When is flathead catfish season in West Virginia?

West Virginia keeps flathead catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the West Virginia bag limit for flathead catfish?

The West Virginia daily bag limit for flathead catfish is 4 / day on the Kanawha + Monongahela + Ohio rivers. The possession limit is 8 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size flathead catfish can you keep in West Virginia?

The West Virginia size rule for flathead catfish is No minimum; only one fish 35 in or longer per day. Trophy rule: One-over-35-inch trophy-protection rule on the Kanawha + Monongahela + Ohio rivers; flathead grow to trophy size in the Ohio + Kanawha lock-and-dam tailwaters + deep scour holes.

Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in West Virginia?

Yes. West Virginia requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a West Virginia license — compare resident and non-resident West Virginia fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for flathead catfish in West Virginia?

Yes. In West Virginia, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines + limb lines + jugs permitted on listed waters under WVDNR rules (check current pamphlet); Live bait (sunfish, bullheads, large shiners) fished tight to cover is the standard tactic; flathead rarely take prepared / cut baits; WV fishing licence required ages 15+ ($19 res / $37 NR annual); Confirm current-year WVDNR Fishing Regulations Summary for the regulated-waters list.

Do specific West Virginia waters have different flathead catfish rules?

Yes. 3 named West Virginia waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Ohio River main stem (WV waters), Kanawha River, Monongahela River. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

West Virginia Flathead catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated May 30, 2026

Flathead catfish are a big-river apex predator in West Virginia, concentrated in the Ohio, Kanawha, and Monongahela rivers and the lowermost reaches of their larger tributaries — they are not a small-stream or high-lake species. WVDNR regulates flathead on the Kanawha, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers (W.Va. Code R § 58-60-5) at 4 fish per day, of which only one may be 35 inches or longer, with a possession limit of 8. Flathead grow to trophy size in the deep scour holes, lock-and-dam tailwaters, and woody cover of the Ohio and Kanawha, and are caught almost exclusively on live bait (live sunfish, bullheads, large shiners) fished tight to structure — they rarely take prepared or cut baits. The Ohio River below the Belleville, Racine, and Robert C. Byrd locks and dams, and the Kanawha below the Winfield and Marmet locks, are the premier WV flathead waters. The one-over-35-inch rule is a deliberate trophy-protection measure that lets anglers keep eating-size flathead while protecting the big breeders.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round; a big-river species — Kanawha + Monongahela + Ohio rivers. June – September is the peak trophy bite. No closed season.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 4 / day on the Kanawha + Monongahela + Ohio rivers
Possession: 8 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum; only one fish 35 in or longer per day
Trophy rule: One-over-35-inch trophy-protection rule on the Kanawha + Monongahela + Ohio rivers; flathead grow to trophy size in the Ohio + Kanawha lock-and-dam tailwaters + deep scour holes

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines + limb lines + jugs permitted on listed waters under WVDNR rules (check current pamphlet)
Live bait (sunfish, bullheads, large shiners) fished tight to cover is the standard tactic; flathead rarely take prepared / cut baits
WV fishing licence required ages 15+ ($19 res / $37 NR annual)
Confirm current-year WVDNR Fishing Regulations Summary for the regulated-waters list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific West Virginia waters:

Ohio River main stem (WV waters)
4 / day, only one over 35 in, 8 possession; premier WV flathead water (Belleville / Racine / R.C. Byrd tailwaters)
Kanawha River
4 / day, only one over 35 in, 8 possession; Winfield + Marmet lock tailwaters
Monongahela River
4 / day, only one over 35 in, 8 possession

Official source

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources — Wildlife Resources Section publishes the authoritative 2026 West Virginiafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The flathead catfish rules on this page are sourced from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources — Wildlife Resources Section's official flathead catfish regulation page.

Visit official West Virginia fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Flathead catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and 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.

Frequently asked questions

When is flathead catfish season in West Virginia?: West Virginia keeps flathead catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the West Virginia bag limit for flathead catfish?: The West Virginia daily bag limit for flathead catfish is 4 / day on the Kanawha + Monongahela + Ohio rivers. The possession limit is 8 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size flathead catfish can you keep in West Virginia?: The West Virginia size rule for flathead catfish is No minimum; only one fish 35 in or longer per day. Trophy rule: One-over-35-inch trophy-protection rule on the Kanawha + Monongahela + Ohio rivers; flathead grow to trophy size in the Ohio + Kanawha lock-and-dam tailwaters + deep scour holes.
Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in West Virginia?: Yes. West Virginia requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a West Virginia license — compare resident and non-resident West Virginia fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for flathead catfish in West Virginia?: Yes. In West Virginia, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines + limb lines + jugs permitted on listed waters under WVDNR rules (check current pamphlet); Live bait (sunfish, bullheads, large shiners) fished tight to cover is the standard tactic; flathead rarely take prepared / cut baits; WV fishing licence required ages 15+ ($19 res / $37 NR annual); Confirm current-year WVDNR Fishing Regulations Summary for the regulated-waters list.
Do specific West Virginia waters have different flathead catfish rules?: Yes. 3 named West Virginia waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Ohio River main stem (WV waters), Kanawha River, Monongahela River. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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