PETERSBURG, W.Va. — West Virginia anglers are breaking fishing records with unusual frequency, a trend fisheries experts say reflects years of better fish stocking, improved water quality, and the maturation of trophy-sized fish populations.
So far in the spring of 2026, six reports of record catches have been confirmed by biologists with the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources.
- Michael Ramey, of Poca, set a new state weight record for blue catfish after catching a 71-pound, 50.23-inch fish on May 9 on the Ohio River in Jackson County.
- Zachary “Zak” Roper, of Fayette County, established a new state record for redhorse sucker after catching a 6.46-pound, 25.43-inch fish on May 7 in the Kanawha River at Kanawha Falls.
- John Terry, from Gallagher, in Kanawha County, set a new state record for tiger trout on March 19 by catching a 29.13-inch, 11.04-pound trophy from Seneca Lake in Pocahontas County.
- Donnie Workman, from Nicholas County, set another state record for tiger trout on April 26 while fishing at Summit Lake in Nicholas County. His catch weighed 13.32 pounds and measured 29.80 inches long.
- Fifteen-year-old Hunter Rohr, from Buckhannon, caught a 28-inch, 11.84-pound golden rainbow trout, which set state records for both length and weight, in the Smoke Hole section of the South Branch of the Potomac River in Pendleton County.
- Matt Born, from Reedsville, in Preston County, caught a state-record chain pickerel, measuring 27.95 inches and weighing 5.65 pounds, on April 21 at a pond in the county.
Brett McMillion, director of the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, says the state is an ultimate destination for fishing. If nothing else, it’s a beautiful place to fish, but it’s certainly becoming a destination for trophies.
“These incredible catches highlight the outstanding fishing opportunities that West Virginia has to offer,” McMillion said.
“From scenic lakes to iconic river destinations, anglers can find excellent fishing experiences all across our state. We encourage everyone to get outside, cast a line, and enjoy West Virginia’s waters this summer. You never know when you might reel in a record-breaker.”
Why are fishing records being broken?
Fisheries experts say the upward trend in fishing records is the result of several factors, including biologists becoming better at stocking fish, water quality improving enormously, fish maturing to trophy size, and fishery management improving.
Regarding the maturation of trophy-sized fish, the most obvious example may be the state’s growing number of record blue catfish catches. The species was reintroduced into portions of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers in the mid-2000s, and those fish are now reaching exceptional size after nearly two decades of growth, according to David I. Wellman, Jr., assistant chief of fish management.
“In regard to the blue catfish, this record has been broken multiple times in the last few years,” Wellman said in 2025. “These fish are long-lived and have not yet reached their maximum potential sizes.”
Blue catfish can continue growing for decades under favorable conditions, he said. Recent state records exceeding 60 and 70 pounds suggest that the population is reaching maturity as anglers increasingly target trophy fish.
Fisheries management has also evolved, McMillion said. The state has expanded stocking programs, habitat improvements, and fish population monitoring through federal Sport Fish Restoration funding that supports fish rearing, stocking, and habitat enhancement.
“Over the past year, our biologists, specialists, and technicians have made significant progress,” McMillion wrote in the introduction to the 2026 West Virginia Fishing Regulations Summary.
In 2025, nearly 1,000 habitat structures were added to reservoirs to improve fish habitat and enhance recreational fishing. “These structures provide shelter and spawning and feeding areas for many fish species, ensuring that our lakes and impoundments remain productive and enjoyable for generations,” he said.
“Staff also added thousands of tons of limestone to acidified streams to restore water quality and support native brook trout. As a result, more than 350 miles of streams now maintain pH levels needed to sustain West Virginia’s only native trout species.”
He said ongoing stream restorations, which include culvert removals and the installation of in-stream structures, reduce erosion, minimize sedimentation, and strengthen aquatic ecosystems. “This ultimately benefits fish and wildlife and enhances angling opportunities for residents and visitors,” he said.
At the same time, many of West Virginia’s major rivers are cleaner than they were several decades ago, according to the W.Va. Department of Environmental Protection, allowing forage species and predator fish alike to thrive in waterways once heavily affected by industrial pollution and mine runoff.
Technology has also changed modern fishing. Today’s anglers use GPS mapping, side-imaging sonar, braided fishing line, and specialized tackle to locate and land fish that earlier generations may never have detected.
Trophy catches are also documented and reported more consistently through social media and online record programs, according to David Sibray, publisher of West Virginia Explorer.
“Thanks to Facebook in particular, many trophies are being reported faster than we can keep up with them,” he said.
Part of the increase stems from changes in the fishing records system itself, he said. West Virginia added several new state record categories in 2024, creating opportunities for anglers to establish records in species that previously lacked official classifications.
Taken together, the recent wave of record catches appears to reflect a genuine shift in the state’s fisheries.
Have you broken a fishing record?
Anglers who believe they have caught a state record fish should keep the fish alive in a livewell, chill it on ice, or wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it, then contact their local division district office for official weight and length verification.
To learn more about state fishing records, anglers may consult the West Virginia Fishing Regulations Summary at WVDNR.gov/fishing-regulations. Information about the Trophy Fish Citation and Master Angler programs is also available in the summary.
All anglers age 15 and older must have a valid West Virginia fishing license and a form of identification while fishing. Those fishing for trout must also have a trout stamp. Fishing licenses and stamps may be purchased online at WVFish.com.
The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources oversees the conservation and management of the state’s fish, wildlife, forests, and public lands while supporting hunting, fishing, outdoor recreation, and tourism across West Virginia.
The agency manages state parks, wildlife management areas, and fish stocking programs, and conducts biological research and habitat restoration projects throughout the Mountain State.