ABOUT US AND OUR PHILOSOPHY

My name is Sammy Pugh and I am the owner and operator of New River Trophy Outfitters.  I grew up on the New River and I have fished these waters for nearly 20 years.  When I am not guiding folks down the New River, I am fishing it.  Fishing and the outdoors have always been my passion; so much so that I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management from West Virginia University.  I have been blessed to utilize the knowledge that I have gained to make a career in the outdoors. 

In my knowledge of fishing the New, I understand that it is crucial to stay in tune with fishing patterns in order to provide my customers with the very best opportunity to have an exceptional fishing experience.  I myself have taken many guided trips at various places across the U.S. and it becomes clear very quickly if the guide is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about showing you the best that the area has to offer.   Expertise and a rewarding fishing experience is exactly what New River Trophy Outfitters has to offer you.

Mark Carter----With over 1300 trips in the past 10 years on the New River alone Mark has seen it all when it comes to smallmouth fishing the New.  Cutting his teeth in Kentucky and Tennessee fishing Dale Hollow and Big South Fork of the Cumberland, Mark strives to give clients the best trip they have ever had.  Not only will Mark work to put you on the biggest smallmouth, he will try to teach you the river as you float.  With a background in Stream Ecology and Geography, you will also learn why the New River is the premier smallmouth destination in the East.  From power fishing tactics to fly fishing with deer hair bugs he does it all.

Our philosophy is simple.  I, as well as the other guides, will work extremely hard to make your trip a success.  All of our guides are skilled anglers who want to share their passion of fishing with you.  Nothing gives our guides more pleasure than to see clients catch fish.  I am not merely referring to the good numbers that we often catch, but also to the trophy-size fish that we target.  Along with the excitement of catching tons of average-size fish, our goal is for our clients to hook the biggest smallmouth, walleye and/or musky of their life.  A new state record for any of these species could be lurking in the waters of the New River.