It’s a fishing day

New River (Thurmond Gorge) fishing conditions · West Virginia

Today, 11 am–8 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 82. Water is 58°, inside their 55–78° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 80 for smallmouth bass, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 803 am
  2. 80
  3. 80
  4. 806 am
  5. 65
  6. 65
  7. 709 am
  8. 70
  9. 80
  10. 8012 pm
  11. 80
  12. 82
  13. 823 pm
  14. 82
  15. 82
  16. 806 pm
  17. 80
  18. 70
  19. 709 pm
  20. 70
  21. 65
  22. 70Tue
  23. 70
  24. 80
  25. 703 am
  26. 70
  27. 70
  28. 656 am
  29. 65
  30. 65
  31. 659 am
  32. 65
  33. 65
  34. 7012 pm
  35. 80
  36. 80
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
58°F

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
1 mph

From the southeast

Flow
2,820 cfs

steady · -3% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:43 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
43°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are West Virginia regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

82Worth the tripToday, 11 am–8 pm

Water

58°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside smallmouth bass's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 6 black bass a day combined, no statewide minimum. Some waters add a 12" minimum or a protected slot; the New River releases bass from 14 to 22".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Mar–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on smallmouth bass

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

82Worth the tripToday, 11 am–8 pm

Water

58°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside walleye's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

8 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 8 walleye, sauger and saugeye a day, no statewide minimum. Several lakes and rivers protect walleye from 20 to 30".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Feb–May, Oct–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on walleye

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

76Worth the tripToday, 11 am–8 pm

Water

58°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside largemouth bass's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 6 black bass a day combined, no statewide minimum. Some waters add a 12" minimum or a protected slot; the New River releases bass from 14 to 22".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Mar–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on largemouth bass

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

35Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

58°
50°60–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Below channel catfish's active range (60–85°F). Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

30 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 30 channel catfish a day on rivers, streams, Corps of Engineers lakes, Cheat, Mt. Storm and Stonecoal; 4 a day in state-managed impoundments.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on channel catfish

The water

  • Water temperature58°F
  • River2,820 cfs · steady · -3% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.43 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:43 am
  • Sunset today6:32 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:50 am–8:50 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:20 pm–2:20 pm
  • Minor solunarTonight 6:00 pm–7:00 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. West Virginia DNR has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: West Virginia DNR · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

One of the oldest rivers on the continent, carving the New River Gorge through southern West Virginia — a nationally renowned smallmouth bass fishery in big, boulder-strewn pocket water. Smallmouth dominate the rapids and eddies, with walleye, channel catfish, and the occasional muskie in the deeper runs. Live USGS flow and water temperature at Thurmond read the gorge.

Black bass from 14 to 22" must be released; 6 a day, only 1 over 22". Walleye from 20 to 30" must be released; 2 a day, only 1 over 30". Upstream, the 12 miles from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone down to the Grandview sandbar are catch and release for bass.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Summersville Lake22 mi · West VirginiaBest today 11 am–9 pm
68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at New River (Thurmond Gorge)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at New River (Thurmond Gorge) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at New River (Thurmond Gorge)?

New River (Thurmond Gorge) is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at New River (Thurmond Gorge)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at New River (Thurmond Gorge) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does New River (Thurmond Gorge) have?

New River (Thurmond Gorge) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Black bass from 14 to 22" must be released; 6 a day, only 1 over 22". Walleye from 20 to 30" must be released; 2 a day, only 1 over 30". Upstream, the 12 miles from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone down to the Grandview sandbar are catch and release for bass.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at New River (Thurmond Gorge)?

state agency regulations apply at New River (Thurmond Gorge). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is New River (Thurmond Gorge) tidal water?

No. New River (Thurmond Gorge) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.