Our Most Popular Waters

New River – Listed by many as one of the top small mouth bass fisheries in the East, West Virginia’s New River Gorge presents a combination of house-sized boulders; deep pools; rocky ledges and shoals against the amazing backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains.  The oldest river in North America, the New flows through a rugged canyon up to 1300 feet deep exposing big rock outcroppings while passing through an area rich in spectacular scenery and coal mining history.  An excellent warm water fishery, the New supports outstanding populations of a variety of bass (smallmouth, largemouth, spotted, striped and rock), walleye, musky, crappie, bluegill, carp and catfish (flathead, channel).

Elk River - From its headwaters just west of the Eastern Continental divide in West Virginia’s highlands, the Elk River is one of West Virginia's premier year-round trout streams and is home to native brookies, stream-spawned rainbows and fingerling-stocked browns.  The Elk River is an excellent spring trout fishery and has always been a favorite among fly fishermen.   

Cranberry River - Born in the highlands of Pocahontas County, the Cranberry tumbles 27 miles through parts of Greenbrier, Webster and Nicholas counties and is one of the best trout streams in West Virginia holding more trout per acre of water than any other river in West Virginia.  The scenic Cranberry is inhabited by native brook trout, stocked brown, rainbow and golden rainbow trout and can provide just about any type of fishing experience for all types of anglers.  The backcountry section (closed to vehicle traffic) offers 16 miles of remote river including both the North Fork and South Fork tributaries. 

Shaver’s Fork – Located in the backcountry of the Monongahela Highlands, the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River is one of the longest trout streams in West Virginia flowing its first 25 miles at or above 3000’ elevation.  Shaver’s offers a variety of remote trout fishing sections and is ideal for anglers who like to “get away from the crowds.”

Greenbrier River – Heading up to elevations of more than three thousand feet, West Virginia’s largest tributary to the New River begins its journey in the Allegheny Highlands in the eastern portion of West Virginia and is a first-class trout stream by any standards.  From its headwaters to its mouth it transforms from a Native Brook and stocked trout fishery to one of the state’s premier hidden smallmouth treasures.

Gauley River - The Gauley River is a spectacular place for musky, trout, walleye and smallmouth bass.  This cold water fishery provides a later season for those who wish to pursue the elusive Musky during early to mid-summer months (unlike other waterways where musky season must be taken advantage of in early spring).  In addition, a special stocking of nearly 3,000 pounds of trout, via a helicopter, also takes place each October spreading rainbow, brown and golden rainbow trout throughout the canyon section of the river providing anglers with plenty of opportunity at catching quality-sized trout.

Kanawha River – Formed by the confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers at historical Gauley Bridge, this big water fishery is home to a diverse population of fish species including largemouth, smallmouth, hybrid and striped bass along with a capability to produce record-size walleye and musky.

Gandy Creek - One of West Virginia's most scenic streams, Gandy Creek rises on the west flank of Spruce Knob, the state's highest mountain, and flows through a wild little valley deep in the Monongahela National Forest.

South Branch of the Potomac - The South Branch boasts a number of extremely large and deep pools where trophy trout like to live.  Between these pools are productive riffle areas, which give the South Branch a healthy mix of trout habitat.  The South Branch is the state’s top producer of trophy trout and currently holds the state record for brown trout.

Spruce Knob Lake - One of the most picturesque trout- fishing destinations in West Virginia, Spruce Knob Lake is a remote 23-acre impoundment that lies on the Randolph/ Pendleton County border located on a mountaintop near West Virginia's highest point.  Spruce Knob is known for producing citation-size rainbow, brook, golden, rainbow and brown trout especially in spring and fall months.

Tygart River – Originating in the Cheat Mountain backcountry of the Monongahela National Forest as a native brook trout fishery, the Tygart transitions into a surprisingly good smallmouth bass fishery on its way to Phillippi, WV, home of the historic Phillippi Covered Bridge (site of the Battle of the Covered Bridge; first shots fired in the Civil War).