2026 regulation year
West Virginia Smallmouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
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The New River — running north out of Virginia through the New River Gorge National Park to the confluence with the Gauley at Gauley Bridge — is one of the most-celebrated stream smallmouth fisheries in the United States. The 11-mile reach below Bluestone Dam (Bluestone Dam to Hawks Nest Dam) is managed under a year-round catch-and-immediate-release rule; downstream of Hawks Nest, a 14-inch minimum + 6-fish daily bag protects the trophy class. The Greenbrier, Cheat, and Elk Rivers round out the state's premier stream smallmouth waters, and Cheat Lake, Bluestone Lake, and Summersville Lake support lacustrine smallmouth populations.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round; New River Gorge trophy reach catch-and-immediate-release ONLY year-round.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 6 / day combined black bass (most waters); New River Gorge reach 0 / day (C&IR only)
- Possession
- 6 in possession (most waters)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 12 in min statewide; 14 in min New River + Greenbrier River; New River Gorge reach C&IR only
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited
- New River Gorge reach (Bluestone Dam to Hawks Nest Dam): catch-and-immediate-release only — no possession
- Greenbrier River trophy reaches: 14 in min, 6 / day
- Ohio River main stem: WV licence covers the WV side; boundary applies on open water
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific West Virginia waters:
New River (Bluestone to Hawks Nest)
Catch-and-immediate-release smallmouth bass ONLY year-round; trophy stream smallmouth fishery
New River (downstream of Hawks Nest)
14 in min, 6 / day combined black bass
Greenbrier River
14 in min on listed reaches, 6 / day combined
Cheat River main stem
12 in min, 6 / day combined black bass; Cheat Canyon trophy reaches
Cheat Lake
12 in min, 6 / day combined black bass; lacustrine smallmouth
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.
Visit official West Virginia fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Smallmouth bass 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 smallmouth bass season in West Virginia?
- West Virginia keeps smallmouth bass 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 smallmouth bass?
- The West Virginia daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 6 / day combined black bass (most waters); New River Gorge reach 0 / day (C&IR only). The possession limit is 6 in possession (most waters). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size smallmouth bass can you keep in West Virginia?
- The West Virginia size rule for smallmouth bass is 12 in min statewide; 14 in min New River + Greenbrier River; New River Gorge reach C&IR only.
- Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in West Virginia?
- Yes. West Virginia requires a valid fishing license to fish for smallmouth bass, 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 smallmouth bass in West Virginia?
- Yes. In West Virginia, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited; New River Gorge reach (Bluestone Dam to Hawks Nest Dam): catch-and-immediate-release only — no possession; Greenbrier River trophy reaches: 14 in min, 6 / day; Ohio River main stem: WV licence covers the WV side; boundary applies on open water.
- Do specific West Virginia waters have different smallmouth bass rules?
- Yes. 5 named West Virginia waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including New River (Bluestone to Hawks Nest), New River (downstream of Hawks Nest), Greenbrier River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.