Anybody with first or second hand knowledge , sounds interesting , semi- remote and great smallmouth fishing ?

I just go rafting there in May, almost yearly, great time. Never canoeing. Don't canoe where we raft, that wouldn't be fun at all. But I have heard it is good fishing, but local knowledge is key to catch smallies.

A friend of mine has fished the Thurmond area of New River Gorge in WV. He caught (and released) some hefty bass (stripers, Rock and Largemouth) He fished from a high prowed dory with a guide. I don't recall that he had to run any rapids. About 25 years ago I canoe camped the upper reaches of the New, from around Boone, NC to the Virginia line. It was a great trout stream up there, back then. I hope that's still true today. The WW rafting around Beckley, WV is great, as well. It's worth a trip just for that. Likewise, a visit to Babcock State Park in WV is a must. There's an incredibly scenic Grist Mill running there.

Babcock State Park

(Just came across this forum. I hope this info is still useful.)

Krusty555

Yes, still useful. I'm trying to compile a list of waters to travel.
Thanks

I rafted the New in August, many moons ago. It was an odd year with lots of summer rain, so the river was flying. The middle New is the "mellow" part of the river- more conducive to fishing. We put in at Thurmond, rafted the middle New, camped overnight, and did the lower New the next day, taking out in the area of the bridge. The lower New has many more rapids that are class 3 and 4. Am not sure you'd want to canoe it. But it sure was fun! And it felt somewhat remote. If circumstances presented themselves, I'd do it again in a heartbeat!