{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: fishing in West Virginia

Stuart, 

I worked for a boat shop in high school that had a seasonal store in Fayetteville and I used to spend about every other week living in a 30 year old RV in the parking lot. I can assure you that there are some great smallmouth spots on the New and the Gauley. Some of the spots will either be a rough hike in or a rough float trip in - pick you poison. However, there are spots in the gorge that are easily doable fishing form a SOT or canoe as long as you're not a moron. Because of the way the river is up there (huge sandstone boulders all over), it is prime habitat for smallies. Peel into eddies behind boulders (lean hard upstream or you'll go for a swim - the current is swift all through the gorge) and you should find some monster smallies hiding around the deep shelter the boulders provide.

A whitewater bum that used to hang around the shop had an old stripped down pontoon and we'd climb on Summersville lake from that thing. I was a pretty poor climber, so I'd usually just fish and drink. I can't say I had a whole lot of luck (I was mostly fishing to make it look like I was there to do something other than slam Busch Lights underage), but there are some good fish in there to be sure. I think they stock trout in the tailwater, too.

On Tuesday, April 2, 2013 5:09:23 PM UTC-4, Stuart Pregnall wrote:

Walt, We rented an apartment with friends from the DC area in Fayettville for years - but that was in a former lifetime as a rock climber, and I never took advantage of the fishing right on the doorstep.

 

The New River is right there; upriver of Fayetteville I've been told the smallmouth fishing is pretty good, but accessing the best parts of the river probably means a float trip.

 

North of Fayetteville on Route 19 you cross the Meadow River.  There is an abandoned railroad bed along the north shore.  We used to access the climbing areas along the Meadow River using that. We parked on the west side of 19; there was an old access road there. I've never fished the Meadow, but it looked very fishy to me.

 

North of the Meadow you come eventually to Summerville Lake - there is a marina there with boat rentals - not sure when rentals begin but that's another option - lots of rocky shoreline and we used to see largemouth bass cruising along the shore.  The tail race is impressive when it's flowing - that's the begining of the Gauley River raft trip as well.

 

Check with the staff at Water Stone (on the corner of Courthouse Square in town) to get information on parking at the Meadow (or anywhere else to acces the New or Summerville Lake - we climbed there mid-80s - mid-90s and the enforcement on what was OK and what wasn't changed from year to year and sometimes weekend to weekend.  Kenny Parker at Water Stone might remember me - but maybe not!  It was a long time ago.

 

The New in late April/early May is beautiful and there are tons of recreational opportunities. Look for Lady Slippers in bloom - although the cold Spring probably has delayed their arrival this season until later in May.

 

Enjoy and tight lines.

 

Cheers, Stuart

 

 

 

On Sunday, March 31, 2013 10:55:53 AM UTC-4, Frank C wrote:

Pipestem Sate park has opportunities for both fly fishing and horse back riding.

On Friday, March 29, 2013 3:26:30 PM UTC-4, Walter Ryan wrote:

Casey Peltier, for whom I occasionally tie flies, suggested I post these questions here.  We will be in the Fayetteville, West Virginia area in the last part of April and early May.  What are the fishing opportunities there?  Are there horseback trail riding opportunities there?  Thanks in advance and if any come to New Hampshire I will be glad to reciprocate.

Walt Ryan

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