The New River's name actually is a misnomer, as it is estimated to be one of the oldest rivers in North America, existing for millions of years -- even before the mountain range through which it flows. The 26.5-mile North Carolina section of the waterway that is designated as a scenic river includes 22 miles of the South Fork and 4.5 miles of the main river until it reaches the Virginia state line. It then continues to wind north through southwest Virginia and into West Virginia. While in search of fish, anglers also might glimpse other forms of wildlife in the river or along its banks, such as white-tailed deer, beavers, river otters, raccoons, mink, muskrats, wild turkeys, wood ducks, red-tailed hawks and even an occasional black bear.
New River State Park has four access areas in Ashe and Alleghany counties that provide entrance points to the park's more than 2,200 acres along the namesake river and its southern fork. The park's headquarters and visitor center are at the U.S. 221 access point at river mile 15 near Laurel Springs. Each of the four areas provides canoe access, as well as spots to fish along the riverbank. Three access points also have hiking trails. New River State Park is open year round, except Christmas Day, during daylight hours. Admission to the park is free, although fees are charged for camping. Anglers 16 years of age and older must purchase a resident or nonresident fishing license, available online from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
The New River is a slow-moving river, making it fairly easy to fish from a canoe, but it also has a number of small, faster-flowing tributaries near each access point that are stocked with brown and rainbow trout. The river's South Fork typically has ample populations of redeye and smallmouth bass, and muskellunge often can be found on the river's South Fork, just downstream from the U.S. 221 bridge. Other targets include carp, flathead and channel catfish, sunfish and walleye.
If you'd like to combine your fishing with a canoe and camping trip, three of New River State Park's access points have campgrounds. The U.S. 221 access area has a drive-in campground with 20 sites for tents, trailers or RVs. Each campsite includes electrical hookups, and 10 have full hookups. The U.S. 221 access point also has 15 primitive walk-in or canoe-in campsites. Both campgrounds provide nearby restrooms with hot showers. Primitive campgrounds also are available at the Wagoner Road access area, which has 10 walk-in or canoe-in sites with nearby restrooms and hot showers, and the Alleghany County access point, which has eight sites that can be reached by canoe only. The Alleghany campground has pit toilets and a water pump.
