New River (New River Gorge) Fishing Guide

West Virginia

A big, rocky river through the New River Gorge, one of the best known destinations for trophy smallmouth, walleye and musky.

Part of the New River.

Photo: PumpkinSky via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to the New River (New River Gorge) for smallmouth bass, striped bass, walleye, muskellunge and flathead catfish. No agency season found for the species here.

There are 2 shops nearby, including Academy Sports + Outdoors in Beckley. Also nearby: Summersville Lake.

Season at a Glance

JFMAMJJASOND

Smallmouth Bass

Striped Bass

Walleye

Muskellunge

Flathead Catfish

Legend

This Month State Pattern Spawning No Agency Season Found

State Pattern: WVDNR (Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Flathead Catfish), not confirmed for this waterSpawning: WVDNR: Walleye; Muskellunge; Flathead Catfish

Season Rules & Licenses

WVDNR rules for the New River from the New and Gauley confluence up to the Virginia line, excluding Bluestone Lake and the 12-mile catch-and-release section from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone down to Grandview Sandbar (2026): black bass 14 to 22 inches must be released, 6 a day with only 1 over 22 inches. Walleye 20 to 30 inches must be released, 2 a day with only 1 over 30 inches (except the no-harvest area near Sandstone). WVDNR 2026
National Park Service rule in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (36 CFR 2.3; 2026 compendium): live or dead minnows and other bait fish, amphibians and non-preserved fish eggs may not be used or possessed as bait (the park designates no waters where they are allowed); no chumming; no fishing within 100 feet of a boat launch while boats are using it. NPS 2026

Rules: our short summary, not the official text. Gear & Tackle is independent, not a government site; rules change, so read the agency's current rules before you go.

Most anglers need a West Virginia fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state.

Buy a License from WVDNR WVDNR Fishing Regulations

License Sellers Nearby

Rural King - Mt. Hope

100 Crossroads Mall, Mt. Hope (304) 254-8150

Dick's Sporting Goods #1

5475 Robert C Byrd Drive, Mt. Hope (304) 252-3425

Academy Sports & Outdoors

301 Beckley Plaza, Beckley (281) 646-5424

Source: WVDNR's license agent list, Apr 2026. Call ahead.

Parts of the New River

Main PageNew RiverThe New River from Virginia, where DWR forecasts smallmouth bass, walleye and musky above and below Claytor Lake, to West Virginia's New River Gorge.
Rivers & Streams · VirginiaNew River (Fries)The New River in Virginia above Claytor Lake, where DWR expects high catch rates of smallmouth bass and calls walleye bountiful from Fries Dam down to Claytor Lake.
Rivers & Streams · VirginiaNew River (Radford)The New River in Virginia from Claytor Dam to the West Virginia line, with a flourishing smallmouth bass population and, between Claytor Dam and Radford, some of the best musky water DWR samples.
Rivers & Streams · West Virginia · You're HereNew River (New River Gorge)A big, rocky river through the New River Gorge, one of the best known destinations for trophy smallmouth, walleye and musky.

New River (New River Gorge) Species

Smallmouth Bass

Statewide per WVDNR: Mar to Nov. Not yet confirmed here.

View Species

Striped Bass

Statewide per WVDNR: Mar to May. Not yet confirmed here.

View Species

Walleye

Statewide per WVDNR: Sep to May. Not yet confirmed here.

Spawning: Mar, per WVDNR (New River)

View Species

Muskellunge

Statewide per WVDNR: Sep to May. Not yet confirmed here.

Spawning: Mar to May, per WVDNR

View Species

Flathead Catfish

Statewide per WVDNR: Jun to Nov. Not yet confirmed here.

Spawning: Jun to Aug, per WVDNR

View Species

Species per NPS.

Images: Duane Raver and Timothy Knepp, USFWS. Public domain.

What to Use

Fishing In

Fish

Walleye

No agency season found

Spin / Cast

7 to 8 ft medium casting rod and line-counter reel for trolling crawler harnesses behind bottom bouncers and deep crankbaits, 10 to 12 lb line. For jigging, a 6.5 ft medium-light rod with 10 lb braid to a 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Rod, Reel and Line

RodSt. Croix Eyecon Trolling Rod · 7 ft 6 in or 8 ft 6 in, medium, moderate, 10 to 20 lb line (telescopic)Check Price
ReelOkuma Magda Pro Line Counter Reel · size 20, right handCheck Price
LineBerkley Trilene XL Monofilament · 10 or 12 lbCheck Price

Tie On in November

Lure for November · 1.5 to 4.75 inJerkbait · Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait✓ Named by WVDNRAfter dark.Check Price
Lure for November · 1/4 to 1/2 ozBlade Bait · Heddon Sonar Flash✓ Named by WVDNRCheck Price
Bait for November · Whole or halfNightcrawlers✓ Named by NPSBait Shops
Lure for November · 4 to 7 inPaddle-Tail SwimbaitSee Options

Named by NPS or WVDNR: the National Park Service or the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources names this kind of fly, lure or bait for this fish here; tap the name for its page. It names the type, not the product we link, and does not endorse this site.

Other Picks: general for this fish, each checked against state and federal agency pages, not specific to this water. Ask a local shop what is working.

Gear: rods, reels and lines are starting points, sized from each maker's page. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Buy Local

Shops near New River (New River Gorge):

Academy Sports + Outdoors, BeckleyWebsite
Bass Pro Shops, South CharlestonWebsite

Map of New River (New River Gorge)

Area around a representative access point; the river runs beyond it. View Larger Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

Fishing VideosWatch New River (New River Gorge) Fishing Videos on YouTube

Planning for a Month

Prime in November

No agency season found for the species here.

Daylight

Loading…

Moon

Loading…

Typical Weather

54°F high, 33°F low

About 2.9 in of precipitation for the month.

Typical Flow

4,895 cfs

Most years 2,250 cfs to 14,190 cfs.

Typical, Not a Forecast: weather from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at a station about 7 mi away; flow from USGS gauge 03185400, 1981 to 2026.

Also Worth Packing

Clothing for November comes first, picked from typical weather here.

Waders & Boots

Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders

Durable, breathable four-layer waders built as a daily driver for seasons of wading.

Pack It For: Sep to Jun

Check Price Maker's Page

Waders & Boots

Simms Freestone Wading Boots

Supportive wading boots with determined traction for a full range of wading conditions, worn over waders or wading socks.

Pack It For: Year-round

Check Price Maker's Page

Nets & Tools

Frabill Rubber Mesh Landing Net

A floating trout net with tangle-free micromesh rubberized netting and a flat bottom that supports the fish's weight evenly.

Check Price Maker's Page

Terminal Tackle

Northland Rock-Runner Bottom Bouncer

A bottom bouncer with a 10 in stainless steel wire feeler that glides over rocks, logs and weeds, for drifting and trolling spinner rigs and live bait for walleyes.

Check Price Maker's Page