Fall is a great time to fish free-flowing rivers for smallmouth bass. While our area is blessed with some fine opportunities, if you’re looking for an adventure a bit removed look to the south in the Mountain State.

The Kanawha River is the largest river in West Virginia (contained completely within the state), flowing nearly 100 miles from its origin at the merger of the New and Gauley Rivers at Gauley Bridge, W.Va. to where it adds its considerable flow to the Ohio River at Point Pleasant. The lower 90 of these miles are navigable, impounded by three lock and dams systems that elevate the river to the height needed for commercial barge traffic. The end navigation is near the town of Alloy.

The Kanawha’s first 10 miles or so — the upper Kanawha — remains in its natural free-flowing self, rich in the kind of habitat that smallmouth bass prefer.

“The upper Kanawha, in my mind, is under-fished,” veteran fishing guide Larry Nibert replied, when asked about the level of angler attention directed toward smallmouth bass and the other species that make up its fishery. “I think that’s mostly a result of limited boat access.”

The river stretch Nibert described runs from Kanawha Falls (near Glen Ferris) downriver to the boat access at Montgomery, a distance of about nine or 10 miles. While the upper Kanawha is a big river – capable of handling propeller-driven boats, one must realize that hazards are present, particularly at the mouths of incoming streams where rock bars are present.

Of particular note, according to Nibert, is the shoal washed out into the river at the mouth of Loop Creek near the town of Deep Water.

He said that when the river gets down to the 15,000 cubic feet/sec range — measured at the USGS gage at Kanawha Falls — boulders are getting dangerously close to the surface.

Loop Creek comes in from right side of the river (heading upriver); boaters should begin watching for hazards in the vicinity of the railroad trestle that spans the river below the mouth of Loop Creek.

“There are two more mild rapids, Class 1, borderline Class 2, from there on up to Kanawha Falls,” Nibert noted.

The distance is between three and four miles.

In terms of smallmouth population, Nibert said the upper Kanawha not only has excellent numbers of smallmouth bass, but some big ones as well. Even though he regularly fishes and guides on the New River, well known for its 20-inch-plus trophy-sized smallmouth, the biggest he’s personally taken from come from the upper Kanawha.

As far as smallmouth tactics go, Nibert suggested concentrating in areas of river bends.

In the warm water of early fall he’ll rely heavily on soft and hard jerkbaits.

“Late in the evening I’ll switch to a topwater like a Jitterbug or PopR,” he added. “Fly fishermen should use some type of hair bug, the bigger the better.”

Nibert highly encourages the wearing of personal flotation devices, on the upper Kanawha as well as the soon-to-be-described rivers.

Boat access can be accomplished at the City of Montgomery’s site beneath the State Route 61 bridge. A concrete ramp is provided, as well as parking for up to 15 rigs.

There is also a single lane paved ramp at Kanawha Falls at the town of Glen Ferris. The access is downriver of the falls. Anglers should boat anglers should avoid heading upriver for the obvious safety reasons.

U.S Route 60 parallels the northern bank of this portion of the Kanawha; State Route 61 does the same along the southern bank.

Both routes can be utilized for discovering wade/shore fishing opportunities, as well as possible take-outs for kayak fishing floats.

Keep in mind that these areas are privately down. Ask permission first.

Jeff Knapp is a fishing columnist for the Butler Eagle