Go fishing!

Get a list of many wonderful West Virginia fishing streams from the state Department of Natural Resources. See link below. Photo courtesy WVDNR.
West Virginia has great fishing streams and rivers. Flyfishing, in particular, can be great exercise, especially if you wade.
Want to encourage fishing in your area?
- Expand access to streams. The state stocks trout and bass. But people who want to fish sometimes have trouble getting access to the streams See river access.
- Here is a list of fishing access points in West Virginia from the Department of Natural Resources: http://www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/public_access.asp. Check to make sure the best ones in your area are on the list. If you have good access, publicize it to local residents and on your community Web site.
- Start a Trout Unlimited chapter, if you don’t have one: With 1,600 West Virginia members, The West Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited helps beginning and advanced anglers connect with the state’s trout watersheds. TU also organizes annual stream cleanups, youth and community education and helps with fingerling restocking. http://www.wvtu.org
- Check out www.WVAngler.com
- The Department of Natural Resources has information about all things fishing in West Virginia: http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/fishing.shtm
- Public fishing areas: http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/public_access.asp
- Weekly fishing report: http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/weekly_fishreport.shtm
- fish stocking maps: http://www.mapwv.gov/huntfish
- Check out this facebook page: Fishing Report WV: https://www.facebook.com/groups/197670607108161/
- Encourage good flyfishermen to offer a fly-fishing or river fishing course in your area.
- For fishing trips, type in “West Virginia fishing schools.” If your area doesn’t have a school, how might you help get one started?
- Make it possible for people to combine fishing with paddling: The Coal River Group lends people fishing poles if they want them when they rent canoes. See the paddling page.
- Fishing on horseback.Another interesting idea. Pipestem State Park offers it: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/hunting-fishing/a-unique-trout-fishing-experience-west-virginia-mountain-river-on-horseback-668388
- Water quality is important to fish and fishermen. Here is a public radio story about the Cheat cleanup that makes that point. http://www.wbur.org/npr/204580876/fish-return-to-a-mining-county-river?ft=3&f=204580876
- Support your local watershed association, which is in charge of keeping your fishing area clean and full of fish. Join the West Virginia Watershed Network: http://www.wvca.us/wvwn/
Also see these Try This pages: Get water trail status for your river, create public access, support watershed associations
Have something to add? Write it in “reply” below, with your contact info, in case we have questions.
This is a great post on all the sites you can use when decided where to fish! The maps are great to show you the conditions of the streams and the fish stock in those streams! Thanks for all the helpful information.