It’s a fishing day

New River (Thurmond Gorge) fishing conditions · West Virginia

Tomorrow, 9 am–7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 59°, close to the 62° walleye like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 100 for walleye, goTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, 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. 1004 pm
  2. 100
  3. 100
  4. 1007 pm
  5. 85
  6. 85
  7. 8510 pm
  8. 89
  9. 89Sun
  10. 851 am
  11. 85
  12. 85
  13. 904 am
  14. 90
  15. 94
  16. 947 am
  17. 90
  18. 100
  19. 10010 am
  20. 100
  21. 100
  22. 1001 pm
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 1004 pm
  26. 100
  27. 100
  28. 907 pm
  29. 85
  30. 85
  31. 8510 pm
  32. 89
  33. 89Mon
  34. 891 am
  35. 85
  36. 85
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
59°F

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
9 mph

From the northwest

Flow
2,180 cfs

steady · -1% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:19 pm

Sky
Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
48°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

100GoTomorrow, 9 am–7 pm

Water

59°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in walleye's ideal range. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Release 20–30".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Walleye from 20 to 30" must be released; 2 a day with only 1 over 30". Catch and release from Meadow Creek up to Sandstone Falls.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New River

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

90GoTomorrow, 1 pm–5 pm

Water

59°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside smallmouth bass's active range. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Release 14–22".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Black bass from 14 to 22" must be released; 6 a day with only 1 over 22". The 12 miles from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone down to the Grandview sandbar are catch and release.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New River, Gauley confluence to the Virginia line

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

84Worth the tripTomorrow, 1 pm–5 pm

Water

59°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside largemouth bass's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Release 14–22".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Black bass from 14 to 22" must be released; 6 a day with only 1 over 22". The 12 miles from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone down to the Grandview sandbar are catch and release.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New River, Gauley confluence to the Virginia line

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

59°
50°60–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

The water

  • Water temperature59°F
  • River2,180 cfs · steady · -1% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.10 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:19 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:57 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:50 pm–4:50 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:20 pm–12:20 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

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 tomorrow 2 pm–5 pm
86Go

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.