☰

Fishing in West Virginia

Click a region to explore top fishing spots, species, and local tips.

West Virginia offers outstanding mountain fishing in the Appalachian highlands. The state has over 20,000 miles of streams including famous trout waters like the Elk River, Greenbrier River, and Cranberry River. The New River and Gauley River provide excellent smallmouth bass and muskie fishing, and large impoundments like Summersville Lake and Stonewall Jackson Lake offer walleye, bass, and crappie.

Topographic map — click to view full size

Monongahela & North Central

Monongahela River, Cheat Lake, Tygart Lake -- Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Muskie, Crappie

New River & Southeast

New River, Gauley River, Bluestone Lake -- Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout

Potomac & Eastern Panhandle

Potomac River, Cacapon River, Sleepy Creek -- Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Rainbow Trout

Ohio River & Western

Ohio River, Beech Fork Lake, East Lynn Lake -- Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Saugeye, Bluegill

Greenbrier & South Central

Greenbrier River, Elk River, Summersville Lake -- Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Muskie