Our guided trips include:

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We will provide the raft, an experienced guide, shuttle to the put-in, all the necessary fishing equipment (please specify fly or spin), snacks, drinking water, and lunch (full day trips only).

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What to bring:

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• WV Fishing License (including trout stamp for Walk and Wade trips)

• Rain Gear

• Sunscreen

• Hat

• Polarized Sunglasses (these are essential for reading water and cutting glare)

• Any medications you may need (Epi-pens, Inhalers, Insulin, etc.

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What to wear:

 

We recommend that you wear quick drying synthetic or lightweight merino wool clothing. Long sleeves and pants are a favorite option to protect you from the sun. We do not recommend that you wear any cotton on the trip, as it will not keep you warm when wet.

 

Footwear:

 

We run self-bailing rafts, so there is a chance your feet can get wet. In the Summer months we recommend sandals like Keens, Tevas, or Chacos. Crocs are also a good option for float trips. During colder months, waterproof footwear like Muck Boots are a great option for getting in and out of the boat. Wading boots with studs are not allowed on float trips as they will damage the floor of the rafts.

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Where to meet:

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We like to ensure that we’re setting you up to fish the best conditions possible. We run trips on over 50 miles of the New River, as well as several smaller surrounding watersheds. Factors like river level, water temperature, weather, and time of year will all influence where we go on a given day.

 

Generally, we will send you a pin a day or two before the trip. On the morning of your trip, we’ll meet you at the “Take-out” and give you a ride to the “Put-in”. At the end of the day, you’ll be able to hop in your vehicle and head out without having to deal with shuttling vehicles.

 

Gear:

We provide high quality rods and reels with all our float trips. Our equipment is matched to the presentations and conditions on the waters we fish. You are also welcome to bring your own equipment, but we strongly recommend that you follow these guidelines to get the best out of your trip.

 

Fly Fishing Equipment:

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• Rods: We recommend 7 wt or 8 wt fly rods, though we will sometimes use 6 wt rods for finesse topwater presentations during low and clear water conditions.

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• Reels: This is angler preference, but you do not need a top tier reel with a sealed drag for smallmouth. While they are excellent fighters, most smallmouth can be brought in by hand without putting them “on the reel”. Mid-tier reels with a disk drag are great a great option for smallmouth.

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•  Lines: This is the most important factor in your setup. A top tier line on a mid-priced rod is preferred to a flagship rod with a cheaper line.  You should have a floating line as well as a sink tip line, though a full sinking line can come in handy for sluggish winter fish. Lines we use and recommend include Rio Elite Smallmouth, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Bass Bug, Orvis Hydros Bank Shot, and Orvis Pro Depth Charge.

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• Leader/Tippet:  Smallmouth aren’t nearly as leader shy as trout. While many presentations can be done with a straight section of 20 lb fluorocarbon or mono, we tie our own leaders with lengths ranging from as little as 3 feet for streamers to 12 feet for some crawfish patterns.

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Spinning Equipment:

 

• We recommend 6’6”-7” Medium light to Medium power, fast action spinning rods. Rods should be optimized to throw lures in the 1/8 oz to ¼ oz range. 

 

• Reels should be spooled with 8 lb to 10 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon line. We do not recommend braided line unless you are using a mono or fluorocarbon leader.

 

 

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