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West Virginia Stream Conditions

 

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) Fishing Page

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) fishing report will be updated approximately every three months (spring, summer, fall, winter). General trends which can be expected to be useful for that season/district/waterbody type will be offered. The links found below can help anglers fine-tune their experience by finding new fishing areas, checking flows, stocking reports, and current regulations to name a few. Further information can be found by contacting WVDNR biologists listed with each district seasonal report. Please also contact us if you make a spectacular or unidentifiable catch, or have a question relating to current regulations.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/wv/nwis/rt - West Virginia (USGS) flow data
https://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Water-Information/ - Hunt. District USACOE
https://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Water-Management/ - Pittsburgh District USACOE
http://www.mapwv.gov/huntfish/ - Find locations using the WVDNR fishing mapping tool
http://www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/Stocking/DailyStock.shtm - WVDNR stocking webpage
http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/Fishing_regs.shtm - WVDNR current fishing regulations (2018-2019)
http://www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/First_Fish.shtm - WVDNR First Fish Certificate
http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/TroFishCitPrgm.shtm - WVDNR Trophy Fish Citation Program
http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/HuskyMusky.shtm - Register your legal (30”) muskellunge catch

Fish are cold-blooded, prefer a range of temperature levels and will move to find optimal overall conditions.  Fish spawn during specific seasons based on photoperiod (length of day), and to a lesser degree temperature, flow, and weather. Carrying a thermometer and becoming a student of your quarry and their habitat will help you be more successful as an angler. Consider all these factors on your next outing for greater success.  Below are ideal feeding temperature ranges for some of West Virginia's most popular gamefish, and when they spawn:

TYPETEMPERATURESEASON
Bluegill58-80°Fspring
Brook Trout48-68°Ffall
Rainbow Trout55-68°Fspring
Brown Trout55-70°Ffall
Largemouth Bass68-85°Fspring
Smallmouth Bass60-78°Fspring
Channel Catfish65-90°Fsummer
Flathead Catfish75-84°Fsummer
Blue Catfish77-82°Fsummer
Walleye50-76°Fspring
Sauger50-72°Fspring
Muskellunge55-78°Fspring

Anglers are also asked to be on the lookout for tagged fish they may catch. Biologists tag fish to learn critical information to better manage fish populations.  If you catch a tagged fish (even if a reward is not offered), PLEASE forward all information to your district fish biologist or contact information given on the tag itself.  If the tagged fish was kept please also contact your district fish biologists, they may desire to examine the fish, etc. Recaptures are extremely valuable for biologists in managing fish populations, and you will be playing a large part by helping the biologists manage fish populations.  After a documented recapture, biologists can usually relay past-history to the angler about ‘their catch’ which most find very interesting. Further information can be found at the link below:  http://www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/Fish_Tagging.shtm


WVDNR SUMMER FISHING REPORTS by DISTRICT (June, July, August)

Please click on the desired DISTRICT report link beside the map to open a copy of the district's report you are interested in. You will need Adobe Reader to open/download these PDF files.



District Breakout

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