2026 regulation year
West Virginia Trout (rainbow / brown / brook) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Oncorhynchus mykiss / Salmo trutta / Salvelinus fontinalis
Last updated
The Cranberry River, deep in the 47,815-acre Cranberry Wilderness, holds one of the East Coast's premier wild native brook trout fisheries — listed reaches are year-round catch-and-release ONLY with artificial lures + flies only, and the wilderness designation prevents motorized access. The Williams River and North Fork South Branch Potomac River round out the state's premier trout systems, with stocked rainbow + brown trout statewide on hundreds of streams + lakes. A $10 resident / $16 non-resident Trout Stamp is required to take or possess trout.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round on most waters; Cranberry Wilderness native brook trout reaches catch-and-release ONLY year-round.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 6 / day combined rainbow + brown + brook (most stocked waters); 0 / day Cranberry Wilderness native brook reaches (C&R)
- Possession
- 12 in possession (most stocked waters)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 7 in min stocked trout statewide; 12 in min wild native brook trout protected reaches
Gear restrictions
- Trout Stamp required ($10 res / $16 NR) statewide for trout harvest
- Cranberry Wilderness native brook trout reaches: catch-and-release ONLY; artificial lures + flies only
- Williams River fly-only catch-and-release section: artificial lures + flies only on listed reaches
- Spruce Knob Lake: catch-and-release ONLY year-round; artificial lures + flies only
- Snagging trout prohibited
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific West Virginia waters:
Cranberry River + tributaries
Catch-and-release ONLY year-round on listed reaches; artificial lures + flies only; native brook trout protected
Williams River
Fly-only catch-and-release section + stocked sections; 6 / day on stocked reaches
North Fork South Branch Potomac
Stocked rainbow + brown; catch-and-release artificial-only section near Smoke Hole
Spruce Knob Lake
Catch-and-release ONLY year-round; artificial lures + flies only
Shavers Fork
Stocked + wild trout; 6 / day, Trout Stamp required
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
Trout (rainbow / brown / brook) 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 trout (rainbow / brown / brook) season in West Virginia?
- West Virginia keeps trout (rainbow / brown / brook) 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 trout (rainbow / brown / brook)?
- The West Virginia daily bag limit for trout (rainbow / brown / brook) is 6 / day combined rainbow + brown + brook (most stocked waters); 0 / day Cranberry Wilderness native brook reaches (C&R). The possession limit is 12 in possession (most stocked waters). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size trout (rainbow / brown / brook) can you keep in West Virginia?
- The West Virginia size rule for trout (rainbow / brown / brook) is 7 in min stocked trout statewide; 12 in min wild native brook trout protected reaches.
- Do you need a license to fish for trout (rainbow / brown / brook) in West Virginia?
- Yes. West Virginia requires a valid fishing license to fish for trout (rainbow / brown / brook), 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 trout (rainbow / brown / brook) in West Virginia?
- Yes. In West Virginia, trout (rainbow / brown / brook) fishing carries these gear rules: Trout Stamp required ($10 res / $16 NR) statewide for trout harvest; Cranberry Wilderness native brook trout reaches: catch-and-release ONLY; artificial lures + flies only; Williams River fly-only catch-and-release section: artificial lures + flies only on listed reaches; Spruce Knob Lake: catch-and-release ONLY year-round; artificial lures + flies only; Snagging trout prohibited.
- Do specific West Virginia waters have different trout (rainbow / brown / brook) rules?
- Yes. 5 named West Virginia waters carry rules that override the statewide trout (rainbow / brown / brook) regulation, including Cranberry River + tributaries, Williams River, North Fork South Branch Potomac, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.