Had an EXCELLENT week last week, and just wanted to share! On Monday, fishing with Stu - caught my new pb smallie: 20.5", and 4 lbs 7oz on my Rapala digital scales! (I'm wearing the white shirt)

Had a great day that day...we both caught some really nice fish all day on the white spinnerbait, fluke, and this momma came near the end of the day, on a Mattlures Babybass (Smallmouth pattern).

Big Momma was sitting in about 4 ft of water, on a muddy little point that had some sporadic, submerged grass clumps. I caught another smallie on the same point, then she hit. Look at her belly!! I imagine that she was just sitting there, hidden in the grass, swiping at anything that dared to swim by!

On the way home from the lake, my Uncle Jack calls and wants to know if I can go on Friday up to the New River. He fishes there all the time, and I usually go with him two or three times a year (mainly in the spring and then again in the fall). So, anyways, after a lot of cajooling with my wife (how can she say "no", after I just caught my new record, right?!? ), I agree to go.

On Thur. evening, I'm reading my new Bassmaster, and there is an article about Mike Smith, who has an awesome guide service on the Upper New and has written several books about fishing in Southwest VA. He's talking about fishing buzzfrogs for smallies on the River! I'm sure you have, or will, read the same article. Anyways, I decide to give it a try, as we normally throw topwater first thing.

And, boy, am I glad that I did! As Mike indicates in his article - this is not necessarily a "numbers" method, but you'll certainly select for the bigger fish! I had only been fishing for about 10 mins, and she was the only fish that I caught on the frog. (I am wearing a blue sweatshirt and Frog Togs in this pic)

She measured 22.25", according to Uncle Jack's Golden Rule. And Jack is about the most honest person I know, so I'm glad that, if I was going to catch a big fish, that it was with him, and not with some of the "less savory characters" that I am known to fish with sometimes ;D ;D ;D.

Funny thing is that, while driving to the lake with Stu, I told him that I would love to catch a fish that was so obviously over the minimum size for a citation, that we wouldn't even have to bother measuring it! Didn't quite happen that day (although this fish turned out to be citation-size), but did happen later that same week!

Nice fish, man! Where on the new? Some buddies and I are gonna be down there next weekend.

What a week. well done.

That's awesome!!!

Yes, please give us some advice. I'm been reading stuff about the new that's got me nervous.

Nice fish, man! Where on the new? Some buddies and I are gonna be down there next weekend.

Thanks for the kind words!

The entire New River is loaded with nice smallmouths! No joke! Above Claytor Lake, there are some really nice smallies, and you have a shot at walleye, musky, and even the occasional striper or hybrid.

We normally fish down below the city of Radford, near the Arsenal. This area has always produced a number of nice fish, including a couple of decent muskies.  Even further downstream, at the Whitethorne to McCoy area, the river really flattens out, there are some bigger, deeper holes, and there is some real hog hunting that goes on! Both monster smallmouth and monster musky live there! I've even heard of some decent largemouth that have been caught down there.

Of course, being near both VT and Radford, the "view" at McCoy Falls would not be too bad either this time of the year...especially if you get a nice, hot, sunny day!

Of course, being near both VT and Radford, the "view" at McCoy Falls would not be too bad either this time of the year...especially if you get a nice, hot, sunny day!

I think I know where we're going! 

Those are beauties. CONGRATULATIONS!

                                 

Those are beauties. CONGRATULATIONS!

RW- Thanks soooo much!  You don't know how much that means, esp coming from you! For years now, I have admired your avatar and have wanted to catch a coupla' piggies like yours!

Appreciate your kindness!

Nicely done.  Those are some nice looking fish you are holding. 

Congrats those are some nice smallies.

WWWWOOOOOOWWWW!!!!

GREAT JOB!!

I wish I could catch smallies like that  :'(

Nice fish, man! Where on the new? Some buddies and I are gonna be down there next weekend.

Thanks for the kind words!

The entire New River is loaded with nice smallmouths! No joke! Above Claytor Lake, there are some really nice smallies, and you have a shot at walleye, musky, and even the occasional striper or hybrid.

We normally fish down below the city of Radford, near the Arsenal. This area has always produced a number of nice fish, including a couple of decent muskies. Even further downstream, at the Whitethorne to McCoy area, the river really flattens out, there are some bigger, deeper holes, and there is some real hog hunting that goes on! Both monster smallmouth and monster musky live there! I've even heard of some decent largemouth that have been caught down there.

Of course, being near both VT and Radford, the "view" at McCoy Falls would not be too bad either this time of the year...especially if you get a nice, hot, sunny day!

Nice! That's exactly where we will be! Thanks, man. I hope to get on one that size!

Any idea what the water temperature was?

Are there any temp gauges on line? I see the USGS levels, but no temps.

I think I know that area.

Some of the USGS stations used to have temperature readings but I don't think any of them have them anymore.