The Smith River originates in the rugged foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia. The Smith flows through both Patrick and Henry counties, and eventually into North Carolina.

The tailwater section of the Smith River is located in Henry County below Philpott Dam, a hydroelectric facility.

Local municipalities within the tailwater section of the Smith River include Bassett, Fieldale, Collinsville, and Martinsville.

 

 

Research being conducted by Virginia Tech and the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries are focused primarily upon twelve sites in the tailwater section of the Smith River.

Sites were chosen based on access considerations and range from river distances of 0.5 kilometers below Philpott Dam to 23 kilometers at the final site.