West Virginia Explorer
Trophy Trout In West Virginia

West Virginia stocks 43 waters during first week of fall trout stocking

Fishing

October 23, 2023

Will Reedy

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources stocked 43 during the first week of fall trout stocking, and two anglers have already entered valid tag numbers into the Monster Trout Contest.

According to officials, during the weeks of October 16 and 23, the state is stocking more than 40,000 pounds of trophy-size trout at lakes and streams around the Mountain State.


Of that total, 35,000 pounds of trout weighing 1-2 pounds and 6,500 pounds of monster trout weighing 3-6 pounds will be stocked. Out of the monster trout, five fish will have a tag that can be redeemed for a grand prize.

Anglers who catch one of the five tagged fish and submit a photo with the tag number will be eligible to win a weekend cabin stay at a West Virginia State Park or a Cabela’s prize package. Entries must be submitted by Friday, November 17. To learn more about the Monster Trout Contest, visit WVDNR.gov/fall-monster-trout-stockings.

The following waters were stocked during the week of Oct. 16:

  • Anthony Creek
  • Big Clear Creek
  • Blackwater River
  • Brandywine Lake
  • Buckhannon River
  • Buffalo Fork Lake
  • Cacapon Park Lake
  • Coopers Rock Lake
  • Cranberry River
  • Elk River (Randolph and Webster counties)
  • Evitts Run
  • Glade Creek of Mann
  • Glade Creek of New River
  • Knapps Creek
  • Lost River
  • New Creek Dam No. 14
  • North Branch of Potomac River (Jennings Randolph Tailwaters)
  • North Fork South Branch
  • Opequon Creek
  • Pendleton Lake
  • Pinnacle Creek
  • Pipestem Lake
  • Pond Fork
  • R.D. Bailey Tailwaters
  • Rockcliff Lake
  • Seneca Lake
  • ]Shavers Fork (Bemis)
  • Shavers Fork (lower section)
  • Shavers Fork (upper section)
  • South Branch (Franklin)
  • South Branch (Smoke Hole)
  • Spruce Knob Lake
  • Summersville Tailwaters
  • Summit Lake
  • Sutton Tailwaters
  • Teter Creek Lake
  • Tygart Lake Tailwaters
  • Tygart Valley River Headwaters
  • Upper Guyandotte River
  • Watoga Lake
  • West Fork Greenbrier River
  • Wheeling Creek
  • Williams River

Wheeling Creek in Marshall and Ohio counties and Glade Creek of Mann’s Creek in Babcock State Park have been added to the fall stocking list.

The upper reach of Shaver’s Fork will not be stocked on Forest Service Road 209 due to road construction by the U.S. Forest Service, though the remainder of the upper Shaver’s Fork stocking locations will receive fish.

In November and December, the state will also stock trout on the Elk River in Webster County as part of a pilot program to evaluate the economic impact of trout stocking in the area.

Stockings of the Elk, which will occur at the usual stocking locations, will include 750 rainbow trout each month for 1,500 additional trout.

For a complete list of waters receiving a fall trout stocking, anglers should check pages 14-15 in the 2023 Fishing Regulations Summary. The WVDNR also posts trout stocking updates online at WVdnr.gov/fish-stocking.

All anglers 15 years and older must have a West Virginia fishing license, trout stamp, and a valid form of identification while fishing for trout. Licenses and stamps can be purchased at 175 retail locations across the state or online at WVFish.com.

To learn more about fishing opportunities and trout stockings in West Virginia, visit WVDNR.gov/fishing.