TROUT STOCKING
Lakes and Ponds
FISHING
Boating and Water Safety
FISHING
Float Trips
ANGLERS ALERT
Spread of Unwanted Organisms
Moving live fish or other aquatic animals and plants from
one body of water to another can cause long-term damage
to the ecological stability of lakes and streams and can
threaten recreational fishing. Please take these precautions
to prevent problems.
• do not move fish from one body of water to another
• drain live wells thoroughly before leaving an access area
• do not release live baitfish or aquarium fish into
West Virginia’s waters
• remove all visible plants and animals from your boat,
motor, trailer, nets and all fishing gear before leaving an
access area
Fishing and Boating Access Sites
Public boating and fishing access facilities shall be used solely
for the purpose of launching and retrieving watercraft or fishing
from the shore. No other use of the access sites is allowed.
After launching, vehicles shall be parked in available
parking spaces.
Any law enforcement officer acting under proper authority
may prohibit an individual from launching a watercraft from
any public boating and fishing access site.
The following are prohibited at fishing
and boating access sites:
•
consumption of alcoholic beverages or possession of an
open container of alcoholic beverages
• swimming or bathing
• camping
• open fires
• trash disposal except where trash receptacles
are provided
• discharge of firearms, fireworks or explosives
• leaving unattended watercraft
• commercial use except as authorized by the director
• parking of any vehicle or the mooring of any watercraft
in such a manner as to obstruct any avenue of ingress or
egress, except for the purpose of launching
WESTVIRGINIA
wvdnr.gov
Boating Education
Requirement
Anyone born after December 31, 1986, must successfully
complete an approved boating education course before
operating a motorboat. The course is available on the DNR
website. Click on boating under the Law Enforcement heading.
Wear Your Life Jacket
Personal flotation devices are not just for wearing in boats and
not just for those who can’t swim. Make sure the PFD is in good
condition and fits properly. Youth under 12 years old must
wear a PFD if they are on deck while a motorboat is moving.
Wading
There are several rules you should follow for safe wading.
• Wade with a fishing buddy
• Wear your PFD
• Find out whether the bottom is rocky or muddy
• Shuffle your feet or probe with a stick along the bottom to
avoid holes
• Study how swiftly the water is moving
• Wear appropriate foot wear (considering water
temperature and bottom substrate)
Person in Water
Reach-Throw-Row-Go is a method of rescuing a person who
is in trouble in water.
If the person is close to you, REACH out with a long object
such as an oar or tree limb to pull the person into shore or
the boat.
If you can’t reach the person, then THROW them a life-saving
device. If possible, it should be tied to the end of a line so you
can pull the person to you. An inflatable ball or foam cooler
can be used if the proper device is not available.
If there is nothing to throw, ROW a boat to the person in
trouble. The person should be pulled in over the stern, or
back, of the boat if possible to prevent the boat from tipping
over. If the boat has a motor, it must be shut off before you
get to the person in the water.
GO (swim) to the person only as a last resort and only if you
have had life-saving training. People who are drowning often
panic and injure or drown someone trying to rescue them.
Fishing in Cold Weather
Hypothermia is a life-threatening condition in which your
body loses heat faster than it can produce it. A common
misconception is that the air or water temperature must
be below freezing before you can become hypothermic.
Any water colder than 70 degrees can cause hypothermia.
Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, fumbling hands,
slow speech, confusion and exhaustion. In the case of an
emergency, get the victim out of the cold, give them warm
drinks, keep them awake, remove all wet clothing and get
them into dry clothes.
To stay warm, wear several layers of clothing. Air trapped
between the layers serves as insulation. A wool hat prevents
heat loss from your head. Fishing is difficult with most gloves,
but lightweight rubber gloves, gloves without fingertips and
gloves that have a flap to expose your fingers allow greater
manual dexterity.
TROUT STOCKING
Rivers and Streams
Buckhannon River
From To Miles
North Buckhannon
Riverfront Park ....................... River Road ............................... 3.5
River Road .............................. Hall Roads ............................... 3.5
Elk River
From To Miles
Frametown ............................. Duck ...........................................9
Duck ........................................ Mary Chilton Park .................... 16
King Shoals ............................. Queen Shoals ..........................3.5
Summersville Lake
Special Regulation Areas
District 3 has numerous special regulation areas for trout, bass
and musky. These include catch-and-release, fly fishing only
and Class Q waters. These areas are designated on the map,
but please check the annual West Virginia Fishing Regulations
booklet for current regulations, as these may change
from year to year. The regulations booklet also provides a
description of the area’s location and access to the area.
Code No. Stockings ......... Period Code No. Stockings ......... Period Code No. Stockings ......... Period
Q
One .................... 1st week of March
BW
One every two weeks ........Feb.-April
CR
Varies .................................... Varies
W
One .....................................January
M
One each month .....February-May
One ............................................May
Two................................... February
MJ
One each month ..... January-April
BA
One .....................................January
One each week .............March-May
Y
One ........................................... April
One ........................................ March
X
After April 1 or area is open to public
F
One.........Each of the two weeks following
the week of Columbus Day
I.D. Lake or Pond: County Acres
Trout Stocking
Code: Area
L2 Buffalo Fork: Pocahontas 22 Walkway Lot
BW-F: 5.5 miles east of Bartow on U.S. Forestry Service
road 54 off state Route 28
L6 French Creek: Upshur 2 Pull Off
BW: at WV State Wildlife Center, 12 miles south of
Buckhannon on state Route 20
L7 Handley: Pocahontas 5
Platform/
Trail
Lot
Q: Handley WMA off U.S. Route 219 at Edray via county
Route 17 and county Route 17-1
L10 Seneca: Pocahontas 3 Pier Lot BW-F: 4 miles south of Dunmore on state Route 28
L11 Spruce Knob: Randolph 23 Pier Lot
W-F: 22 miles south of Harman off U. S. Route 33 via county
Route 29 and U.S. Forestry Service road 1
L28 Wallback: Clay, Roane 15 Trail Lot
M: 1 mile off Wallback exit of I-79 via state Route 36, county
Route 34 and access road
L29 Watoga: Pocahontas 11 Pier Lot W-F: Watoga State Park
Buying a License
Call (304) 558-2758, visit a local agent or go online at
wvfish.com.
Useful Phone Numbers
Report stream pollution or fish kills (800) 642-3074
Trout stocking hotline (304) 558-3399
Report eagle and osprey active nests (304) 637-0245
Reporting Boating, Fishing
and Hunting Violations
In progress – dial 911
Not in progress – call DNR District Law Enforcement
Office during normal operating hours.
1. Observe and write down all of the information
concerning the violation.
2. Don’t confront violator.
3. Contact a local DNR Natural Resources Police Officer
or report the violation online as soon as possible at
wvdnr.gov/LEnforce/Poachers.shtm.
Become involved in protecting your sport; be willing to
testify in court.
Wildlife Resources Section – District 3
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
163 Wildlife Road
• French Creek, WV 26218
(304) 924-6211 • wvdnr.gov
dnrwv WildlifeWV wvdnr
Money used to buy and develop stream and lake access
sites comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses,
including the conservation stamp. Federal funds used
for these projects come from taxes paid by anglers
when they buy fishing equipment or gasoline for their
boats in compliance with the Sport Fish Restoration Act.
I t is the policy of the Division of Natural Resources to provide its
facilities, services and programs to all persons without regard to sex, race,
age, religion, national origin or ancestry, disability or other protected
group status. 10M 3/19
Code No. Stockings ......... Period Code No. Stockings ......... Period Code No. Stockings ......... Period
Q
One .................... 1st week of March
BW
One every two weeks ........Feb.-April
CR
Varies .................................... Varies
W
One .....................................January
M
One each month .....February-May
One ............................................May
Two................................... February
MJ
One each month ..... January-April
BA
One .....................................January
One each week .............March-May
Y
One ........................................... April
One ........................................ March
X
After April 1 or area is open to public
F
One.........Each of the two weeks following
the week of Columbus Day
River or Stream: County
Trout Stocking
Code: Area
Back Fork of Elk River: Webster
M: from Webster Springs upstream one mile to lower boundary of catch-and-release area; from
mouth of Sugar Creek, downstream one mile
Back Fork of Elk River:
Webster (Catch-and-Release Only Section)
CR: begin two miles upstream from Webster Springs, continue four miles upstream
Buckhannon River: Upshur BW-F: from Alton upstream 3 miles to Alexander; by railroad twice a year from Sago to Alexander
Buffalo Creek: Clay
M: From just below junction of county Route 15 and county Route 15-2 upstream 2.2 miles to
railroad bridge
Burnsville Lake (Tailwaters)
Little Kanawha River: Braxton
BW: in-stream impoundments downstream of dam
Cherry River: Nicholas BW: from Fenwick downstream 5 miles to mouth
Cranberry River:
Nicholas, Pocahontas, and Webster
W-F: 16.5-mile section from Woodbine Recreation Area upstream to mouth of Dogway Fork
Cranberry River: Nicholas and Pocahontas
(Catch-and-Release Only Section)
CR: from mouth of Dogway Fork upstream 4.3 miles to confluence of North and South forks
Cranberry River Woodbine: Nicholas
(Catch-and-Release Only Section)
CR: 1.2-mile section from the Woodbine Recreation Area downstream to Camp Splinter
(Jakeman Run)
Deer Creek: Pocahontas M: from the state Route 7 bridge downstream 1.5 miles to Bar Ford
Desert Fork: Webster M: from 0.5 miles above mouth upstream 2.5 miles to near Carlo Run
Dry Fork: Randolph
BW: from Old Mill below Harman downstream to mouth of Red Creek. From county Route 45 bridge at
Jenningston downstream to Galdwin. From along county Routes 26 and 43/12 to the mouth of Red Run.
East Fork of the Greenbrier River:
Pocahontas
W: from county Route 28/19 bridge 1.5 miles below mouth of Little River (beside WVDOH shed)
upstream to Island Campground
Elk River: Randolph and Webster W-F: from Rose Run downstream 18 miles to Webster Springs
Elk River:
Randolph (Catch-and-Release Only Section)
CR: from Rose Run bridge upstream 2 miles to Elk Springs Hatchery
Gandy Creek: Randolph W: from Lower Two Springs upstream 9 miles to near Grants Branch at old CCC camp
Glady Fork: Randolph W: from U.S. Route 33 east of Alpena downstream 11 miles to a locked Forest Service gate
Greenbrier River (Cass): Pocahontas M: 4.25 mile sections from Cass Scenic railroad downstream to the Sitlington Bridge
Greenbrier River (Marlinton Section):
Pocahontas
MJ: Minnehaha Springs downstream 8 miles to Marlinton along state Route 39
Greenbrier River: Pocahontas BW: from one mile below Durbin along county Route 250-2, downstream 2.5 miles to end of road
Hills Creek: Pocahontas M: from first bridge at Lobelia, upstream 3 miles along county Route 29-3
River or Stream: County
Trout Stocking
Code: Area
Knapps Creek: Pocahontas W-F: from Minnehaha Springs downstream 8 miles to Marlinton
Laurel Creek: Nicholas M: from Jettsville upstream 1.5 miles to ford
Laurel Fork: Randolph W: at the U.S. Route 33 bridge and at Laurel Fork campground
Laurel Fork: Webster
BW: in Holly River State Park, from above the cabins downstream 4 miles through the park to near
the mouth
Left Fork of Buckhannon River: Upshur M: from mouth, near Alexander, upstream 7 miles to Star Bridge. Stocked twice yearly by railroad.
Left Fork of Holly River: Webster BW: from state Route 20 bridge at Hacker Valley downstream 4 miles
Left Fork of Right Fork Buckhannon:
Randolph and Upshur
BW: from Helvetia downsteam 6.5 miles to mouth of Newlonton
Little Kanawha River (Headwaters): Upshur
M: from Wilsontown to Arlington and downstream to Fiddlers Mill. A 1.2-mile section below Wildcat
to the mouth of the Right Fork.
Little River (East Fork): Pocahontas W: from mouth upstream 4 miles to Old House Run Recreation Area
Little River (West Fork): Pocahontas
W: from mouth upstream 6 miles along U.S. Forest Service Road 17 (off U.S. Forest Service Road
44) to Middle Mountain Road
Middle Fork: Randolph and Upshur
M: Upper – Adolph downstream 6 miles to Cassity. Middle – Ellamore downstream 3 miles to Boy
Scout Camp. Lower – A one-mile section in Audra State Park
North Fork of Cherry River: Nicholas
BW: from 0.25 miles above catch-and-release area upstream 9.25 miles along state Route 39 to
bridge near Carpenter Run
Right Fork of Buckhannon River: Upshur M: from Alexander upstream 3 miles to Newlonton
Right Fork of Little Kanawha River:
Upshur and Webster
M: from one mile above Cleveland downstream 2 miles
Right Fork of Middle Fork: Upshur M: from Kedron upstream 8.5 miles to state Route 30 bridge upstream, 1.5 miles south of Queens
Shavers Fork: Randolph
(Lower Catch-and-Release Only Section)
CR: 0.9-mile section within Stuart Recreation Area
Shavers Fork: Randolph
(Catch-and-Release Only Section)
CR: from Whitmeadow Run downstream 5.5 miles to McGee Run. Stocked twice yearly by railroad.
Shavers Fork (Lower Section): Randolph W-F: from Bemis downstream 20 miles to Stuart Park. Twice yearly by railroad from Bemis to Bowden.
Shavers Fork (Upper Section):
Pocahontas and Randolph
W-F: from Cheat Bridge downstream to end of U.S. Forest Road 46. Twice yearly by railroad from
Beaver Creek, downstream 34 miles near Bemis.
South Fork of Cherry River: Nicholas BW: from one mile above Richwood upstream 9 miles to Cold Knob Fork
South Fork of Cranberry River: Pocahontas BW: from mouth upstream 2.8 miles to U.S. Forest Road 102 bridge at South Fork Shelter
Stonewall Jackson Lake (Tailwaters)
West Fork River: Lewis
BW: from dam downstream 1.5 miles to near WV Division of Highways garage
Sugar Creek: Webster M: from mouth upstream 1.5 miles
Summersville Lake (Tailwaters)
Gauley River: Nicholas
BW-F: from dam 2 miles downstream
Sutton Lake (Tailwaters) Elk River: Braxton BW-F: from dam downstream 2 miles
Tygart Valley River (Headwaters): Randolph BW-F: from Valley Head downstream 11 miles to Becky’s Creek
West Fork of Greenbrier River: Pocahontas
W-F: from Durbin upstream 14 miles to Widell. From Durbin to the mouth of Little River will be
stocked monthly as weather permits.
Williams River: Pocahontas and Webster
W-F: from site of old Coal Tipple below Laurel Run upstream 22 miles to low-water bridge above
Day Run Campground
Williams River: Pocahontas
(Catch-and-Release Only Section)
CR: from 2 miles below Tea Creek downstream 2 miles
FISHING
GUIDE
District 3
Landowner – Angler Relations Stream Litter Law
West Virginia anglers are indebted to local landowners
throughout the state. Without their consent and
generosity, fishing would be restricted to state and
federal lands. The opportunity for continued use of
private property is largely dependent upon anglers’
attitudes and conduct. Most stream closures are the
result of disrespect for private property. Do not leave
fishing line, bait containers or other trash.
Online
For more detailed information on individual access
sites, go online to www.mapwv.gov/huntfish/.
It is illegal to throw litter, a fish or animal carcass, or
other unsightly matter into a water body or on land
within 100 yards of water, or in a location where high
water would wash the matter into a water body.
For more information
See the West Virginia Fishing Regulations booklet for:
• Reciprocal fishing agreement on Ohio River
• Fish consumption advisories
• Sport fish identification