There've been rumblings of populations declines on the James, and lower New. Anecdotal evidence points to widespread issues in the New & Yadkin watershed.
I had the opportunity to speak with a couple fisheries guys in Elkin today. There hasn't been much in the way of local smallmouth surveying. The last area check was the SF New in 2018. The findings were troubling. There was very very low recruitment in 2012, and zero in the 2013 year class found. The fisheries dude went on to say that when the flows average higher than 300 cfs (SF @ Jefferson) during the month of July, recruitment suffers tremendously on the SF New.
I urged them to make it a priority to investigate the area watersheds to assess the long term damage done by recent wet years.
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I was thinking about checking the New out soon.... (on a weekday)
last time i was up at Farmers Fish Camp a spin guy had a pretty good day.., i just caught a couple of punes...
For the last 8-10 years all of my biggest smallmouth have come from the Yadkin. I have definitely seen a decline in numbers over the last 3-4 seasons. I have both on the Yadkin and the New this year seen an abundance of fry. Hopefully this will be a rebound for both waters.
Quote from: Ronbo on June 07, 2021, 11:50:16 AMFor the last 8-10 years all of my biggest smallmouth have come from the Yadkin. I have definitely seen a decline in numbers over the last 3-4 seasons. I have both on the Yadkin and the New this year seen an abundance of fry. Hopefully this will be a rebound for both waters.
Same for the tribs?
Quote from: Onslow on June 07, 2021, 12:30:54 PMtribs?
Maybe more so on the smaller waters. Just my opinion
Last time I talked to Jesse T., he said the smallie population on the New from South Fork to confluence and the North Fork and entire area around there (W. Jefferson to Mouth of Wilson) had been hit very hard from the flood water levels for the last couple years, and it would take years to recover. I dunno, just passing on what he said. He said that if PFF was planning our annual Smallie Show at Zaloo's Outpost -- we might as well just sit around the camp and drink instead of wasting our time fishing. :o
Quote from: Phil on June 07, 2021, 14:51:27 PMLast time I talked to Jesse T., he said the smallie population on the New from South Fork to confluence and the North Fork and entire area around there (W. Jefferson to Mouth of Wilson) had been hit very hard from the flood water levels for the last couple years, and it would take years to recover. I dunno, just passing on what he said. He said that if PFF was planning our annual Smallie Show at Zaloo's Outpost -- we might as well just sit around the camp and drink instead of wasting our time fishing. :o
That area sucks on a good day, lol.
Quote from: Onslow on June 07, 2021, 15:49:01 PMQuote from: Phil on June 07, 2021, 14:51:27 PMLast time I talked to Jesse T., he said the smallie population on the New from South Fork to confluence and the North Fork and entire area around there (W. Jefferson to Mouth of Wilson) had been hit very hard from the flood water levels for the last couple years, and it would take years to recover. I dunno, just passing on what he said. He said that if PFF was planning our annual Smallie Show at Zaloo's Outpost -- we might as well just sit around the camp and drink instead of wasting our time fishing. :o
That area sucks on a good day, lol.
Well, it's the only area of the New i've ever fished. Ain got no bote or yak. :embarassed:
Intersex fish issues were discussed with the fisheries biologists as well, but I don't think this is a major issue on the Yadkin. That being said, I don't think many paying attention to this either.
I'm just glad the rains have been more gentle this year. Today is the first day since early April the Yadkin in Elkin is turbid. Turbid as in cloudy, but not carrot soup.
Quote from: Onslow on June 07, 2021, 20:24:05 PMIntersex fish issues were discussed with the fisheries biologists as well, but I don't think this is a major issue on the Yadkin. That being said, I don't think many paying attention to this either.
I'm just glad the rains have been more gentle this year. Today is the first day since early April the Yadkin in Elkin is turbid. Turbid as in cloudy, but not carrot soup.
I certainly think local flooding has had a huge impact on spawning; but I would be curious how much impact the introduction of the flathead catfish has on bass population. I know they blamed the flathead for the removal of the bullheads, would make sense to me they would be hard on young bass as well. Flatheads are a pretty voracious predator. It just seems like the smaller fish are missing in the Yadkin. Not all of the Yadkin is prime habitat for smallies, so they have always in my opinion been caught best by "spot fishing." I wonder if the flathead uses alot of the same water especially in the spring.
"Anglers concerned about the fisheries generally regarded as Virginia's two best waterways for bronzebacks should be heartened by the fact that the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) realizes that a problem exists".
https://dwr.virginia.gov/blog/whats-going-on-in-the-james-and-new-river-smallmouth-fisheries/?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nftf&utm_content=nftf_fishing_july2021
Big problems.