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West Virginia Gun Hunting and Fishing. Great Outdoor vacation guide for WV! West Virginia Gun Hunting and Fishing. Great Outdoor vacation guide for WV! West Virginia Gun Hunting and Fishing. Great Outdoor vacation guide for WV!
West Virginia Gun Hunting and Fishing. Great Outdoor vacation guide for WV! West Virginia Gun Hunting and Fishing. Great Outdoor vacation guide for WV! West Virginia Gun Hunting and Fishing. Great Outdoor vacation guide for WV!
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Special Area Regulations: Fishing

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Catch-and-Release Bass Stream Regulations

All black bass (smallmouth, spotted and largemouth) caught must be returned to the water at once.

No black bass shall be in the angler's possession while on the stream within designated catch-and-release areas.

To release a deeply hooked or gill hooked fish, the line should be cut as close to the lure or bait as possible. New River, Fayette, Raleigh and Summers counties. A 12-mile section from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone downstream to NPS Grandview Sandbar access site near Quinnimont. Access by state Route 41 at Quinnimont and state Route 20 at Sandstone.

North Branch of Potomac River, Mineral County. A 25-mile section beginning at the U.S. Route 220 bridge at Keyser extending downstream to the spillway in Cumberland, MD. South B ranch of Potomac River

Area 1
An 8-mile section in Hardy County, beginning 3 miles east of Petersburg at the Rts. 28, 55 and 220 bridge (Petersburg Gap bridge), extending downstream to the County Rt. 13 bridge (Fisher bridge).

Area 2
A 9.5-mile section in Hampshire County, beginning at the Rts. 28 and 50 bridge (Romney bridge), extending downstream to the State Rt. 28 bridge (Blue Beach bridge).


Slot-Limit Bass Stream

All black bass (smallmouth, spotted and largemouth) from 12 to 20 inches must be returned to the water at once.

Daily creel limit of one black bass over 20 inches caught within the slot limit area. Black bass under 12 inches may be harvested. All black bass harvested must be in accordance with the daily creel limit regulation.

To release a deeply hooked or gill-hooked fish, cut the line 5 to 6 inches above the lure.

Greenbrier River, Greenbrier County 6-mile section beginning at the U.S. Route 60 bridge near Caldwell extending downstream to the U.S. Route 219 bridge at Ronceverte.

Catch-and-Release Muskellunge Streams Regulations

All muskellunge caught must be returned to the water at once.

No muskellunge shall be in the angler's possession while on stream sections designated as catch-and-release areas. Middle Island Creek, Tyler County. A 6-mile section beginning at the State Rt. 18 bridge near Centerville and continuing downstream to the low water bridge near the Jug WMA. Included in this area are sections of Indian Creek and McElroy Creek from their mouth to their first riffle.

Buckhannon River, Upshur County. A 6.5-mile section beginning at the City of Buckhannon's water supply dam and continuing upstream to the first riffle. Included in this area is the section of French Creek, from its mouth to the first riffle. The entire stream section is commonly referred to as Buckhannon Pool.

Children and Class Q Handicap Fishing Areas Regulations

Area is managed under special regulations March through May.

During this period fishing is restricted to children 10 years of age or under and to handicapped individuals holding a Class Q license.

Fishing permitted during daylight hours only.

Creel limit is four (4) trout.

Another person(s) may assist with baiting hooks and removing fish. Coonskin Park Pond, Kanawha County. A 2.7-acre pond in Coonskin Park. Access is by State route 114 and County route 51/2.

Handley Pond, Pocahontas County. A 5-acre pond on the Handley WMA. Access is by County routes 17 and 17/1 which intersects U.S. Route 219 at Edray north of Marlinton.

Kanawha State Forest Pond, Kanawha County. A 1-acre pond in Kanawha State Forest. Access by county route 42 off county route 23

Logan County Airport Pond. A 1-acre pond. Access by county route 119/8 off state route 17.

Millers Fork Pond, Wayne County. A 5-acre pond on Beech Fork Lake WMA. Access is by County route 22, off County route 17.

Raleigh County Airport Pond. A 1-acre pond at the entrance to the Raleigh County Airport. Access is by County route 9/9 off I-64 at Airport Exit 125-B.

Underwood Lake, Cabell County. A 1-acre pond on Huntington YMCA property. Access is by State route 2.

Westover Park Pond, Monongalia County. A 1-acre pond located at the Westover Park just off U.S. Route 19 approximately 0.5 mile east of I-79 Westover exit.

Wood Pond, Ohio County. A ½-acre impoundment on the Bear Rock Lake WMA. Access is by county route 41/6.

Woodbine Area of the Cranberry River, Nicholas County. A 300-yard section of the Cranberry River at the U.S. Forest Service Woodbine Recreation Area. Access is by National Forest route 76 from Richwood.

Fly-Fishing-Only Trout Stream Regulations

Fishing permitted during daylight hours only.

Only artificial flies and streamers may be used or in possession on any of the fly fishing only streams.

Only conventional fly fishing tackle may be used. Open- and closed-face spinning or spinning cast reels are prohibited.

All fish caught must be returned to the water at once.

No trout shall be in the angler's possession while on stream sections designated as fly-fishing-only streams. Buffalo Creek of New River, Fayette County. The main stream and all tributaries of Buffalo Creek. Access is by foot from County route 25.

Dogway Fork of the Cranberry, Webster, Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties. The main stream and all tributaries of Dogway Fork. Access is by foot on National Forest Route 78.

Milligan Creek A marked area, in Greenbrier County, about 1 mile north of U.S. Rt. 60 from the County route 60/15 bridge extending downstream about .33 mile to a fence crossing.

Red Run of Dry Fork, Tucker County. The main stream and all tributaries of Red Run. Access is by foot from state route 72 and National Forest Route 13.

Second Creek A marked area on the Monroe/Greenbrier County line in a 1.5-mile section at Rodgers Mill.

Thorn Creek, Pendleton County. A marked .5 mile section beginning approximately 3 miles above the mouth. Access is by County route 20.

Catch-and-Release Trout Stream Regulations

Fishing permitted during daylight hours only.

Only artificial flies and lures made of metal, wood, feathers, hair or synthetic material may be used or POSSESSED on "catch-and-release" trout streams during the catch-and-release season.

Multiple hook lures must have barbless hooks.

Single hook lures may have barbed hooks.

To release a deeply hooked or gill-hooked fish, the leader should be cut.

All trout caught must be returned to the water at once.

No trout shall be in the angler's possession while on stream sections designated as catch-and-release streams. * Power bait is considered to be illegal under this section and may not be used or possessed on catch-and-release trout streams.

Season: Year-round unless otherwise noted.

Back Fork of Elk River, Webster County, beginning 2 miles upstream from Webster Springs, extending upstream 4 miles. Access by County routes 24 and 24/3.

Blackwater River, Tucker County, beginning at the County route 29/1 bridge in Blackwater Falls State Park and extending downstream 3.5 miles to the mouth of the North Fork.

Clear Fork of the Guyandotte River, Wyoming County. A 1-mile section from the R.D. Bailey Wildlife Management Area manager's residence downstream to the State Route 6 bridge.

* Season: March 1 through May 31.
* General regulations apply June 1 through February 28.


Cranberry River, Webster and Pocahontas counties, (1) beginning at the junction of the North and South Forks and extending downstream 4.3 miles to the low water bridge at Dogway Fork. Access by foot on National Forest route 76 from the Cranberry Glades parking area. (2) Nicholas County, from the Woodbine Recreation Area downstream 1.2 miles to Camp Splinter (Jakeman Run). Access is by National Forest route 76 from Richwood.

Elk River, Randolph County. A 2-mile section from the Elk Springs Campground downstream to the Rose Run bridge. Access is by County route 49 off State route 15 about 4 miles west of Valley Head.

Glade Creek of New River, Raleigh County. A 3-mile section extending from the mouth upstream to the National Park Service foot bridge. Access is by Glade Creek Road off State route 41.

Middle Wheeling Creek, Ohio County. A 1.2 mile section from just above the upper limits of Middle Wheeling Creek Lake upstream to mouth of Gillespie Run. Access by county route 39/6.

* Season: February 1 through May 31.
* General regulations apply June 1 through January 31.


North Branch of Potomac River, Grant and Mineral Counties. Check the 2004 Maryland Fishing Regulations for special regulations on the North Branch of the Potomac and Potomac Rivers.

North Fork of Cherry River, Nicholas County. A 1.8 -mile section extending upstream from Richwood's water supply dam to first State route 39 bridge. Access is by State route 39.

North Fork of Cranberry River, Pocahontas County, A .25-mile section beginning at the mouth and extending upstream to the limestone treatment dam. Access is by foot on National Forest route 76.

North Fork of the South Branch, Pendleton County. A .75-mile section at the mouth of Seneca Creek near Seneca Rocks Visitor Center. Access is by County route 28/3 at junction of State route 28 and U.S. route 33 at Seneca Rocks.

Paint Creek, Fayette County. A 2-mile section from mouth of Skitter Creek upstream to mouth of Milburn Creek. Access is by county route 15.

Shavers Fork of Cheat River, Randolph County. A 5.5-mile section in the Monongahela National Forest, north of U.S. Rt. 250, extending from the mouth of Whitmeadow Run downstream to the mouth of McGee Run. Access by National Forest route 92, which intersects U.S. Rt. 250 four miles west of Cheat Bridge.

Slaty Fork section of Elk River, Pocahontas County. A 3.6-mile section beginning at the junction of Big Spring Fork and Old Field Fork extending downstream to the railroad bridge. Access is by foot from County routes 219/2 on the north and 219/12 on the south.

South Branch of the Potomac River, Pendleton County. A 1-mile section beginning two miles below U.S. Route 220 at Eagle Rock and extending downstream.

Williams River, Pocahontas County. A 2-mile section beginning below Tea Creek and extending downstream. Access by National Forest Route 86.





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