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Sandstone Falls through the New River Gorge. Trophy smallmouth, native-strain walleye and muskie. The river tops out around 20 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, New River (Gorge) runs 2,477 acres with 85.5 miles of edge — one island included. An index of 12.3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. 73% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 23.3 mi, about 9.4 mi across. You'll find it in Fayette County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Plum Orchard Lake, 12 mi west of here.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 20 ft before dropping to 6 to 20 ft for winter. Spring smallmouth bass concentrate at Sandstone Falls ledges, a prime-rated rock pile around 6 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 6.2) (11 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring walleye on New River (Gorge) hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. The chart's best answer is Sandstone Falls ledges — rock pile, 6 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk & night | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Start shallow in spring: muskellunge sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Sandstone Falls ledges, a rock pile in the 6 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Current seam (mile 6.2) (11 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dusk & dawn | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dusk | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: flathead catfish in 5 to 20 ft. The depth story barely changes: 5 to 20 ft through summer, 6 to 20 ft in winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4), a creek channel in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for flathead catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 20 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Current seam (mile 6.2) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (15 ft) |
Come spring, look for rock bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 5 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sandstone Falls ledges: a rock pile around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Sandstone Falls ledges (6 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Structure-wise the chart holds 19 features, led in depth by Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) at roughly 15 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for West Virginia waters are set by the West Virginia DNR — and special regulations can apply to New River (Gorge) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official West Virginia fishing regulations →
New River (Gorge) is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, flathead catfish, channel catfish, rock bass on New River (Gorge).
Sandstone Falls ledges is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on New River (Gorge) is regulated by the West Virginia DNR. Check the official West Virginia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Plum Orchard Lake 12 mi · Hawks Nest Lake 15 mi · Lake Stephens 18 mi · Summersville Lake 24 mi · Greenbrier River 35 mi · Moncove Lake 41 mi · Big Ditch Lake 41 mi · Wallback Lake 47 mi · R.D. Bailey Lake 48 mi · Lake Sherwood 54 mi · Sutton Lake 55 mi · Lake Moomaw 57 mi, VA
See how New River (Gorge) stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in West Virginia · best walleye lakes in West Virginia · best channel catfish lakes in West Virginia · best muskellunge lakes in West Virginia
Browse all West Virginia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.