2009 Smallmouth Bass River Fishing Forecast

Lower New River (Below Claytor Lake)

Anglers visiting the New River below Claytor Lake in 2009 will catch numerous 7 to 14 inch smallmouth bass. The 2004 and 2005 smallmouth bass spawns were the best spawns since 1996 and the 2007 smallmouth bass spawn was above average. With these spawns contributing to angler catches now and the potential for these fish to be future trophies, the outlook for New River smallmouth bass fishing is bright. The large spawns of 2004 and 2005 were reflected in electrofishing samples in fall 2008, with 84% of the adult (over 7 inches long) smallmouth bass catch consisting of bass between 7 and 14 inches. About 15% of the adult smallmouth bass collected in fall 2008 electrofishing were in the 14 to 20 inch range, so anglers will find good numbers of smallmouth bass within the current restricted slot limit. The New River offers the potential for trophy smallmouth bass fishing, with smallmouth bass from the above average spawns of 1996 and 1997 now over 20 inches long. Top locations for smallmouth bass include the Radford to McCoy Falls section of Montgomery County and the Pembroke to Pearisburg section of Giles County.

Angler catches of redbreast sunfish and rock bass in recent years were low, due to poor spawns. Fall 2008 electrofishing catches for these species were higher than electrofishing catches in fall 1999, indicating that both of these species spawned well in the past 4 years. Anglers seeking panfish action in the New River should enjoy success in 2009. Good areas for panfish action include the Radford to McCoy Falls section of Montgomery County and the Pembroke to Glen Lyn section of Giles County.

Upper New River (Above Claytor Lake)

Fishing for smallmouth bass should be good in 2009 even through 2008 was another drought year, so low river flows may make getting around difficult in 2009. The 2005-2007 year classes of smallmouth bass are coming on strong and should result in an increase in the catch. There are still good numbers of fish in the 10-14 inch range and larger fish are more abundant. Catch rates of walleye from sampling in 2007-2008 were also good and this should hold for fishing catch rates also. Some walleyes anglers catch in 2009 may have a tag in them as part of a study being done by fish biologist with the Game Department. If you catch a walleye with a tag send it in with the information required and you may receive a reward. Rock bass and redbreast sunfish continue to be abundant and will provide fun fishing opportunities. Anglers may also encounter an occasional channel or flathead catfish and maybe even a muskie. Overall there should be good fishing on the upper New River in 2009.

Shenandoah River (North Fork, South Fork, and Main stem)

Over the past five years fish kills have plagued the majority of the Shenandoah River system. The location, distance of river affected, and severity of these kills has not been consistent from year to year. The most recent kill episode (spring 2008) only occurred in the upstream reaches of the North Fork and South Fork Shenandoah River. These kills have mainly affected the adults of four fish species (Smallmouth bass, redbreast sunfish, northern hogsucker and white sucker). Measurable impacts to additional species appear to be minimal. The cause of these fish kills is currently unknown. The Shenandoah River Fish Kill Task Force is working diligently toward determining what may have caused these fish kills and preventing future kills. For updated information regarding the ongoing fish kill investigations visit: www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/fish-kill or www.deq.virginia.gov/info/srfishkill.html.

South Fork and Main stem Shenandoah

In spite of continued chronic fish kills the relative abundance of smallmouth bass remains near the 12-year average. In 2008 Biologists documented a promising increase in the number of smallmouth in the 11-16 inch range. Anglers also reported good catch rates of these fish during 2008. The main reason for these improving trends has been the excellent spawning success that occurred between 2004 and 2007 throughout the river. In addition, juvenile smallmouth bass growth rates have increased significantly since the start of the kills. The redbreast sunfish population has also been slowly recovering from the fish kills. Density of sunfish varies by location, and the size structure of the population has shifted toward smaller fish. However, biologists are also seeing a stabilization of the sunfish population throughout most of the river system. While the Shenandoah River continues to experience spring-time fish kills, 2009 should still be a favorable year for anglers. Catch rates of 25-50+ fish per day should be in order this year on most sections of the South Fork and Main stem Shenandoah. While anglers can expect to encounter a few smallmouth >16" in most areas, the majority of the bass caught will be 9-16". With the best growth rates occurring further downstream, anglers should see more smallmouth >16" on the Main stem Shenandoah. Anglers should not overlook largemouth bass when visiting the South Fork or Main stem Shenandoah. The Shenandoah harbors a quality largemouth bass population and finding good numbers of fish in the 2-4 pound range should not be difficult. Seek out the deeper sections of the river with slower currents and woody debris when targeting largemouth. Intensive sampling with multiple electrofishing boats in 2007 revealed an outstanding muskie population in the South Fork Shenandoah. Anglers also reported an increase of muskie catches and sightings in 2008. Fishing deeper pools on the South Fork and Main stem offer the best opportunity to catch one of these "toothy" critters. Overall, in 2009 anglers should experience a similar fishery in most of the South Fork and Main stem as compared to last year.

North Fork Shenandoah

Unfortunately, biologists were not able to sample the North Fork Shenandoah in fall 2008 due to extreme-low flow conditions. While lack of electrofishing information makes it difficult to provide an accurate fishing forecast for 2009, DGIF did receive some positive reports from anglers fishing the North Fork in 2008. Fish kills have hampered the North Fork since 2004. However, only the upper reaches of the North Fork were affected in 2008. Smallmouth bass spawning success was above average 2004-2007, and those fish should make up the bulk of the angler's catch in 2009. Most smallmouth bass should range from 9-13 "with a few fish >13" being available to anglers. Fallfish are plentiful in some sections of the North Fork, can reach 14+ inches, and should not be overlooked by anglers. The sunfish population is slowly recovering from the kill episodes. Anglers should encounter adequate numbers of redbreast sunfish in most areas and bluegill in the deeper pools. If you plan a float rip on the North Fork stick to the spring and early summer as low flows and aquatic vegetation make fishing difficult later in the summer.

Upper James River (Lynchburg to Iron Gate)

Fishing in the James River from Lynchburg upstream to its headwaters should be pretty good in 2009. There should be good numbers of smallmouth bass in the 7-12+ inch range, thanks to average-excellent spawning success during 2004-2007. These 2-5 year-old fish will be relatively plentiful in 2009. Additionally, larger fish (12-20 inches) will be more plentiful in 2009 than they have been in some past years. These larger fish won't be abundant (when you are dealing with 6-15 year-old fish, they are never abundant), but there will be some of them in the river to be caught. The fishing in 2009 should be pretty good, despite the continuing fish kills experienced on the upper James River during spring of the past 2 years. While some fish have died from these kills, the overall population impact has not been catastrophic. We've estimated that roughly 5-10% of the smallmouth bass in the river are being killed each spring by these unexplained events.

In addition to smallmouth bass, fishing should be good for other species in 2009. Rock bass continue to be abundant, and relatively large. Redbreast sunfish and fallfish are slowly making a comeback after being somewhat uncommon in the 1990's. Both channel and flathead catfish continue to be moderately abundant, with decent-sized fish in both populations. Finally, musky continue to show an increase in numbers, although these fish are still somewhat rare. All in all, fishing in 2009 should be pretty good on the upper James.

Middle James River (Lynchburg to Richmond)

Smallmouth bass fishing in the middle James will be very similar to 2008 with decent numbers of fish in the 10-12 inch range. The 2007 year class was exceptional and those fish did carry through into 2008. These fish will enter the fishery in spring 2009 and should provide good catch rates for small fish this year. While the 2008 spawn appeared to be below average, anglers can still expect good catch rates from the 2007 and 2005 year classes. While the fish kill continues to impact the upper James River (Lynchburg and above), this stretch of river has thus far escaped most of the damage from the kill. Fall sampling in the middle James was extremely challenging in 2008 so we are hopeful that 2009 will bring normal rainfall and another strong year class. No fish over 16 inches were sampled in 2008 but sampling efficiency was reduced due to the low water levels. Expect the fishery to continue to improve in this stretch of the James and keep your fingers crossed that the impacts of the fish kill continue to avoid this wonderful stretch of river.

The bream fishery also seems to be holding steady in this stretch of the James with redbreast sunfish and rock bass numbers nearly identical to previous years. Catfish numbers in the 2008 sample did decline from previous years but with patchy distributions of both species and low water conditions, this is not cause for concern. Many big flatheads were again observed in the New Canton pool with the largest sampled over 36 inches.

Rappahannock River

Recent studies conducted by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries continue to suggest a bright future for smallmouth bass angling on the Rappahannock River. Although the overall population size seems to have declined somewhat from recent years (largely due to poor catch of juveniles), 2008 saw record size structure due to a "string" of four average to excellent year classes (2004 -2007). Fisheries Biologist John Odenkirk stated that this four-year string links together the strongest consecutive year class grouping documented to-date in this river system — it was first noted last year, and the fish have carried through into another season as hoped. The time to catch big smallmouth bass on the Rappahannock and Rapidan is now. Near perfect environmental conditions (primarily rainfall during the month of June) occurred during these years and allowed for strong recruitment. Also, fish growth has been accelerated. In the first evaluation of smallmouth bass growth since Embrey Dam was removed, it was found that bass were growing much faster than before — for example, an age-4 bass was nearly 3" longer in 2008 than in 2001. For more information, contact Fisheries Division, (540) 899-4169.

Maury River

Although fish kills affected the Cowpasture River and upper James River in 2008, the Maury River has been largely unaffected by poor fish health. Fisheries biologists examined the Maury River at three locations in fall, 2008, as part of their routine monitoring program. Water levels were so low in October that the Beans Bottom location was not sampled. Moderate summer flows gave us strong smallmouth bass reproduction in 2008, very similar to the 2007 year class. Young bass less than 12 inches long populate the Maury along its entire length, providing countless recreational hours. Bass growth in the Maury is slow, but many survive to provide ample trophy fishing in this scenic river. This was evident in the reaches below Buena Vista, where numbers of memorable size smallies (over 17 inches) were taken and released this past fall. These fish were survivors of a strong year class from 1999 and should continue to show up as 17-19 inch fish into the future. Musky and flathead catfish provide variety to anglers in the Glasgow area. Along with the excellent rock bass and sunfish angling, the Maury River should continue to be a popular destination for those seeking stunning scenery, swift rapids, and plenty of sport fishing action on light tackle. Be sure to check out the new concrete boat access ramp at Locher Landing in Glasgow.

Jackson River

The Jackson River, between Covington and Iron Gate, fell victim to fish kills similar to those that have affected some of our western rivers since 2004. In May, 2008, anglers reported seeing adult smallmouth bass and rock bass with lesions in the Lowmoor area. These observations were confirmed by DGIF biologists and supported by electrofishing samples. It was estimated that 25 -30% of the smallmouth bass in this 24 mile reach were affected with skin lesions. However, it should be noted that an unknown percent of fish affected with bacterial skin lesions in the spring will be fully recovered by fall. Rock bass and redbreast sunfish populations were heavily affected as well. Still, the lower Jackson continues to support high numbers of 8-12 inch smallmouth bass that grow extremely slow. Smallmouth bass growth is normal up to 3 years of age, but it slows dramatically as they age. This is perplexing, because most smallmouth in this reach are heavy and healthy for their size. Collections of young-of-the-year bass improved dramatically despite the adult mortality suffered in 2008. Occasional trophies are reported from its stained waters, but it is the exception rather than the rule. A close eye will be kept on the fishery in 2009 as research into the cause of fish kills intensifies. Improved access to the river can be found at the Island Ford Transfer Station and near Clifton Middle School. Day-long or evening float trips should provide hours of good smallmouth bass and rock bass angling, with an occasional rainbow or brown trout added to the stringer.

Nottoway River

Smallmouth bass fishing on the Nottoway River has been a closely held secret for many anglers in southeast Virginia. In the summer of 2008, biologist conducted an in-depth study to examine how many smallmouth swim in the waters of the upper Nottoway. Data collected during the study show smallmouth numbers are low when compared to other rivers and streams across the Commonwealth. Biologists estimate that there are approximately 52 smallmouth per river mile; 35 of those are adult fish. This might not be the highest concentration of smallmouth in the state, but for a piedmont-coastal plain river, these numbers are respectable.

Additional data collected during 2008 sampling show that recent years have produced below average/poor year classes of smallmouth. Since 2000, only two years (2000 and 2005) have had spawns producing more than average numbers of young-of-year smallmouth. That means that numbers of smallmouth bass in the Nottoway could remain low until new "recruits" are added to the population through successful spawns or biologists stockings. Some factors that could affect spawning success include summer droughts which decrease food availability, fall and spring floods which could displace or injure young fish, and mortality associated with angling.

Nottoway smallmouth reach 12 inches by age 4 and have been collected by both anglers and biologists as large as 20 inches and weighing more than 4 pounds - a trophy by any anglers standards. Anglers should note that it takes 10 years or longer for fish to reach that size.

Smallmouth bass are not the only "show in town" for Nottoway anglers. Another highly sought after species is the Roanoke bass, more commonly mis-identified as "rock bass" or "red-eyes." The Roanoke bass is a larger relative of the rock bass which is common in the mountain rivers such as the New, James, and Rappahannock rivers. Trophy Roanoke bass can be caught in very good numbers (58 fish/mile) for float fishermen on the upper Nottoway. Roanoke bass reach the minimum length (8 inches for harvest) between the ages of 3 and 4. It takes 7-8 years for fish to reach citation size (12 inches). Roanoke bass are concentrated in reaches from Peter's Bridge (Rt. 631) upstream.

Biologists also estimated year class strength for Roanoke bass in the Nottoway River. Since 2001, there have been 3 average/good spawns for Roanoke bass (2004-06) and 3 less than average years. Factors affecting Roanoke bass spawning success are similar to factors affecting smallmouth bass.

Other species of interest for anglers include redbreast sunfish, bluegill, gar, and channel catfish all of which were collected in good numbers during 2008 sampling. Anglers can really expand their list of species caught when fishing the Nottoway. Expect to continue find smallmouth and Roanoke bass hard to locate due to low numbers. Until the river has several successful spawns in a row, anglers should target some of the other abundant species found throughout the river.

Middle Fork Holston River

The Middle Fork Holston River should offer a variety of good fishing opportunities in 2009. The river has good numbers of smallmouth bass, redbreast sunfish, rock bass and bluegills located throughout the 32-mile navigable sections in Smyth and Washington Counties. Smallmouth bass are abundant and can grow to decent size, up to 18-20 inches. Anglers may also catch a few largemouth bass, black crappie, channel catfish and pumpkinseed sunfish. The upper portions of the Middle Fork Holston in the town of Marion and Atkins provide excellent trout fishing opportunities, as these sections are part of the departments stocked trout program. Remember when fishing stocked trout waters a trout license is required in addition to a freshwater fishing license.

Powell River

The Powell River will provide a variety of good fishing opportunities in 2009 however, flows are downs and travel by boat will be difficult. The river has good numbers of redbreast sunfish, rock bass and smallmouth bass. Anglers may also catch a few spotted bass, channel catfish and muskie. There are few public access points on the Powell River so anglers are encouraged to obtain landowner permission when accessing the river from private lands.

Clinch River

The Clinch River will offer good smallmouth fishing this year. The 2008 electrofishing samples yielded an average catch rate of 72 fish per hour of sampling. Most of the smallmouths collected were less than 15 inches in length, but some larger fish are available. About 17 percent of adult smallmouth exceeded 15 inches in length, 3 percent measured more than 17 inches and less than 1 percent was over 20 inches in length. Rock bass size and numbers are good, so they might fill in some of the time between smallmouth bites. Walleye abundance increased considerably at most sites.

North Fork Holston River

Anglers will find good numbers of smallmouth between 14 and 18 inches in the North Fork Holston River. Overall, catch rates were up in 2008. About 30 percent of adult smallmouth exceed 15 inches in length, and 10 percent measure more than 17 inches long. The abundance of fish in this size range appears to be the result of high annual survival (79%) rather than strong year classes or fast growth. Smallmouth over 20 inches in length are not as common as 16 to 18-inch fish, but many are landed each year. Smallmouth spawning success has been good for the past couple of years, as evidenced by an increase in the number of small fish collected per hour of sampling. Catch rates for rock bass were also good in 2008 samples, so fishing should be good for "redeyes" this year.

Staunton River

The Staunton River may be the most over-looked smallmouth bass fishery in Virginia. From Leesville Dam downstream to Brookneal, the Staunton River holds ideal habitat for both smallmouth bass and spotted bass. Anglers will find abundant rocky habitat as well as numerous submerged trees along the river banks which hold bass year round. Strong year class production in 2005 and 2007 should mean good catch rates of smallmouth bass in the 8-14 inch range. However, because of above average growth rates, anglers always have the chance at citation-sized smallmouth bass. Crayfish are important in the diets of smallmouth bass in most rivers but anglers should also consider crank baits as well to mimic the abundant minnow and shad populations in the river. While generally less popular, the Staunton River also holds quality sized spotted bass. Each year, biologists collect spotted bass up to 15 inches in electrofishing surveys. Catfish are abundant in the Staunton River and anglers should have no problem finding them whether fishing from the shoreline or by boat. The average size collected by biologists while sampling was 13 inches with the largest being 24 inches. Blue catfish and flathead catfish are common in the Staunton as well. Other species anglers will find are walleye, striped bass, white perch, and a variety of sunfish species. Visit the Staunton River section of the Department's website for information on access to the Staunton River.