West Virginia
Fishing License 2026.

License required?

Yes

Where to apply?

WV Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) — WVhuntfish.com online portal, WVDNR-Go mobile app, and ~300 agent locations (sporting-goods stores, county clerks, marinas).

Cost

Resident annual fishing $19; senior lifetime (65+) free with Class XS; youth (under 15) free. Non-resident annual $37; 1-day $3; 3-day $10; 7-day $20. Trout stamp $10 resident / $16 non-resident (required to fish any trout water). National Forest stamp $3 (Monongahela NF waters).

Validity

Calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31).

Available online?

Yes

One of the cheapest resident licenses in the US. Residents 65+ fish free with a Class XS senior ID. Free Fishing Weekend early June — no license needed. Landowners fishing their own property and children under 15 exempt. Class Q lifetime resident fishing license $245 one-time.

Closed seasons

Trout stocked waters open year-round (stocking Feb–May). Muskellunge: no closed season, 30" minimum. Walleye no closed season, 15" min. Black bass catch-and-release only Mar 1 – June 15 on designated rivers (New, Greenbrier, Shenandoah forks). Smallmouth 12" min statewide except 14" on New River.

Catch limits

Trout 6/day combined (no size limit except special-regs waters). Black bass 6/day combined. Walleye 4/day (15" min). Muskellunge 1/day (30" min). Channel catfish 10/day. Striped bass 2/day (30" min) on New/Kanawha rivers.

Prohibited methods

No snagging game fish. No chumming on trout waters. Bowfishing permitted only for non-game/rough fish. Gigging legal for suckers and rough fish in designated waters. No fishing from bridges on interstates.

Catch & Release

Mandatory catch-and-release on 5 designated trophy smallmouth river sections Mar 1 – June 15. Wild trout release encouraged on Cranberry, Williams, and Seneca Creek.

WV smallmouth is the state fish — New River holds the former world-record 11 lb 5 oz smallmouth. Single-hook artificial only on some special-regs trout streams (Cranberry Wilderness, Shavers Fork upper).

Best season

April–June (trout stocking peak + pre-spawn smallmouth), September–October (fall smallmouth + muskie).

Freshwater

New, Greenbrier, Cheat, Elk, Gauley, Shenandoah forks, Potomac South Branch rivers; Summersville, Stonewall Jackson, Sutton, Burnsville, Tygart lakes.

Saltwater

Landlocked — no saltwater fishing.

Equipment

Regional tackle shops in Charleston, Morgantown, Elkins; fly shops at Seneca Rocks and Slatyfork for Monongahela NF trout water.

Fishing guides

$300–$500/day for New River smallmouth float trips; $350–$550/day for drift-boat trout on Elk or Cranberry; $400–$600/day for Summersville Lake striper.

Transport

Charleston CRW or Pittsburgh PIT (both ~2 h to New River/Summersville); Washington IAD 3 h to Potomac South Branch; Roanoke ROA 2.5 h to Greenbrier.

Safety

Class III–V whitewater on New and Gauley — hire licensed guides for river floats. Remote mountain cell-dead zones in Monongahela NF. Copperheads and timber rattlesnakes on rocky banks.

License fees

$19 resident / $37 non-resident annual (+$10/$16 trout stamp)

Guide prices

$300–$600/day depending on fishery

Daily budget

$40–$80 DIY with own tackle; $350–$500 full-day guided float trip