Fishing

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials at the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources in Charleston announced that hatchery crews stocked trout in 46 lakes and streams across West Virginia during the week of Jan. 5, continuing the agency’s winter trout-stocking program. West Virginia trout stocking is a cornerstone of the state’s year-round fishing program, supporting both resident … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Trout stockings have resumed in select lakes and streams across West Virginia, the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources announced, restoring a seasonal boost to recreational fishing around the state. Brett McMillion, director of the division, said the stockings are part of the agency’s ongoing effort to support anglers and promote year-round outdoor … Read more

FORT GAY, W.Va. — West Virginia has reinstated its reciprocal fishing agreement with Kentucky, allowing Mountain State anglers to once again fish shared border waters with a single license. Under the renewed agreement, West Virginia residents may use their state-issued fishing licenses to fish from the Kentucky side of the Big Sandy and Tug Fork … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Biologists in West Virginia will be studying trout harvest rates during the state’s fall trout-stocking season to better understand how long trout stay in stocked streams, how they move over time, and whether they survive through the summer. As part of the effort, the state recently released rainbow and golden rainbow trout … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia officials have announced the return of the state’s fourth annual Monster Trout Contest, giving anglers and their families a chance to reel in trophy-sized fish while enjoying peak fall foliage. During the weeks of Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, the state will stock 40,000 pounds of trout weighing between one … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Record-breaking fish seem to have become the new normal in West Virginia, and state officials say there are several reasons for the uptick, which is not likely to end soon. David I. Wellman, Jr., assistant chief of fish management for the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, says anglers are landing giants with … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Free Fishing Days will return June 7-8, allowing anglers and their families to fish for free in public lakes, streams, and rivers in West Virginia. Brett McMillion, director of the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, said the annual event has helped anglers pass on the practice to new generations. “One of the … Read more

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources stocked 44 lakes and streams with trout in late October, and anglers who take some of them are eligible for prizes. More than 35,000 pounds of trophy-size trout and 6,500 pounds of monster trout (100 of which were tagged) were stocked in advance of its … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia will begin fall trout stockings during the weeks of Oct. 21 and 28, along with its third annual Monster Trout Contest. The W.Va. Dept. of Natural Resources will stock 35,000 pounds of trout weighing one to two pounds in 40 lakes and streams around the state and 6,500 pounds of … Read more

GALLIPOLIS FERRY, W.Va. — For the fourth year in a row, the West Virginia state record for the largest blue catfish by weight has been broken. According to the W.Va. Division of National Resources, Michael John Drake of Saint Albans, West Virginia, caught and released a blue catfish that weighed 69.45 pounds and measured 50.51 … Read more