West Virginia Fishing Guides

Freshwater Fishing In West Virginia

West Virginia might be a small state, but it boasts a lot of biodiversity. Nicknamed the “Mountain State,” its average elevation, at 1,500 feet above sea level, is the highest of any state lying east of the Mississippi. This rugged state is filled with craggy mountains, gorges, national forests, and six wilderness regions. There aren’t a lot of big lakes here, but there are enough, along with rivers and streams, to provide some great fishing.

One of the most popular targets for anglers in West Virginia is the largemouth bass. They can be found in good numbers in most lakes and ponds. The state record fish weighed 12 pounds, 4 ounces and was landed in Dog Run Lake. Other great bass fishing spots in the state include Sleepy Creek Lake, Mountwood Lake, East Lynne Lake, Plum Orchard Lake, Woodrum Lake, Sutton Lake, Elk Fork Lake, Pipestem Lake, Moncove Lake, Beech Fork Lake, and Bluestone Lake. West Virginia fishing guides know where the bass are biting!

The largest smallmouth bass ever recorded in the state came from South Branch and weighed in at 9 pounds, 12 ounces. Smallies can be found in a number of lakes and rivers. Some of the best are Summersville Lake, Tygart Lake, the Elk River, the Shenandoah River, the Cacapon River, the Greenbrier River, the Kanawha River, and the tailwaters of Pike Island Lake. You’ll find several fishing guides in West Virginia who specialize in smallies.

Fishing Guides In West Virginia

Trout fishing in the lakes, rivers, and streams of West Virginia is a favorite pastime. Trout species here are the rainbow, the brook, the golden, the tiger, and the brown. Lakes with healthy trout populations include Brushy Fork Lake and Stonecoal Lake, along with the tailwaters of Tygart Lake and R.D. Bailey Lake. Among the streams and rivers that provide great trout fishing are Big Clear Creek, the Blackwater River, Cherry River, Buffalo Creek, Cranberry River, Dry Fork, Fall Run, Mill Creek, Panther Creek, South Branch, Greenbrier River, New River, and dozens more. Trout fishing will take you to some of the most beautiful spots in the state, far away from civilization. To find these honey holes, you’ll need to contact West Virginia fishing guides.

Stripers don’t generally get huge in the state, but a freshwater fish at almost 30 pounds is nothing to sneeze at. That’s how much the state record striped bass weighed. The best places to land a striper or a wiper are Bluestone Lake, East Lynn Lake, R.D. Bailey Lake, Beach Fork Lake, the Ohio River, the Coal River, the Kanawha River, and Mt. Storm Lake. For best results, hire a West Virginia fishing guide.

Other popular fish with sportsmen in the state include white and black crappie, walleye, channel catfish, flathead catfish, saugeye, sauger, white bass, rock bass, muskellunge, yellow perch, and bluegill.