Types of Fishing on the Monongahela National Forest The Forest features more than 600 miles of cold water streams that are inhabited year-round by native brook trout. These streams are prized for the vital habitat they provide in sustaining West Virginia’s only native trout.
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Where can I fish in Cranberry River WV?
The North and South Forks and the Dogway Fork are the best areas for the brook trout. The Dogwood Fork is designated “Fly Fishing Only”. The other sections of the back country has some rainbows but mostly brown trout. The gradient of the river is steeper in the canyon section.
What kind of fish are in the Cranberry River?
The Cranberry River is perhaps the best place to fish for trout in the state of West Virginia. In fact, it is named one of America’s Top 100 trout streams according to Trout Unlimited. There are stocked, wild, and native trout present, a catch and release only section and a fly fishing only section as well.
How do you get to Cranberry River WV?
Getting There: Head north out of Richwood, WV and turn left onto Country Road 7/6 (Cranberry Road) at the turn marked by the sign for the Cranberry Wilderness. Continue on this road and turn left onto PR 76. Follow it to the Cranberry Campground. The entrance to the wilderness area is at the east end of the campground.
Where is Cranberry River WV?
Directions: The Cranberry River is located in south central West Virginia, near Richwood, in the Monongahela National Forest. Forest Road 76 parallels much of the river and allows access to many potential swimming spots. The Woodbine Swimming Hole is located at the Woodbine picnic site.
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.
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.
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.
How do you catch trout in West Virginia?

How many species of trout are stocked in WV?
Brown trout being released. The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout.
How deep is the Greenbrier River?
However, the deepest point on the river is located at the Greenbrier River At Alderson reporting a gauge stage of 2.51 ft. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Greenbrier River, the highest being perched at an elevation of 2,729 ft, the Greenbrier River At Durbin.
What county is Cranberry Glades in?
Cranberry Glades โ also known simply as The Glades โ are a cluster of five small, boreal-type bogs in southwestern Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States.
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.
Where is the best fishing in West Virginia?
- Cranberry River.
- Williams River.
- South Branch River โ Smoke Hole Area.
- Shavers Fork River.
- Elk River.
- Reservoir Tailwater Area.
- Greenbrier River.
- Cacapon State Park Lakes.
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.
How do you catch stocked trout in a river?

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.
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?

Are there trout in the Potomac?
The tailwater area of the dam supports a popular trout fishery and is managed under put and take as well as catch and release regulations and is stocked with several thousand trout annually. The release from the dam remains very cold all summer, supporting year-round survival of trout for many miles downstream.
Are there rainbow trout in West Virginia?
Rainbow trout seek cobble and boulder streams, although do well in larger bodies of water so long as they are clean and cold. In West Virginia, rainbows spawn both in the late fall and in late winter or early spring. Wild populations are established throughout the state.
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.
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.
How often is the Cranberry River stocked?
South Fork of Cranberry River, in Pocahontas County, is stocked once in February and once every two weeks in March, April, and May.
What months do they stock trout in WV?
Through the months of April and May, this unique cross between a Brook and Brown trout is being stocked throughout the state by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.