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United States · WV
West Virginia
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR)
Rules change by area and can change mid-season. We explain what the rules mean and always link you to the official source — we never copy a limit table and call it current.
Licences — what you need
- • A fishing licence plus a conservation stamp structure apply; trout fishing is covered broadly, with special licences for border waters (Ohio River) handled by agreement.
- • National forest waters are covered by the state licence — no separate forest stamp in the current framework.
How the rules are organized
- • Statewide rules plus a special-regulations list: catch-and-release and fly-fishing-only trout sections, and named lakes with individual rules.
- • The Ohio River follows the reciprocal border framework with Ohio/Kentucky.
Good to know — common mistakes
- • West Virginia's famous catch-and-release and fly-only trout sections (Cranberry, Elk River catch-and-release areas) are no-harvest zones even in open season.
- • Gold Rush stocked golden rainbow trout events are publicity stockings — general trout rules still apply.
- • Flathead and blue catfish in the Ohio/Kanawha rivers have water-specific attention; sturgeon must be released statewide.
- • Fall and winter stocked trout waters (lakes) operate on the stocking bulletin schedule.
Official links
Fishing locations covered in this guide
This page is a plain-language summary, not the law. Regulations change — including in-season by official notice — and if anything here disagrees with the official source, the official source governs.
AnglerPlan is an information service, not a regulator. If anything here disagrees with an official source, the official source wins — and please tell us so we can fix it.