Our trio was very optimistic that the midday period would bring on the best action of the day, which is often true during the winter months. Many times, the period between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. is prime, along with the last hour or so of daylight. As is so often true with late December and early January muzzleloader hunting for whitetails, the morning hours are often unproductive.

However, it was not until 1:20 p.m. that any of us received another strike, at which point I managed to hook up with a 15-inch bronzeback, again one that fell for the Rogue. Like the first bass, this one was very well fed and likewise spent much of its time slugging it out in deep water, foregoing any of the classic smallmouth jumps.

Although we stayed on the water until 3:15 p.m., no more strikes from smallmouths were forthcoming, although Presnell managed to land a walleye. The New, of course, features an outstanding wintertime walleye fishery -- certainly one of the most exciting angling opportunities in the entire Old Dominion.

Was I disappointed with my day on the New River? Not in the least -- although I only had two bites, those strikes did translate into two fair-sized smallmouths. More important, I realize how tough river fishing for smallmouths or lake fishing for largemouths can be in the Commonwealth now.

I have experienced a few winter days when the bass became very active, and I was able to catch -- and release -- a limit of keeper-sized fish. But I have also experienced -- and this type of outing has been more common -- days when I did not catch a single black bass or even garner a lone strike.

Any January through early March excursion when I can land several quality bass is a good one for me -- and I would suspect that is true for many state anglers reading this right now. Yes, we can occasionally come across a pod of lunker bass this time of year, but most of the time, many if not most of us are quite glad to corral a quality fish or two.

Besides the suspending jerkbait pattern, Mike Smith relies on two other lures.

“When the water temperature is below 50 degrees, I like to work a jig-and-pig or a Charlie Case tube in deep pools with ledges,” he said. “I will do that in contrast to slowly retrieving a suspending jerkbait through relatively shallow sandy or cobblestone banks.

“Of course, the jerkbait will do great in deep, rocky pools, too. And the tube and jig-and-pig will also work along the shoreline at times.”

WHERE TO GO ON THE UPPER NEW RIVER
Twelve possible float trips exist on the New River above Claytor Lake. The one my group took, Foster Falls to Allisonia, covers a distance of 13 1/2 miles, although we did take out part way through our excursion on private land where Smith has permission to do so. However, I do not recommend this junket in the wintertime if you are afloat in a canoe or johnboat. Smith and Presnell are professional guides who use a raft, and the Foster Falls float sports a number of significant rapids that can easily capsize a lesser craft -- especially in the winter.