River Report 10/09/23

It may not come as a surprise at this point, but the water is still low! Just looking at the flows from last year, we’re well below those numbers, and that’s saying something. The New River and James River are in transitional periods for both smallmouth bass fishing and musky fishing. They’re definitely both spooky with this low water, but we’re getting very cool overnights and lower daily temperatures, so the smallmouth bass fishing is slowing down on topwater, and shifting more to the baitfish bite, while the musky are on the move. We’re still seeing musky in their summer holding spots, but we’re getting an increasing number of musky coming off of the banks, which is a good sign heading into November and beyond. While the smallmouth bass topwater fishing is slowing down, a lot of the larger smallies are still looking up. Numbers are going down, but the size classes are still good on average. Make sure you’re making those cork bugs splat and let them sit. If you’re fishing streamer patterns, fish them slow and let them hover. The musky fishing is requiring distance presentations, and you’re hoping to capitalize away from the boat. Most of the fish we’ve seen in the figure eight have spooked due to the low, clear water. It’s best to keep your figure eights deep in the water, really plunging that rod tip to drive the fly or lure down. 

That being said, we’re just getting started with musky season. With some rain, and continued cooler weather, it’s shaping up to be a great fall and winter. We’ve still got plenty of days available for musky fishing on the New River and James River. Additionally, we’ve already booked a good amount of days for next spring in our pre-spawn smallmouth bass season. You can book directly on the website to hold your day!