"Care not, I, to fish in seas Fresh rivers best my mind to please Whose sweet calm course I contemplate And seek in life to imitate." --Izaak Walton With Walton's lines as inspiration, M. W. Smith launches us on an informative journey to the best fishing spots in and around the New River Valley. Covering a wide range of prime fishing territory across western Virginia, Smith's guidebook explores techniques designed to increase the day's catch and locations certain to enhance an angler's enjoyment of the region's natural beauty. Fishing the New River Valley includes lists of stocked trout streams, tips for successful wintertime fishing, live bait approaches, and spinning and fly-fishing suggestions. Smith offers helpful tips on fishing Claytor Lake for striped bass and walleye during cold-weather months and for smallmouth bass during the spring, summer, and fall. He also provides excellent information on float trips, wading, and fishing from boats at key points along the New River. The book features a comprehensive map of New River Valley streams and specific fishing locations along with extensive listings of local guide services, tackle shops, rod and reel repair shops, boat dealers, and more. Whether you are a novice or professional angler, a visitor or a longtime resident of western Virginia, Fishing the New River Valley will tell you where, when, and how to catch more fish.

The New River region of West Virginia is one of America's best and biggest rock climbing areas. The variety of routes is unparalleled with everything from traditionally protected splitter cracks and technical face climbs to overhanging sport routes. This book documents more than 2400 routes and for the first time in print includes a comprehensive guide to the Meadow River, Gauley River, and Summersville Lake areas. Entertaining route descriptions, full color photos, detailed history, and up-to-date beta are all found in the best New River guidebook ever.

Details on 1,500 routes in the premier sport climbing area of West Virginia's New River Gorge.

This updated edition of the 1979 original covers the landmark struggle to save the New River from damming in the 1970s. The grassroots movement emphasized the river's cultural and historical value rather than narrow environmental issues and became one of the great victories of the environmental movement. This edition also includes a new epilogue examining the current ecological status of the New River and the ongoing impact of the original conservation efforts in the face of new environmental threats. The 1979 edition won the Weatherford Award presented by Berea College and the Appalachian Studies Association.