Section 58-62-7 – Legal Collection Methods 7.1. Cast nets may be used to catch bait fish for commercial sale if such nets do not exceed 12 feet in radius and have a square mesh not smaller than one-quarter inch nor larger than one inch. 7.2.
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Where are the biggest trout in WV?
The most trophy rainbow trout caught from any single West Virginia water during 2016 came from the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River.
Is there good fly fishing in West Virginia?
Fly fishing has many different facets. The stream just outside our door is the Old Field Fork, one of the headwaters of the Elk River. But West Virginia Fly Fishing on the Greenbrier, Williams, and Cranberry River is a memorable experience as well.
What flies to use for trout in West Virginia?
Best Flies for Fly Fishing in West Virginia For flies, you should keep a wide variety of nymphs and dry flies on hand, including hare’s ear, blue-wing olive, caddis, and pheasant tails.
Can you fish trout year round in WV?
West Virginia Trout Season 2022 Trout fishing season is open all year round with stocking occurring in specific trout waters between February and May.
Where is the best fishing in West Virginia?
- Cranberry River.
- Williams River.
- South Branch River — Smoke Hole Area.
- Shavers Fork River.
- Elk River.
- Reservoir Tailwater Area.
- Greenbrier River.
- Cacapon State Park Lakes.
Can you night fish for trout in WV?
Night fishing is allowed, so you can practice your cast under the stars of Pocahontas County’s famous dark sky. Reminder: You’ll need a West Virginia license and trout stamp, along with a National Forest Stamp for some rivers. Where are you catching the next big one?
Are there wild trout in WV?
Facts. Brook trout are West Virginia’s only native trout species. There are 500 miles of native trout streams in West Virginia. Most of these streams are small and comprise 2 percent of total miles of stream in the state.
Does WV have native trout?
The brook trout is the only trout species native to West Virginia streams.
Where do they stock trout in West Virginia?
- Blackwater River.
- Clear Fork of Guyandotte River.
- East Fork Greenbrier River.
- Elk River.
- Little River East Fork Greenbrier River.
- Little River West Fork Greenbrier River.
- North Branch Potomac River (Jennings Randolph Tailwaters)
- Pinnacle Creek (upper and lower sections)
What is a March Brown fly?
The March Brown Nymph in sizes #12 and #14, or a Pheasant Tail Nymph of the same size, will be your bread and butter flies. March Brown nymphs are flat hydrodynamic shaped clinger/crawlers with an underside that is cupped, with the gill plates forming a sucker to help hold the nymph to rocks in extremely fast water.
How do you make a high stick fly fishing?
What kind of fish are in the Elk River in WV?
The Elk River, tucked away in West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains, is a trout and fly fisher’s paradise. With a mix of wild and stocked trout of serious sizes, the Upper Catch & Release (C&R) is prime trout fishing territory.
How many trout can I keep in WV?
Creel limit is four trout.
Can you use bluegill for bait in WV?
The only game fish that can be used as cut bait are bluegill, sunfish, and bream.
Can you fish with goldfish in WV?
Overall, even if it’s legal to fish with goldfish, it does not seem worth it. It may be only slightly better to fish with dead goldfish. In fact, Florida, North Dakota and West Virginia only permit goldfish as bait if they are dead.
Are there pike in WV?
Large pikes in West Virginia can be a difficult group to tell apart at first, but there are some simple characteristics of each that allow easy identification. Northern pike can be easily differentiated from musky due to color pattern and the shape of their lower fins.
Where can I catch big catfish in WV?
Find catfish in ponds, creeks, rivers and lakes across the state including major lakes like Beech Fork Lake, Bluestone Lake, Burnsville Lake, Cheat Lake, East Lynn Lake, Jennings Randolph Lake, Moncove Lake, Mount Storm Lake, O’Brien Lake, Stonewall Jackson Lake, Summersville Lake and Tygart Lake.
Is it legal to fish with treble hooks in WV?
Virginia prohibits treble hooks in several trout streams but are legal elsewhere. Washington only restricts treble hooks in areas that are designated as ‘fly fishing only’ or have ‘selective gear rules. ‘ West Virginia requires that treble hooks be barbless in catch and release waters.
Can you use minnows as bait in WV?
1, 2020, anglers on several popular West Virginia trout streams will no longer be allowed to use minnows as bait. In fact, they won’t be able to use any sort of fish as bait. The state’s Natural Resources Commission, a seven-member panel that sets hunting and fishing regulations, voted unanimously at its Aug.
What is the fine for fishing without a license in WV?
§20-2-2a. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned in the county jail for not less than ten days nor more than one hundred days or both fined and imprisoned.
How do you catch stocked trout in a river?
What is a golden rainbow trout?
Golden rainbows are a mutated strain of rainbow trout, making them members of the same family and very close cousins. The golden rainbow trout was discovered in 1955 when a DNR fisheries biologist noticed a yellow-mottled fish swimming with rainbow trout at the Petersburg Hatchery.
Can you fish in Dolly Sods?
Beginning life in Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, Red Creek is as pristine as it gets. A mix of Native Brook Trout are found among the various stocked species of Trout. River access is found at the entrance of Dolly Sods, where Lanesville Rd.
Is there good fishing in West Virginia?
The Shenandoah and Potomac rivers have been popular among anglers for many years thanks to their healthy populations of tiger muskie, largemouth bass and walleye. In fact, the South Branch of the Potomac River is known for having some of the best fly fishing in the nation.