30 public waters in the Potomac & Mountain Highlands region — 3 lakes/reservoirs and 27 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a West Virginia licence.
See every public fishing venue in West Virginia on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Sutton Lake (1,440 acres) sits in Braxton and Webster Counties, West Virginia, managed by West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (public fishing lake). A West Virginia flood-control reservoir (Summersville, Stonewall Jackson, Sutton, Burnsville, Tygart, Cheat, Bluestone, East Lynn, Beech Fork, R.D. Bailey, Jennings Randolph) — deep, clear, mountain water. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and a strong Muskellunge programme, Crappie, Bluegill and Channel Catfish, plus stocked Trout in the cold headwaters and tailwaters of several. Steep, forested, lightly developed.
In Braxton County, West Virginia, Burnsville Lake is a 968-acre lake, managed by West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (public fishing lake). A West Virginia flood-control reservoir (Summersville, Stonewall Jackson, Sutton, Burnsville, Tygart, Cheat, Bluestone, East Lynn, Beech Fork, R.D. Bailey, Jennings Randolph) — deep, clear, mountain water. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and a strong Muskellunge programme, Crappie, Bluegill and Channel Catfish, plus stocked Trout in the cold headwaters and tailwaters of several. Steep, forested, lightly developed.
Salt Lick Pond 9, a 15-acre lake in Braxton County, West Virginia, managed by West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (public fishing lake): A West Virginia stocked-Trout lake or pond — rainbow, golden rainbow, brown and Brook Trout stocked on a winter-into-spring rotation (checked live on the WVDNR stocking report), with resident Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Channel Catfish the rest of the year. A Trout stamp is required.
Wirt, Calhoun, Gilmer and 3 more counties in West Virginia — Little Kanawha River is a 258 km stream: A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
The Elk River — the upper river above Webster Springs (and the Back Fork) is a wild and stocked Trout stream with a famous catch-and-release section; from Sutton Dam down it's a cold tailwater Trout fishery, then a smallmouth-bass, musky and channel-Catfish river by the time it reaches Charleston.
In Gilmer and Braxton Counties, West Virginia, Cedar Creek is a 42 km river or creek. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Birch River runs 57 km through Nicholas, Webster and Braxton Counties, West Virginia: A warmwater West Virginia river (the Guyandotte, Coal, Mud, Twelvepole Creek, Tug Fork, Pocatalico, Bluestone, Pond Fork) — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Muskellunge on several, and Sauger in the lower reaches. Wade, paddle or fish from the bank at WVDNR access sites and bridges.
In Gilmer and Braxton Counties, West Virginia, Left Fork Steer Creek is a 32 km river or creek. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Left Fork Holly River (26 km) flows through Webster and Braxton Counties, West Virginia. A warmwater West Virginia river (the Guyandotte, Coal, Mud, Twelvepole Creek, Tug Fork, Pocatalico, Bluestone, Pond Fork) — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Muskellunge on several, and Sauger in the lower reaches. Wade, paddle or fish from the bank at WVDNR access sites and bridges.
In Gilmer and Braxton Counties, West Virginia, Right Fork Steer Creek is a 20 km river or creek. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Webster and Braxton Counties, West Virginia — Right Fork Holly River is a 30 km stream: A warmwater West Virginia river (the Guyandotte, Coal, Mud, Twelvepole Creek, Tug Fork, Pocatalico, Bluestone, Pond Fork) — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Muskellunge on several, and Sauger in the lower reaches. Wade, paddle or fish from the bank at WVDNR access sites and bridges.
Laurel Creek (16 km) flows through Webster and Braxton Counties, West Virginia. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Saltlick Creek (24 km) flows through Braxton County, West Virginia. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Little Birch River (19 km) flows through Braxton, Webster and Nicholas Counties, West Virginia. A warmwater West Virginia river (the Guyandotte, Coal, Mud, Twelvepole Creek, Tug Fork, Pocatalico, Bluestone, Pond Fork) — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Muskellunge on several, and Sauger in the lower reaches. Wade, paddle or fish from the bank at WVDNR access sites and bridges.
In Calhoun and Braxton Counties, West Virginia, Left Fork West Fork Little Kanawha River is a 21 km river or creek. The Kanawha River — West Virginia's largest river by flow, running past Charleston through a series of lock-and-dam pools. Largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, a good Sauger and hybrid-striped-bass fishery, White Bass, Crappie, and blue, channel and Flathead Catfish. The recovery from decades of industrial pollution has been dramatic.
Nicholas, Braxton and Clay Counties, West Virginia — Strange Creek is a 19 km stream: A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Oil Creek (14 km) flows through Lewis and Braxton Counties, West Virginia. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Crooked Fork runs 13 km through Gilmer and Braxton Counties, West Virginia: A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
O'Brien Fork (12 km) flows through Braxton and Gilmer Counties, West Virginia. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Falls Run runs 11 km through Braxton County, West Virginia: A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Right Fork Little Kanawha River (9 km) flows through Webster, Lewis, Upshur and 1 more county in West Virginia. The Kanawha River — West Virginia's largest river by flow, running past Charleston through a series of lock-and-dam pools. Largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, a good Sauger and hybrid-striped-bass fishery, White Bass, Crappie, and blue, channel and Flathead Catfish. The recovery from decades of industrial pollution has been dramatic.
Knawl Creek (9 km) flows through Braxton and Lewis Counties, West Virginia. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Copen Run runs 10 km through Braxton and Gilmer Counties, West Virginia: A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Shaver Fork runs 10 km through Braxton County, West Virginia: A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Braxton County, West Virginia — Lower Sleith Fork is a 10 km stream: A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
In Braxton and Lewis Counties, West Virginia, Clover Fork is a 9 km river or creek. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Braxton County, West Virginia — Right Fork Saltlick Creek is a 9 km stream: A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Right Fork West Fork River runs 7 km through Lewis and Braxton Counties, West Virginia: A northern West Virginia river (the Monongahela, Cheat, Tygart Valley, West Fork) — Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, a Muskellunge fishery, channel and Flathead Catfish, largemouth in the pools, and Sauger in the lower Mon. The Cheat Canyon is remote whitewater; the Mon is a navigable pool river.
Perkins Fork (8 km) flows through Braxton County, West Virginia. A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Braxton County, West Virginia — Coon Creek is a 8 km stream: A West Virginia smallmouth river (the South Branch Potomac, Cacapon, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart Valley, Buckhannon, West Fork, Little Kanawha, Middle Island Creek) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), Redbreast Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge and Walleye on the bigger rivers. Classic float-and-wade bronzeback water.
Across its mapped waters, Braxton County holds 20 species on PiscaMaps, including Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Bluegill, Walleye, Rock Bass, Redbreast Sunfish and Largemouth Bass.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the West Virginia map Join PiscaMapsOne West Virginia Division of Natural Resources fishing licence covers every public water in the state — resident annual about $19, non-resident annual about $37, with short-term non-resident options. A ~$12 trout stamp (resident and non-resident, including licence-exempt seniors and youths) is required to fish for or keep trout anywhere, plus a ~$3 National Forest stamp on Monongahela National Forest waters. West Virginia residents 65 and older who were residents before turning 65 are licence-exempt but still need the stamps. Buy at wvdnr.gov or ‘Go Wild’.