West Virginia has gotten a lot of mileage out of its “Almost Heaven” slogan. But when it comes to trout fishing, it’s hard to argue with that designation.
Trout streams in the Mountain State are not only some of the best in the East but some of the most beautiful. The hundreds of miles of rivers and creeks that crisscross West Virginia’s rugged landscape provide the perfect home for these cold water-dwellers.
Wild populations of brown and rainbow trout are widespread, and many streams harbor wild brook trout as well. All three species, along with the “golden” rainbow trout developed in West Virginia hatcheries in the 1950s, are also stocked in well over 100 waterways.
Spring and fall are prime trout seasons in West Virginia, and most stocking takes place from January through May.
Elk River
The Elk River is high in the running for the title of West Virginia’s best trout stream and is widely viewed as one of the best in the eastern United States. A 172-mile tributary of the Kanawha River, the Elk is formed by the confluence of several small forks in the community of Slaty Fork.
Most of the Elk River is a warmwater stream, populated by smallmouth bass and panfish, but the upper end is blue ribbon trout water, with robust populations of wild rainbow and brown trout.
It’s common to catch individuals of either species that measure 20 inches, and browns occasionally get even bigger. Native brook trout are available as well, and some hatchery trout are stocked in the Webster County section.
The Elk River has some unique features due to the region’s karst topography. Most notably, the river disappears underground for about 5 miles. Sections immediately above and below the underground section, known as the Elk River Dries, are of particular interest to anglers.
The first 3.5 miles from the river between its headwaters and the point where it disappears offer some of the best trout fishing. This stretch is a cobble-bottomed limestone spring creek with deep holes and plenty of hefty trout.
Part of the reason the upper stretch is so good is that it’s hard to reach. You have to take quite a hike to get here, following the old railroad line that parallels the river.
There’s also great fishing and easier access farther down. This area gets a lot more fishing pressure, but the 2 miles from where the river reappears at Elk Springs to Whittaker Falls are still excellent.
Both of the aforementioned sections are catch-and-release with artificial lures only. Small Blue-Winged Olives hatch from March through May and September through November. You’ll also see some March Browns in April-May, Sulphurs in May-June, and Green Drakes in June.
Seneca Creek
Just shy of 10 miles long, Seneca Creek is a tributary that feeds the North Fork of the South Branch Potomac River. It offers small-stream fishing at its finest, with healthy populations of wild brook trout and wild rainbow trout.
The appeal of Seneca Creek comes not only from its scrappy wild trout but from its picturesque setting. The creek flows through the Seneca Creek Backcountry of Monongahela National Forest and is bounded on either side by towering trees and, in places, craggy gorge walls.
Seneca Creek is a small and relatively high gradient stream, dropping 1,400 feet in its initial ‘gorge’ section. It plunges over numerous waterfalls interspersed with deep, still pools.
Riffles and rocky stretches are also abundant, providing a lot of different types of water for fly anglers to ply. It’s common to find rainbow trout in and around the fast water and brookies in the slower areas.
Access is easy, but getting to the best water requires some hiking. The Seneca Creek Trail and Allegheny Mountain Trail each provide access to portions of the stream, and the farther you get from the trailheads, the less pressured and better the fishing will be.
Working your way upstream while making short upstream casts is the best approach most of the time. Seneca Creek doesn’t produce a lot of trophies, but the trout are healthy, abundant, and often willing to pounce on generic fly patterns.
They may be especially eager in times of low water, which concentrates trout in pools and gets them in a more competitive feeding mode. For fly anglers, nymphing does the job more often than not. Small spinners and Trout Magnets also work for spin anglers.
There are a wide variety of insect hatches here, but none are particularly abundant. Trout tend to be opportunistic in Seneca Creek but may key in on caddis or stoneflies at times. Beetles and other terrestrials can be excellent in summer.
Cranberry River
The Cranberry River was once one of the most celebrated wild trout streams in West Virginia, but acid runoff took a heavy toll. Thanks to limestone treatments and ample stocking by the West Virginia DNR starting in the late 1980s, the Cranberry has been making a comeback.
Long story short, the Cranberry River isn’t the river it was in its storied heyday. But it’s better than it’s been in decades.
These days, you’re more likely to catch stocked rainbows than wild brook trout, but you’ll probably catch something. The Cranberry River has more trout per acre than any stream in West Virginia.
It also still feels kinda-sorta wild. Much of the river is encompassed by the Cranberry Wilderness and is accessible only on foot or by bicycle. It still gets fairly intense angler pressure during the heavy stocking months of January through May.
The river has been broken into several sections with varying regulations, including three catch-and-release-only sections. The catch-and-release section from Woodbine to Camp Sprinter, just over a mile long, is one of the best.
If you’re after wild brookies, your best bet is to head upriver to the Cranberry’s North and South Forks and the Dogway Fork. The latter is fly fishing only, one of only six rivers with that designation in West Virginia.
Overall, the Cranberry River is not a challenging river to fish. It has a lot of long riffles and pools, with an abundance of scattered boulders that break up the river and create pockets. Trout often fall for generic fly patterns like Attractors and Hare’s Ears.
Midges are also a big part of the trout diet here, and Blue Winged Olives are the most prominent mayfly hatch. They often emerge in good numbers in both spring and fall. Cinnamon Caddis and Green Sedges are plentiful in summer.
Shavers Fork of the Cheat River
The Cheat River system includes a lot of great trout streams. The Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, which joins with the Black Fork near Parsons to form the Cheat’s main stem, is almost certainly the best.
Also known for its whitewater, which ranges from Class I to Class IV, the Shavers Fork has long been regarded as one of the best trout fishing rivers in West Virginia. All 88 miles of the river contain trout, and a good portion of it is heavily stocked.
Ease of access varies quite a bit. There are some very handy roadside access points that are heavily fished, but also some extensive sections that are quite remote. Unsurprisingly, the more remote areas offer superior fishing and significantly less pressure.
The section right around the town of Bowden is one of the most popular areas. But below Bowden down to Beaver Creek, the river is fairly remote but also heavily stocked. Most of this 43-mile stretch is paralleled by an old railroad line and accessible only on foot.
Early-season stocking takes place in January and February, with weekly stockings from March through May. A few more fish are usually stocked in fall, too.
Much of the Shavers Fork is made up of shallow, rocky riffles, but there are also some very long, deep pools, which are the best places to find trout. Plenty of trout hold over in the Shavers Fork, and you have a real shot at catching a trophy-size trout in some of the deeper pools.
Larger trout tend to eat sculpins and minnows here, but there are also hatches of typical mayflies, caddis and stoneflies. Fishing regulations vary, and certain sections are catch-and-release only.
North Fork of the South Branch Potomac River
Long before the Potomac River becomes a mighty waterway that empties into the Chesapeake Bay, it gets its start as a modest-sized stream in the hills of West Virginia. It’s an excellent destination for trout fishing.
The full name of this part of the river system—the North Fork of the South Branch Potomac River—is a mouthful. Most folks save time by simply calling it the North Fork, and it’s worth noting that both the North Fork and the South Branch proper are heavily stocked with trout.
The North Fork is easy to fish and easy to access. State Route 28 runs along the length of the river for miles. The route provides numerous access points from Cherry Grove down to Cabins, where the North Fork meets the main South Branch.
There’s a lot of prime wading water along the way, but most of the North Fork is also large enough for canoes and small cartop boats, so it’s a great river for float trips, too. A few sections run through private property, so watch for signage.
The river is made up of classic pools, runs and riffles, along with a few areas of pocket water. It’s mostly wide and open enough to allow unobstructed casting.
Most of the river is under statewide regulations, and trout are abundant during the spring stocking season. Rainbows, browns, brookies and a few golden trout are widely available. Parts of the river get a bit too warm in summer, but there are plenty of holdovers in cooler areas.
About a mile of the river in the Seneca Rocks area is catch-and-release only, and this is a particularly popular section. Follow Route 28 south from here to go farther upriver, where fewer anglers venture.
Winter Stoneflies are usually a good pattern in January and February, and Blue Winged Olives hatch on-and-off throughout spring. You might see some Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, Little Black Caddis and Sulphurs in April and May. Larger trout will strike Sculpin streamers.
Honorable Mentions
Bluestone River
One of the best trout streams in southern West Virginia, the Bluestone River begins in Virginia before crossing the state line near Bluefield. The Bluestone is a designated National Scenic River that flows through 77 miles of beautiful countryside before draining into the New River at Bluestone Lake.
It provides some stellar trout fishing along the way. The river is stocked during the winter months. It’s not unusual to catch rainbow trout over 15 inches and brown trout over 20.
Smallmouth bass are also abundant throughout the Bluestone River, and fly anglers often catch a mix of bass and trout using Wooly Buggers and crawfish patterns. The river is often compared to a western trout stream and is ideal for wading.
Trout often stick close to fast water here rather than holding in deep pools. Some of the best fishing is in the Bluestone Gorge within Pipestem State Park. Anglers can hike down to the water or ride the state park’s aerial tramway.
Downriver, Bluestone Lake is easily one of the favorite crappie fishing lakes in West Virginia.
North Fork Cherry River
The North and South Forks of the Cherry River are stocked with trout, as is the river’s main stem. But the North Fork enjoys the greatest reputation among West Virginia trout aficionados as not only a great trout stream but one of the most scenic.
West Virginia has no shortage of scenery, so that’s saying something. The North Fork Cherry River flows through Monongahela National Forest’s hilly, densely wooded landscape, paralleled along much of its length by Route 39/N Fork Cherry Road.
Pull-offs along the road provide easy access to this small to mid-sized river, which contains wild brook trout as well as stocked rainbows, browns and golden trout.
The lower 1.8 miles of the North Fork Cherry River up to the Route 39 bridge are catch-and-release and fly fishing only. Above the bridge, the river is managed under statewide regulations as a put-and-take stream, though some stocked trout hold over for multiple years.
Dry Fork
Technically called the Dry Fork of the Cheat River, the Dry Fork is, to most West Virginia anglers, simply the Dry Fork. It’s an Allegheny Mountain stream that gets its name from its tendency to occasionally vanish underground.
Brook, brown, rainbow and golden trout are stocked every spring. From its origin in Monongahela National Forest, the Dry Fork meanders through nearly 40 miles of Randolph and Tucker Counties. Access is abundant along the Appalachian Highway and Dry Fork Road.
High elevation keeps the water plenty cool enough to support holdover trout, and the Dry Fork offers an underrated smallmouth bass fishery, too. Trout are stocked from February to May.
There are some solid March Brown and Blue Winged Olive hatches here, so be sure to include those patterns in your fly arsenal. Common patterns like Pheasant Tail nymphs and Wooly Buggers also take plenty of trout in the Dry Fork’s pools and pockets.
Second Creek
Second Creek is an excellent trout stream in southeastern West Virginia’s Monroe and Greenbriar counties. It forms with the confluence of Back and Kitchen creeks and ultimately empties into the Greenbrier River.
Mostly shallow and around 20 to 30 feet across, Second Creek is a small stream that is stocked heavily each spring. It gets a lot of attention from mostly local anglers. Expect to catch a lot of healthy rainbows and the occasional giant brown.
A spring creek with a gravel bottom, Second Creek has an ideal pH for prolific insects that feed trout. Midges, various mayflies and caddisflies are present, and scuds are also very abundant.
Second Creek has one of West Virginia’s few catch-and-release, fly-fishing-only sections. This section extends about 1.5 miles downstream from the Low Water Bridge just off County Road 62 and includes some of the creek’s best pools.
Blackwater River
A Cheat River tributary in northeastern West Virginia, the Blackwater River flows 34 miles entirely within the bounds of Tucker County. It gets its name from its tannin-stained waters, which support both warm and cold water species.
Rainbow and brown trout are stocked in spring, and some wild brook trout are also available. The Blackwater River offers two very different sections for trout anglers to explore.
The upper Blackwater River is narrow and wild, meandering through the boggy wetlands and meadows of Canaan Valley. This section is low-gradient and has a mixed bottom of sand and gravel, often with deeply undercut banks.
Farther downstream, the Blackwater River increases its gradient. Some of the best trout fishing is in the section from Davis to the confluence of the North Fork Blackwater River. This stretch includes Blackwater Falls State Park and is managed under catch-and-release regulations.
Williams River
The Williams River is often thought of as a sister river to the nearby Cranberry River. The two have a lot in common, though the Williams River hasn’t suffered as much from the acidity problems that once plagued the Cranberry.
Flowing through Monongahela National Forest just outside the Cranberry Wilderness, the Williams is accessible via the Williams River Trail. There’s also roadside access along CR-46/2 and Forest Service Route 86, with riverside camping at the Tea Creek Campground.
From Tea Creek downstream about 2 miles, the river is managed as a put-and-take fishery. This is the most popular stretch. The following 1-mile stretch is delayed harvest. Trout are heavily stocked every spring and fall, and a modest number of holdovers survive to reach trophy status.
The Williams River has some beautiful pools and large boulders that create excellent pocket water. Conditions are not technically demanding, making it a great destination for novice fly anglers.
Milligan Creek
Though it totals only 8 miles in length, entirely within Greenbrier County, Milligan Creek is a great little trout stream and definitely one that rewards persistence and stealth. That said, it’s not often considered a destination stream for anyone other than locals.
But Milligan Creek is notable for harboring native brook trout as well as one of the state’s oldest populations of wild brown trout. Additional hatchery-raised fish are stocked monthly from February to May every year.
About a 1/3-mile is designated fly-fishing only; the section begins at the CR-60/15 bridge (about a mile north of US-60) and extends downstream to a fence crossing. March Browns and Blue Winged Olives are good spring patterns.
Milligan Creek is a tiny stream, and the banks are thickly vegetated but lack overhead cover, so you’ll be exposed as you approach. Keep a low profile and try casting from a crouched or kneeling position to avoid being seen by the wary trout.
Trout Lakes
Spruce Knob Lake
The West Virginia DNR stocks trout in around 75 lakes and ponds statewide, and Spruce Knob Lake has earned its place among the best. The highest-elevation lake in the state, it’s located a stone’s throw from the 4,863′ peak of Spruce Knob.
Its elevation allows 23-acre Spruce Knob Lake to stay cool year-round. Trout are stocked abundantly from January through May, including catchable rainbow, golden and brown trout as well as occasional leftover brood stock.
Any trout that aren’t caught have the potential to hold over for several years and attain impressive sizes, and no other lake in West Virginia yields more trophy trout. Small spinners and spoons are popular offerings.
Located within Monongahela National Forest, Spruce Knob Lake is completely encircled by the Spruce Knob Lake Trail, which provides excellent bank access. A hand launch for cartop boats provides access, which is available to non-powered craft and electric trolling motors only.
Buffalo Fork Lake
Less than an hour from Spruce Knob Lake and also located within Monongahela National Forest, 22-acre Buffalo Fork Lake (also known as Lake Buffalo) offers similar trout fishing prospects to its neighbor.
It’s stocked multiple times in spring and fall, and holdovers are common. Monster trout aren’t quite as par-for-the-course here as in Spruce Knob, but anglers occasionally land rainbow trout over 8 pounds.
The National Forest’s Lake Buffalo Recreation Area provides a parking lot, picnic area, concrete ramp, and ample bank access. Boats with electric motors are allowed. Boating is a good way to avoid rubbing shoulders with other anglers during peak seasons.
Watoga Lake
Spanning 12 acres and with a maximum depth of 20 feet, Watoga Lake is a small body of water that serves as one of West Virginia’s best put-and-take trout fisheries. The fishing can be excellent during all but the warmest months of the year.
Stocking typically occurs once a month in January and February, once a week from March through May, and twice in October. Rainbow, golden, brook and brown trout are all stocked.
The lake is easily accessible within Watoga State Park, which also offers camping. Ample bank access is available, and the lake is ideal for kayak fishing. A wide range of lures are effective, including Mepps spinners, Trout Magnets and PowerBait.
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