Hello, welcome to the July edition of our newsletter!
The “dog days of summer” are officially here and it’s hot out there! Be sure to stay hydrated while on the water, and take a dip to cool off every now and again. On the New River, you can find smallies in their typical summer holding areas which include riffles, rapids, and shorelines with moving water. Wade fishing on the Smith River during afternoon sulphur hatches can also be productive. Our private trout water is now closed for the summer and will not open again until September. Check out our website for more information.
Fishing Reports
Upper New River (above Claytor Lake): The New is flowing around 750 cfs above the lake at Allisonia. The water is extremely low, making it difficult to float. Prior to this week’s heat wave, we were boating good numbers of fish on our smallmouth trips upriver. Thankfully, temperatures are expected to drop back into the 80’s again next week!
Lower New River (below Claytor Lake): The New is running well below average for this time of year at around 950 cfs in Radford. Blue poppers and crayfish patterns continue to bring some nice fish to the net downriver.
Smith River: Flows are only around 195 cfs at Bassett so we are not floating it, but wade fishing has been good. Try sulphur duns and parachutes in size 14-18. Peak hatch times are near the 3pm hour.
We are now offering half-day trips on a two mile section of the Smith River with private wading access. This section has some of the most prolific hatches on the river. Inquire today about this exclusive wade-only trip before the summer is over! Reserve yours today.
Private Trout Water: We are not taking any more bookings for our trophy trout water this summer; however, fall dates are available.
Hosted Trip: Our next hosted trip will be to Swain’s Cay Lodge on South Andros Island, Bahamas.
