Birthday Fishing

It has become a tradition in the Bower family to do what we love the best on our birthdays, go Smallmouth Bass fishing on the New River, in our backyard so to speak. Many of the people we spend our time with are amazed by the fact that we would choose to go out and do what we do for a living on a rare day off. I can see where they are coming from but my office has a much better view than any cubicle around. The bi-annual birthday trips have been everything from a two day overnight camping trip on the Upper New River to a three hour tour under The New River Gorge Bridge, our favorite trip continues to be fishing the Gorge section or The Lower New. The local outfitters have coined a phrase on this section as “Americas Best Whitewater” and there are many good reasons for this distinguished title. Even after spending the last 20 years or so in a raft it is still the incredible Smallmouth fishing that makes me want to go “rafting” the New River Gorge! Any chance we get to fish the Lower New is considered a treat as our outfitter runs commercial trips quite regularly when the water levels are just right. The best thing about the birthday fishing trip is you can be real greedy and not have to take turns rowing the boat as we do on the other days we go out and fish for fun. So if you see us out on those two beautiful days in July you will usually find Carla and Bobby sitting in a green fishing boat with our friends just fishing, cause that’s what we both like to do best. Bet you I catch more on my birthday than Carla. Bobby Bower, Pro River Outfitters Guide/Head Dishwasher