2026 regulation year
West Virginia Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
West Virginia licences are sold by the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section on a calendar year. The base fishing licence covers freshwater statewide; a Trout Stamp ($10 resident / $16 non-resident) is required to take or possess trout. The New River — flowing north out of Virginia through the New River Gorge National Park — is the United States' most-celebrated stream smallmouth bass fishery, managed under a 14-inch minimum with a catch-and-immediate-release reach below Bluestone Dam. The Cranberry, Williams, and North Fork South Branch Potomac systems hold the state's premier wild trout populations, including catch-and-release-only native brook trout reaches in the Cranberry Wilderness. Ohio River boundary water is shared with Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky under the Ohio River Reciprocal Agreement, and the Ohio + Kanawha rivers have become a nationally significant trophy blue catfish fishery — the WV state-record blue catfish has been broken repeatedly in recent years (now ~71 lb). Catfish are regulated per species: channel catfish 30 / day on rivers + Corps lakes (4 / day on designated impoundments); blue catfish 2 / day general waters but 4 / day with a 25-inch minimum and only one over 35 inches on the Kanawha + Ohio; flathead catfish 4 / day (only one over 35 inches) on the Kanawha, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers.
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License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual fishing | $19.00 | |
| Resident annual sportsmen (hunt + fish) | $44.00 | |
| Resident 1-day fishing | $3.00 | |
| Resident senior (65+) lifetime | $15.00 | One-time fee, hunt + fish |
| Resident youth (under 15) annual | Free | Not required under age 15 |
| Resident disabled veteran | Free | Free — eligibility required |
| Trout stamp (add-on) | $10.00 | Required to take or possess trout |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual fishing | $37.00 | |
| Non-resident 7-day | $20.00 | |
| Non-resident 3-day | $13.00 | |
| Non-resident 1-day | $6.00 | |
| Non-resident trout stamp (add-on) | $16.00 | |
| Non-resident youth (under 15) | Free | Not required under age 15 |
Buy directly from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources — Wildlife Resources Section. Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth bassCompare across states → | Year-round; New River Gorge catch-and-immediate-release reach below Bluestone Dam | 6 / day combined black bass; New River Gorge trophy reach C&IR only | 12 in min statewide; 14 in min New River + Greenbrier River + listed special-regulation reaches |
| Largemouth bassCompare across states → | Year-round most waters | 6 / day combined black bass; per-lake slots apply | 12 in min statewide most reservoirs; 14 in min on listed trophy lakes |
| Trout (rainbow / brown / brook)Compare across states → | Year-round; catch-and-release-only reaches in Cranberry Wilderness + listed fly-only sections | 6 / day combined statewide; 2 / day catch-and-release brook trout reaches | 7 in min statewide stocked trout; 12 in min wild native brook trout reaches; trout stamp required |
| Walleye / saugerCompare across states → | Year-round | 5 / day walleye + sauger combined | 15 in min walleye; 14 in min sauger |
| Muskellunge (and tiger musky)Compare across states → | Year-round | 1 / day | 30 in min statewide; 36 in min on listed trophy waters |
| Channel catfishCompare across states → | Year-round statewide | 30 / day on all rivers + streams + Cheat / Stonecoal / Mt. Storm + USACE lakes (60 possession); 4 / day on director-designated impoundments (8 possession) | No length limit |
| Flathead catfishCompare across states → | Year-round; big-river species — Kanawha + Monongahela + Ohio rivers | 4 / day on the Kanawha + Monongahela + Ohio rivers (8 possession) | No minimum; only one fish 35 in or longer per day |
| Blue catfishCompare across states → | Year-round; trophy fishery on the Ohio + Kanawha rivers | 2 / day general waters; 4 / day on the Kanawha + Ohio rivers (8 possession, only 2 over 35 in) | 25 in min on the Kanawha + Ohio rivers; only one fish 35 in or longer per day |
Notable water-body special regulations
Catch-and-immediate-release smallmouth bass ONLY year-round on the trophy reach; nationally celebrated stream smallmouth fishery; runs through New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
New River (downstream of Hawks Nest Dam)
14 in min smallmouth bass, 6 / day combined black bass; world-class stream smallmouth fishery
Premier stream smallmouth river; 14 in min smallmouth on listed reaches; trout-stocked tributaries with stamp
Ohio River main stem (WV waters)
Boundary water with Ohio + Pennsylvania + Kentucky (Ohio River Reciprocal Agreement: mouth of Mill Creek, Hancock Co. → mouth of Big Sandy River, Wayne Co.); WV licence covers the WV side; sauger 14 in min + walleye 15 in min, 5 / day combined; channel catfish 30 / day (60 possession); blue catfish 4 / day, 25 in min, only one over 35 in (8 possession, 2 over 35) — nationally significant trophy blue fishery (WV record repeatedly broken here, now ~71 lb); flathead catfish 4 / day, only one over 35 in (8 possession)
Cheat River main stem (Cheat Lake outflow + downstream)
Smallmouth bass river; Cheat Lake holds smallmouth + walleye; Cheat Canyon Class IV/V whitewater
Cranberry River + tributaries (Cranberry Wilderness)
Native brook trout catch-and-release ONLY year-round on listed reaches; artificial lures + flies only; one of the East's premier wild brook trout fisheries
Catch-and-release fly-only section + standard stocked-trout sections; year-round trout fishing; Trout Stamp required
North Fork South Branch Potomac River
Premier trout river — heavily stocked rainbow + brown; catch-and-release artificial-lures-only section near Smoke Hole
Muskellunge flagship (state-record muskellunge waters) + smallmouth bass; Sutton Dam tailwater holds stocked trout + musky downstream; 30 in min musky, 1 / day
Muskellunge management lake — 36 in min, 1 / day; largemouth + walleye + crappie reservoir
Deep clear reservoir — walleye (15 in min) + smallmouth bass + spotted bass; gin-clear water draws ledge-fishing
Muskellunge water — 36 in min, 1 / day; walleye + crappie + bass reservoir
Muskellunge management lake — 30 in min, 1 / day; walleye + bass reservoir
Cheat Lake (Cheat River impoundment)
Smallmouth bass reservoir; 12 in min, 6 / day combined black bass; near Morgantown
Bluestone Lake (Three Rivers WMA)
Smallmouth + largemouth + walleye + channel + flathead catfish reservoir at confluence of New + Bluestone + Greenbrier Rivers; channel catfish 4 / day (director-designated impoundment); flathead a big-river species in the New + Bluestone inflows
Walleye (15 in min, 5 / day) + smallmouth bass + crappie reservoir on the Tygart River
Shavers Fork (Cheat River drainage)
High-elevation cold-water trout stream + smallmouth in lower reaches; Trout Stamp required
High-elevation (3,840 ft) catch-and-release trout lake; artificial lures + flies only; year-round C&R
Potomac River main stem (WV waters)
Boundary water with Maryland; WV licence covers the WV bank; smallmouth bass + walleye + trophy carp fishery
Back Fork of Elk River (Webster Springs)
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — a 4-mile section beginning 2 miles upstream of Webster Springs (county Routes 24 / 24-3). Creel limit 0 (all trout released at once); artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures must be barbless; daylight hours only
Seneca Creek (Pendleton County)
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — a Monongahela National Forest wild brook trout reach from the mouth upstream to the Route 28 bridge. Creel limit 0 (all trout released); artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
Otter Creek (Otter Creek Wilderness)
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — Otter Creek and its tributaries inside the Otter Creek Wilderness (Randolph / Tucker Counties), a native brook trout fishery. Creel limit 0 (all trout released); artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — Red Creek and tributaries above the county Route 45 bridge in the Dolly Sods area (Tucker County), a native brook trout fishery. Creel limit 0 (all trout released); artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
Blackwater River (Blackwater Falls State Park)
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — a 3.5-mile section from the county Route 29-1 bridge in Blackwater Falls State Park downstream to the mouth of the North Fork (Tucker County). Creel limit 0; artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
Slatyfork section of Elk River
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — a 4.6-mile upper-Elk section from the Big Spring / Old Field forks junction downstream to the mouth of Dry Branch, including Props Run and Big Run (Pocahontas County). Creel limit 0; artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
Tea Creek (Williams River drainage)
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — Tea Creek and tributaries above Tea Creek Campground (Pocahontas County, Monongahela National Forest, Williams River drainage). Creel limit 0; artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — a 0.25-mile reach from the mouth upstream to the limestone treatment dam (Pocahontas County, foot access on Forest Route 76); distinct named fork from the Cranberry River main stem. Creel limit 0; artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — a 1.8-mile section from Richwood's water-supply dam upstream to the first state Route 39 bridge (Nicholas County). Creel limit 0; artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
Glade Creek of New River (New River Gorge)
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — a 3-mile section from the mouth upstream to the National Park Service foot bridge (Raleigh County, New River Gorge). Creel limit 0; artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
Bluestone River (Pipestem State Park)
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — a 1-mile section from the mouth of Mountain Creek downstream to a stream-gauge station within Pipestem State Park (Summers County). Creel limit 0; artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
Mill Creek of Kumbrabow State Forest
WVDNR Catch-and-Release Trout — the entire length of Mill Creek and its tributaries within Kumbrabow State Forest (Randolph County). Creel limit 0; artificial flies and lures only (no scent / bait); multiple-hook lures barbless; daylight hours only
WVDNR Fly Fishing Only — the main stream and all tributaries of Dogway Fork (Monongahela National Forest, foot access on Forest Route 78). Artificial flies and streamers only; conventional fly tackle only (spinning / spincast reels prohibited); all fish released; no scented baits; daylight hours only
WVDNR Fly Fishing Only — the main stream and all tributaries of Red Run (Tucker County, access from state Route 72 / Forest Route 13). Artificial flies and streamers only; fly tackle only (spinning / spincast reels prohibited); all fish released; no scented baits; daylight hours only
Second Creek (Monroe / Greenbrier County line)
WVDNR Fly Fishing Only — a marked 2.4-mile section on the Monroe / Greenbrier county line at Rodgers Mill. Artificial flies and streamers only; fly tackle only (spinning / spincast reels prohibited); all fish released; no scented baits; daylight hours only
Thorn Creek (Pendleton County)
WVDNR Fly Fishing Only — a marked 0.5-mile section beginning about 3 miles above the mouth (Pendleton County, county Route 20). Artificial flies and streamers only; fly tackle only (spinning / spincast reels prohibited); all fish released; no scented baits; daylight hours only
WVDNR Fly Fishing Only — from above Edwards Run Pond 1.25 miles upstream to the upper boundary of the Edwards Run WMA (Hampshire County). Artificial flies and streamers only; fly tackle only (spinning / spincast reels prohibited); all fish released; no scented baits; daylight hours only
Clear Fork of the Guyandotte River
WVDNR Delayed Harvest Trout — a 1-mile section from the R.D. Bailey WMA manager's residence downstream to the state Route 6 bridge (Wyoming County). Catch-and-release, artificial lures only Nov 1 – May 15; general regulations (6 trout/day) May 16 – Oct 31
Paint Creek (Fayette / Kanawha Counties)
WVDNR Delayed Harvest Trout — from Ash Branch upstream 12.5 miles to the mouth of Milburn Creek. Catch-and-release, artificial lures only Nov 1 – May 15; general regulations (6 trout/day) May 16 – Oct 31
Stephens Lake (Raleigh County)
WVDNR reduced-creel trout lake — a daily creel limit of 2 trout (vs. the statewide 6/day default); trout stamp required (Raleigh County)
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fishing license to fish in West Virginia?
- Yes. West Virginia requires residents and non-residents alike to hold a valid fishing license, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. Buy directly from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources — Wildlife Resources Section; resident and non-resident fees are listed in the tables above.
- How much is a fishing license in West Virginia?
- Resident fees range from $3.00 (resident 1-day fishing) to $44.00 (resident annual sportsmen (hunt + fish)); Non-resident fees range from $6.00 (non-resident 1-day) to $37.00 (non-resident annual fishing). The full breakdown — annual, multi-day, senior, and lifetime options — is in the license-fee tables above, and you can compare West Virginia against every other state on the license-fee comparator.
- What fish can you catch in West Virginia?
- West Virginia anglers most commonly target Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Trout (rainbow / brown / brook), Walleye / sauger, Muskellunge (and tiger musky), Channel catfish, and others. Each species sets its own season, daily bag, and size or slot limit — compare them in the species table above, or open a species page for the full 2026 rule.
- When does fishing season open in West Virginia?
- It depends on the species — West Virginia sets a separate season for each. Warmwater fish like bass, catfish, and panfish are open year-round in most of the state, while trout, walleye, salmon, and other cold-water or migratory species have dated seasons. The season column in the table above shows each one, and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources — Wildlife Resources Section can shift dates by emergency order.
- Are there special fishing rules on specific West Virginia waters?
- Yes. 39 named West Virginia waters carry regulations that differ from the statewide rule, including New River, New River (downstream of Hawks Nest Dam), Greenbrier River main stem, and 36 more. See the notable water-body special regulations above for the exact rule on each.
Official source
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources — Wildlife Resources Section is the authoritative source for West Virginia fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.
Visit official West Virginia fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to West Virginia Division of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any West Virginia trip during the active season.