West Virginia Wildlife from Eyewitness News

Float Fishing

Get off the river bank, and do some float fishing.

September 12, 2007
Reporter: Patrick McMurtry
Videographer: Brad Rice

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Wow..What a great day to be on the new river. We spent the day exploring what's biting on a fall float trip.

Mark Scott/DNR Fish Biologist says:
"The New is probably the best small mouth stream in the state, I would say. Tons of smallmouth! We've had a couple of down years, but it's up from good spawns and recruitment, so I'd expect things to keep improving over the years. in the spring, we shock up 3 and 4 pound small mouth."

We didn't see any of those big guys, we're either way late or maybe a little early for the monsters to hit.

DNR Fish Biologist says:
"Any time is good, if you want big fish, you want to be out here in March and April and then they kind of disappear. You start catching smaller fish, 10-14" throughout the summer.

In the fall is my favorite time, September to October. When the big ones start coming up to feed again and the fall foliage is nice, it's a good time to be out."

But you need to remember the fall is a busy time on the new, and this is one big river. You have to keep a close eye where you are at all times. Scott says if you're eying the new for the first time, you might want to go with someone who knows the river.

DNR Fish Biologist says:
"We recommend that if you're floating the New, you go with an outfitter the first time or two unless you're very experienced on the water. This is a big river, the section today, from Sand Stone is not too bad, you can do it in the boats we have here, ducky and 2 man pontoon boats."

Perfect for a parent and their kid to do a little bonding while catching some big smallmouth.

For west virginia wildlife, i'm patrick mcmurtry..See ya on the new!