Fishing in West Virginia

Anglers on Shavers Fork of the Cheat

Fishing is one of the most popular outdoor sports pursued in West Virginia. Young West Virginians learn early the art of the cast, and by their teens they are adept at hunting trout in clear mountain streams and coaxing bass from its lakes and rivers. But there are many miles of stream and plenty of fishing holes to be angled.

Bait and tackle shops exist in almost every county in West Virginia, and fishing camps, for , may be found on almost every stream.

Fishing in the Mountain State is notably accommodated by its wealth of well-watered fisheries. Its streams do not grow sluggish in late summer. Though small streams may dry to a trickle, hundreds of larger fishing streams remain productive year-round.


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Fishing is one of the most popular forms of recreation accommodated in West Virginia, and it's hard to keep up with the constant change and expansion. If you’ve noted inaccuracies in our content or would like to contribute as a correspondent, please contact a member of our editorial staff.

West Virginia Fishing News

Trout stocking schedule for West Virginia

West Virginia Trout Stocking Schedules: March 6-10, 2023

West Virginia Explorer Magazine publishes an updated list of waters stocked by the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources as the division publishes announcements. Trout Stocking...
An angler casts into a trout stream. Trout fishing is perennially popular across West Virginia.

W.Va. announces return of trout stockings, new fishing regulations

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va.—West Virginia has announced the publication of updated 2023-2024 fishing regulations and the return of trout stockings to lakes and streams around...
Fishing guide Bill Handy prepares to launch onto the upper New River on an early fall day.

New River Gorge ranked second among fall fishing destinations

SANDSTONE, W.Va. — The New River Gorge in southern West Virginia has been ranked second among the top autumn fishing destinations in the U.S....
Allen Burkett of Criders, Va., caught a channel catfish that weighed 36.96 pounds and measured 40.59 inches in length.

Angler breaks West Virginia's long-standing channel catfish record

A 17-year record for the largest channel catfish caught in West Virginia has been broken, according to the state Division of Natural Resources. On June...
West Virginia fisheries biologist Aaron Yeager (left) with Lucas King (right) holding King's record musky.

Angler catches W.Va. record muskie in Braxton County

West Virginia officials have confirmed that on Saturday, March 19, Lucas King, of Burnsville, West Virginia, caught and released a new Mountain State record...