28 public waters in the Potomac & Mountain Highlands 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.
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 Webster County, West Virginia, Big Ditch Lake is a 65-acre lake, managed by West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (public fishing lake). A West Virginia Division of Natural Resources small lake or state-park lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, with Rainbow Trout stocked into many of them October to May. Managed for bank and small-boat access; most are electric-motor-only.
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.
The Gauley River — famous for its fall whitewater releases from Summersville Dam, but also a strong smallmouth-bass, rock-bass and Walleye river, with a Muskellunge population and stocked Trout in the cold tailwater below the dam. Rugged, roadless canyon for much of its length.
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.
Williams River runs 39 km through Webster and Pocahontas Counties, West Virginia: 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.
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.
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.
Webster and Randolph Counties, West Virginia — Back Fork Elk River is a 36 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.
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.
The Cranberry River — a wild and heavily-stocked Trout river deep in the Monongahela National Forest, with a long gated catch-and-release section reachable only by bike or on foot. Wild Brook Trout in the headwaters and tributaries, stocked rainbows and browns lower down.
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.
Big Beaver Creek (10 km) flows through Nicholas and Webster 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.
Webster and Randolph Counties, West Virginia — Sugar Creek is a 17 km stream: 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.
Webster County, West Virginia — Grassy Creek is a 6 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.
Pocahontas and Webster Counties, West Virginia — Middle Fork Williams River is a 14 km stream: 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.
Pocahontas, Webster and Greenbrier Counties, West Virginia — Dogway Fork is a 13 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 Webster County, West Virginia, Oldlick Creek is a 13 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.
Bergoo Creek (11 km) flows through Webster and Randolph 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.
Webster and Upshur Counties, West Virginia — Left Fork Right Fork Little Kanawha River is a 10 km stream: 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.
Desert Fork runs 10 km through Webster County, 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.
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.
Webster and Randolph Counties, West Virginia — Fall Run 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 Leatherwood Creek runs 9 km through Randolph, Webster and Pocahontas 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.
Webster and Nicholas Counties, West Virginia — Big Laurel 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.
Amos Run runs 9 km through Webster 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 Sugar Creek (8 km) flows through Webster and Randolph 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.
In Webster County, West Virginia, Big Ditch Run 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, Webster County holds 20 species on PiscaMaps, including Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rock Bass, Muskellunge, Bluegill, 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’.