The New River's ancient riverbed, pristine water, and diverse habitat provides a home to many species of trophy fish. Floating down this phenomenal fishery and getting lost in its natural beauty, you might even forget your original objective here--catching monster fish! The abundant supply of forage available on the  New makes for a healthy population of smallmouth bass, walleye, and muskie. Throw in a seasonal running striped or hybrid bass along with the spotted bass that call the river home, and you may find it difficult to choose your target species. . . . 

  Smallmouth Bass Float Trips On the New River ($295/$395)

Ironically, the New River is considered by many experts to be one of the oldest rivers in the world. While that may be debatable,  the New is without a doubt a renowned world-class bronzeback fishery.  Our fishing techniques and presentations may change throughout the season as needed to target trophy specimens, but our general fishing window is April through October.  For casting to and fighting big smallies we recommend 9'-7/8 wt rods with a 7.5' tapered leader (1x).  New River float trips are run aboard our 13' NRS Otter and 14' Aire Tributary rafts and vary in length from 5-7 miles. 

Striped Bass on Claytor Lake ($295/$395)

The New River is dammed at Radford, forming the 4700 acre Claytor Lake which is stocked with striped and hybrid bass. Stripers run on a seasonal basis and provide some drag-screaming action.  We offer Claytor Lake trips in April and May only. For fighting stripers,  we recommend a 9'- 9wt rod with an 8'  taper leader (0x). We fish Claytor Lake from our 17' center console Grizzly.

                                      Private Trout Stream ($195/$350)

Our trout stream offers an exclusive experience for those anglers who want to catch trophy trout in seclusion amidst pristine surroundings.  The stream is stocked  with 18-24" rainbows from October through May. For battling these bruisers, we recommend a 8 1/2'- 5 wt rod with a 9' tapered leader (3x).  All trout trips are wade fishing only.

What to Bring

We provide lunch, drinks, snacks, shuttles, rods, and flies for all trips and schools.  A Virginia Freshwater Fishing License is necessary, unless fishing on our private trout stream.  We carry digital cameras, but you may want to bring your own as well as rain gear, polarized sunglasses, and a hat. Please advise us of any dietary needs or medical issues in advance.  When on a guided trip with New River Fly Fishing, be prepared to fish hard for the duration of your day.  Please note that there is a huge learning curve involved in going from small stream fly fishing to the open water tactics required on the New River and Claytor Lake. Many anglers new to river fishing may find casting to be difficult at first, but we will teach you the necessary techniques for success. 

Reservation Policy

All bookings require a 50% non-refundable deposit.  In case of cancellation due to severe weather or river conditions, the trip must be rescheduled within a 12 month period or the deposit will be forfeited.  We accept check and credit card payments.  You can make a reservation by calling (540) 789-7811. Gift certificates are also available and are valid for 1 year from date of purchase.  A 15-20% tip is customary for guided fishing trips.