28 public waters in the Metro Valley & Southern Coalfields region — 2 lakes/reservoirs and 26 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.
Wyoming and Mingo Counties, West Virginia — R.D. Bailey Lake is a 630-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.
Laurel Lake, a 22-acre lake in Mingo 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.
In Wyoming, Logan, Lincoln and 2 more counties in West Virginia, Guyandotte River is a 284 km river or creek. 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.
Tug Fork runs 238 km through Mingo, McDowell and Wayne 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.
Wayne, Mingo, Logan and 1 more county in West Virginia — West Fork Twelvepole Creek is a 82 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.
Wayne, Mingo and Lincoln Counties, West Virginia — East Fork Twelvepole Creek is a 45 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.
Pigeon Creek runs 28 km through Mingo 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.
In McDowell and Mingo Counties, West Virginia, Knox Creek is a 8 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.
Wolf Creek (3 km) flows through Mingo 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.
Island Creek (15 km) flows through Logan and Mingo 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.
In Mingo and Wayne Counties, West Virginia, Marrowbone Creek is a 18 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.
Little Huff Creek runs 17 km through Wyoming, Mingo and McDowell 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.
Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo and 1 more county in West Virginia — Kiah Creek is a 16 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.
Wayne and Mingo Counties, West Virginia — Jennie Creek is a 15 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.
Mingo County, West Virginia — Mate Creek is a 14 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.
Rockhouse Fork (13 km) flows through Mingo and Logan 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.
Rich Creek runs 12 km through Logan and Mingo Counties, West Virginia: A West Virginia stocked Trout stream — rainbow, golden rainbow, brown and Brook Trout stocked from the WVDNR hatcheries (Edray, Bowden, Petersburg, Reeds Creek, Ridge) between January/February and May. Brook Trout ('natives'/'brookies') are the state fish and the only Trout native to the state. A Trout stamp is required to fish or possess Trout.
Trace Fork runs 34 km through Mingo 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.
In Mingo County, West Virginia, Right Fork Laurel Fork is a 10 km river or creek. A larger West Virginia freestone Trout river (the Cranberry, Williams, upper Elk, Shavers Fork, upper Gauley, North Fork South Branch) — stocked and wild rainbow, brown and Brook Trout in cold, clear, boulder-strewn water, with Smallmouth Bass and Rock Bass moving in through the lower and warmer reaches in summer.
Whitman Creek (10 km) flows through Logan and Mingo 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.
Mingo County, West Virginia — Gilbert Creek 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.
Miller Creek runs 11 km through Mingo 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.
Left Fork Ben Creek runs 11 km through Mingo 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.
Beech Creek (11 km) flows through Mingo 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.
Mingo County, West Virginia — Blackberry Creek is a 5 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 Mingo County, West Virginia, Peter Creek is a 2 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.
Cow Creek runs 9 km through Logan and Mingo 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.
In Mingo County, West Virginia, Horsepen Creek is a 8 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.
Across its mapped waters, Mingo County holds 20 species on PiscaMaps, including Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Muskellunge, Rock Bass, Walleye, 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’.