Topwater Popper Fishing on New River
New River · Virginia / West Virginia · Southeast
The New River is a free-flowing, largely undammed river running through the Appalachian highlands of Virginia and West Virginia, widely considered one of the oldest rivers in North America by geologic reckoning. Its water clarity trends toward the cleaner side, especially above Bluestone Dam, with a classic riffle-run-pool structure, rocky ledges, and boulder gardens that create ideal smallmouth habitat. Largemouth bass are present in slower pool margins and backwater areas, but smallmouth are the reason anglers make the drive.
A floating hard bait with a concave face that produces a spitting, popping action when twitched. Most effective in low-light conditions near cover — points, dock edges, weed lines, and grass pockets. The pause after the pop is where most strikes happen. Few experiences in fishing match watching a largemouth explode on a popper.
Topwater Popper Setup for New River
| Rod | 6'10"–7'3" medium casting rod, moderate action |
| Reel | 6.4:1 baitcaster or spinning |
| Line | 14–17 lb fluorocarbon or 30 lb braid (braid gives better action and hooksets) |
| Weight | 1/4–1/2 oz (Rebel Pop-R, Megabass Pop-X, Strike King KVD Splash) |
Seasonal Tactics on New River
Lake: Pre-spawn smallmouth stack in deeper runs and eddy pools from late March through April, with water temps climbing from the low 50s into the mid-60s. Swimbait presentations on 1/4–3/8 oz heads and suspending jerkbaits in natural shad colors draw the most consistent bites as fish begin staging near rocky points and submerged ledges.
Topwater Popper: First light on spawning flats — fish hold shallow and crush surface baits. Slow cadence with long pauses.
Lake: Summer low-water conditions push fish to oxygenated riffles and the downstream seams of large boulders; surface action with walking baits and poppers is productive from dawn through mid-morning before heat sets in, after which drop-shot rigs and finesse tubes in 6–12 ft runs become the reliable workhorses.
Topwater Popper: 30-minute window at dawn and dusk. Fish dock shade and grass pockets. Noon topwater dies.
Lake: September and October see smallmouth gorging on crawfish and remaining shad ahead of winter, making reaction baits — especially square-bill crankbaits and chatterbaits deflected off rocky structure — unusually effective for aggressive fall feeders in the 48–60°F window.
Topwater Popper: Extended feeding window as water cools. Fish can be caught on top all day in fall.
Lake: Cold-water smallmouth from December through February concentrate in the deepest pools and slow tailouts, requiring patient presentations with 3/16 oz drop-shot rigs or a hair jig dragged through slack eddies; water temps below 45°F demand counts of 10–15 seconds between movements.
Topwater Popper: Generally ineffective in water below 55°F — bass won't chase topwater in cold conditions.
Best Conditions
Dawn and dusk year-round, overcast days, calm to light-chop surface, spring through fall near cover and grass edges
Don't set the hook on the explosion — wait until you feel the fish pull the line. Half of all missed popper strikes are from anglers jerking too early.
More Techniques for New River
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