it is pretty shallow. It’s good wade fishing in the summer.

On 3/16/2026 at 4:50 PM, newriverfisherman1953 said:

Good bank fishing spots are hard to find. McCoy area or Parrott area is your best bet. Wading is good, but be careful. The river is dangerous. Yes they are biting! You might not get the numbers of later on, but the size is much better now. Good luck!

As a native of SWVA, this can't be stated enough, especially wading in the spring. Like most streams/rivers on our end of the state, it's rocky, slick, and the spring flow produces currents that are stronger than you think.

1 hour ago, JDHoss said:

As a native of SWVA, this can't be stated enough, especially wading in the spring. Like most streams/rivers on our end of the state, it's rocky, slick, and the spring flow produces currents that are stronger than you think.

I will be careful, and trust me I believe you. I am from around fredericksburg VA and have heard stories of the rappahannock taking lives time and time again.