Fishing Regulations

New for 2025

1. The daily creel limit on Elk Fork, North Bend, O’Brien and Woodrum lakes
   for black bass (smallmouth, spotted and largemouth) is six. Only one may
   exceed 16 inches.
2. Fish caught from commercial pay lakes/ponds are not eligible for State Record,
   Fish Citation or Master Angler programs.

Special Areas Regulations

Black Bass

Catch-and-Release

For waters listed below

1. All black bass (smallmouth, spotted and largemouth) caught must be returned to the water at once.
2. No black bass shall be in the angler’s possession (creel limit 0) while fishing in designated catch-and-release lakes and streams.

Lakes

Dunkard Fork, Edwards Run Pond, Kimsey Run, Millers Fork Pond, Rockhouse, Tuckahoe and Upper Mud.

Streams

New River – Fayette, Raleigh and Summers counties

12-mile section from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone downstream to NPS Grandview Sandbar access site near Quinnimont. Access by state Route 41 at Quinnimont and state Route 20 at Sandstone.

South Branch of Potomac River – Hardy and Hampshire counties

Area 1 8-mile section in Hardy County from 3 miles east of Petersburg at the routes 28, 55 and 220 bridge (Petersburg Gap bridge) downstream to the county Route 13 bridge (Fisher bridge).

Area 2 9.5-mile section in Hampshire County from the routes 28 and 50 bridge (Romney bridge) downstream to the state Route 28 bridge (Blue Beach bridge).

Minimum Size Limit

Stonewall Jackson Lake

1. Daily creel limit of one black bass (smallmouth, spotted and largemouth) 18 inches or longer.
2. Black bass under 18 inches may be harvested.
3. All black bass harvested must be in accordance with the daily creel limit regulation.
4. Registered bass tournament anglers who are participating in DNR-permitted tournaments only are excluded from this regulation.

Elk Fork, North Bend, O’Brien and Woodrum lakes

Daily creel limit of six black bass (smallmouth, spotted and largemouth). Only one may exceed 16 inches.

For waters listed below

All black bass (smallmouth, spotted and largemouth) under 12 inches long must be returned to the water at once.

Lakes

Barboursville, Beech Fork, Chief Logan and Conaway Run.

Streams

Wheeling Creek – Marshall and Ohio counties

Entire length.

Ohio River

Entire length of Ohio River from the mouth of Mill Creek, Hancock County, downstream to the mouth of the Big Sandy River, Wayne County. This regulation applies to all waters included in the Ohio River Reciprocal Agreement with the State of Ohio.

Slot Limit

New River

1. All black bass (smallmouth, spotted, and largemouth) from 14 to 22 inches long must be returned to the water at once.

1. Daily creel limit of six black bass with only one being over 22 inches.
2. This regulation is in effect from the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers upstream to the West Virginia/Virginia state line, excluding Bluestone Lake (fromthe dam upstream to the mouth of Indian Creek) and the 12-mile catch and release section (from the Grandview sandbar boat ramp upstream to the I-64 bridgeat Sandstone).

South Mill Creek Lake and Parker Hollow Lake

1. All black bass (smallmouth, spotted and largemouth) from 12 to 16 inches long must be returned to the water at once.
2. All black bass harvested must be in accordance with the daily creel limit regulation.

Greenbrier River – Greenbrier County

6-mile section beginning at the U.S. Route 60 bridge near Caldwell extending downstream to the U.S. Route 219 bridge at Ronceverte.

1. All black bass (smallmouth, spotted and largemouth) from 12 to 20 inches long must be returned to the water at once.
2. Daily creel limit of six black bass with only one being over 20 inches. Black bass under 12 inches may be harvested. All black bass harvested must be in accordance with the daily creel limit regulation.

Catfish

For waters listed below

1. Daily creel limit of four flathead catfish, of which only one may be 35 inches or longer.
2. Daily creel limit of four blue catfish with a 25-inch minimum size on the Kanawha and Ohio rivers, of which only one may exceed 35 inches. Thepossession limit is eight, only two of which may exceed 35 inches.

Kanawha River

Mouth of Kanawha River extending upstream to the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers.

Monongahela River

Entire length of Monongahela River (flathead catfish only) from the Pennsylvania state line to the confluence of the Tygart Valley and West Fork rivers.

Ohio River

Entire length of Ohio River from the mouth of Mill Creek, Hancock County, downstream to the mouth of the Big Sandy River, Wayne County. This regulation applies to all waters included in the Ohio River Reciprocal Agreement with the state of Ohio.

Hand-Fishing for Catfish Only

1. Season for hand-fishing runs from June 15 through Aug. 31 with fishing permitted from sunrise until sunset.
2. Hand-fishing is prohibited in all state-managed impoundments except Stonecoal, Hawks Nest, Mt. Storm, Cheat, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes.
3. Daily creel limit for all catfish species taken by hand- fishing is four total with only one fish allowed to be over 35 inches and only two of which may be blue catfish (minimum length 25 inches). In waters with special regulations, the more restrictive regulations apply. The daily creel limit for hand-fishing counts as part of any daily limit for hook and line fishing.
4. Use or possession of hooks, gaffs, spears or anything other than hands while hand-fishing is prohibited, as is the use of bait or fish attractors. Only naturally-occurring cavities and naturally-occurring habitat may be hand-fished. The placement or use of artificial cavities and nesting boxes for hand-fishing is prohibited. The use of SCUBA gear or any otherartificial breathing apparatus to hand fish is prohibited.
   

Muskellunge

Catch-and-Release

For waters listed below

1. All muskellunge caught must be returned to the water at once.
2. No muskellunge shall be in the angler’s possession while on stream sections designated as catch-and- release streams.

Buckhannon River – Upshur County

6.5-mile section beginning at the City of Buckhannon’s water supply dam and continuing upstream to the first riffle. Included in this area is the section of French Creek from its mouth to the first riffle. The entire stream section is commonly referred to as Buckhannon Pool.

Middle Island Creek – Tyler County

6-mile section beginning at the state Route 18 bridge near Centerville and continuing downstream to the low water bridge near the Jug WMA. Included in this areaare sections of Indian Creek and McElroy Creek from their mouths to their first riffles.

Minimum Size Limit

North Bend Lake

1. All muskellunge under 40 inches long must be returned to the water at once.
2. Daily creel limit of one muskellunge.

Stonewall Jackson Lake (Including entire drainage upstream of the lake)

1. All muskellunge under 52 inches long must be returned to the water at once. Daily creel limit of one muskellunge.

North Fork Hughes River – Ritchie County

1.3-mile section extending from North Bend Lake Dam downstream to the CR 809 bridge near the North Bend State Park campground.

1. All muskellunge under 40 inches long must be returned to the water at once.
2. Daily creel limit of one muskellunge.

Sunfish

Size Limit and Creel Limit

Mason Lake (Monongalia County) and Teter Creek Lake (Barbour County)

10-fish daily creel limit, of which only five fish may be 8 inches or longer for bluegill and all other sunfish species (e.g., pumpkinseed, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, etc.) in aggregate.

Trout

Catch-and-Release

For catch-and-release waters listed on page 4

1. Fishing permitted during daylight hours only, except that on the three North Branch of the Potomac River Catch- and-Release Trout Fishing Areas fishing is permitted between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. only.
2. Only artificial flies and lures made of metal, wood, feathers, hair, or synthetic material may be used or possessed on catch-and-release trout streams. No lureor fly with any scent, oil, or edible enticement added onto, or impregnated into (regardless if the scent is added in the manufacturing process or applied afterward), may be used or possessed on any catch-and-release trout stream.
3. Multiple hook lures must have barbless hooks (except on the North Branch of the Potomac River Catch & Release areas).
4. Single hook lures may have barbed hooks.
5. All trout caught must be returned to the water at once.
6. No trout shall be in the angler’s possession while on stream sections designated as catch-and-release streams.
7. Powerbait, Gulp and other manufactured scented baits are considered illegal under this section and may not be used or possessed on catch-and-release streams.

Back Fork of Elk River – Webster County

4-mile section beginning 2 miles upstream from Webster Springs and extending upstream. Access by county Routes 24 and 24/3.

Barkers Creek of Guyandotte River – Wyoming County

From the mouth of Barkers Creek upstream to include the entire drainage area for a total of 88 stream miles.

Blackwater River – Tucker County

3.5-mile section from the county Route 29/1 bridge in Blackwater Falls State Park downstream to the mouth of the North Fork.

Bluestone River – Summers County

1-mile section from the mouth of Mountain Creek downstream to a stream gauge station within Pipestem State Park.

Cranberry River – Webster, Pocahontas and Nicholas counties

4.3-mile section from the junction of the North and South forks downstream to the low water bridge at Dogway Fork. Access by foot on National Forest Route 76from the Cranberry Glades parking area.

Elkhorn Creek – McDowell County

From the mouth of Elkhorn Creek upstream, including all tributaries.

Elk River – Randolph County

2-mile section from the Elk Springs Campground downstream to Rose Run bridge. Access by county Route 49 off state Route 15 about 4 miles west of Valley Head.

Glade Creek of New River – Raleigh County

3-mile section from the mouth upstream to the National Park Service foot bridge. Access by Glade Creek Road off state Route 41.

Guyandotte River – Wyoming and Raleigh counties

Entire drainage upstream of railroad bridge in Mullens, including all tributaries.

Middle Fork of Williams River and tributaries – Webster/Pocahontas counties

Mill Creek – Randolph County

Entire length of Mill Creek and its tributaries within Kumbrabow State Forest.

North Branch of Potomac River – Grant and Mineral counties

See the current Maryland Fishing Regulations for special regulations on the North Branch of the Potomac and Potomac rivers.

North Fork of Cherry River – Nicholas County

1.8-mile section extending upstream from Richwood’s water supply dam to first state Route 39 bridge. Access by state Route 39.

North Fork of Cranberry River – Pocahontas County

0.25-mile section from the mouth upstream to the limestone treatment dam. Access by foot on National Forest Route 76.

North Fork of the South Branch – Pendleton County

0.75-mile section at the mouth of Seneca Creek near Seneca Rocks Visitors Center. Access by county Route 28/3 at junction of state Route 28 and U.S. Route 33 at Seneca Rocks.

Otter Creek and tributaries – Randolph/Tucker counties

Red Creek and tributaries – Tucker County

Upstream of county Route 45 bridge.

Seneca Creek – Pendleton County

0.20-mile section from the mouth extending upstream to the Route 28 bridge.

Slatyfork section of Elk River – Pocahontas County

4.6-mile section from the junction of Big Spring and Old Field forks downstream to the mouth of Dry Branch, including Props Run and Big Run. Access by foot from county Routes 219/2 on the north and 219/12 on the south.

South Branch of the Potomac River – Pendleton County

1-mile section beginning 2 miles below U.S. Route 220 at Eagle Rock and extending downstream. Access by county Route 2.

Tea Creek and tributaries – Pocahontas County

Upstream of Tea Creek Campground

Delayed Harvest Streams

For waters listed below

1. Catch-and-release regulations apply: November 1 – May 15.
2. General regulations apply: May 16 – October 31.

Clear Fork of the Guyandotte River – Wyoming County

1-mile section from the R.D. Bailey WMA manager’s residence downstream to the state Route 6 bridge.

Middle Wheeling Creek – Ohio County

1.2-mile section from just above the upper limits of Middle Wheeling Creek Lake upstream to mouth of Gillespie Run. Access by county Route 39/6.

Paint Creek - Fayette and Kanawha counties

From Ash Branch upstream 12.5 miles to the mouth of Milburn Creek.

Shavers Fork River - Randolph County

The 5.5-mile section extending from the mouth of Whitmeadow Run downstream to the mouth of McGee Run.

Williams River - Pocahontas County

From a signed location approximately 2 miles downstream of Tea Creek extending 2 miles downstream. Access by National Forest Route 86.

Fly Fishing Only

For waters listed below

1. Fishing permitted during daylight hours only.
2. Only artificial flies and streamers may be used or in possession on any of the fly fishing-only streams.
3. Only conventional fly fishing tackle may be used.
4. Open-face and closed-face spinning or spincast reels are prohibited.
5. All fish caught must be returned to water at once.
6. No trout shall be in the angler’s possession while on stream sections designated as fly-fishing-only streams.
7. No lure or fly with any scent, oil, or edible enticement added onto, or impregnated into (regardless if the scent is added in the manufacturingprocess or applied afterward), may be used or possessed on any fly-fishing- only trout stream.
8. Powerbait, Gulp and other manufactured scented baits are considered illegal under this section and may not be used or possessed on catch-and-release streams.

Dogway Fork of the Cranberry – Webster, Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties

Main stream and all tributaries of Dogway Fork. Access by foot on National Forest Route 78.

Edwards Run – Hampshire County

Upstream of the Edwards Run Pond 1.25 miles to the upstream boundary of Edwards Run WMA.

Milligan Creek – Greenbrier County

Marked area about 1 mile north of U.S. Route 60 from the county Route 60/15 bridge extending downstream about

.33-mile to a fence crossing.

Red Run of Dry Fork – Tucker County

Main stream and all tributaries of Red Run. Access by foot from state Route 72 and National Forest Route 13.

Second Creek – Greenbrier and Monroe counties

Marked 2.4-mile section on the Monroe/Greenbrier county line at Rodgers Mill.

Spring Run – Grant County

Marked one mile section along Spring Run Road near Dorcas.

Thorn Creek – Pendleton County

Marked .5-mile section beginning approximately 3 miles above the mouth. Access is by county Route 20.

Reduced Creel Limit

Stephens Lake - Raleigh County

Daily creel limit of two trout.

Children and Class Q Fishing Areas

For waters listed below

1. Areas are managed under special regulations March-May.
2. During this period fishing is restricted to children 14 years of age or under and to people with disabilities holding a Class Q permit.
3. Fishing permitted during daylight hours only.
4. Creel limit is four trout.
5. Another person may assist with baiting hooks and removing fish.

Lakes

Baker Lake – Ohio County

3-acre lake in Bear Rock Lakes WMA. Access by county Route 41/6.

Bishop Knob Pond – Webster County

2-acre lake between Cranberry and Williams rivers. Access by Forest Road 101.

Coonskin Park Pond – Kanawha County

2.7-acre pond in Coonskin Park. Access is off I-77, Exit 1, U.S. Route 119 north to Henry Shores Drive.

Handley Pond – Pocahontas County

5-acre pond on the Handley WMA. Access by county Routes 17 and 17/1that intersect U.S. Route 219 at Edray north of Marlinton.

Logan County Airport Pond

1-acre pond. Access by county Route 119/8 off state Route 17.

Millers Fork Pond – Wayne County

5-acre pond on the Beech Fork Lake WMA. Access by county Route 22 off county Route 17.

Raleigh County Airport Pond

1-acre pond at the entrance to the Raleigh County Airport. Access by countyRoute 9/9 off I-64 at Airport Exit 125-B.

Underwood Lake – Cabell County

1-acre pond on Huntington YMCA property. Access

Westover Park Pond – Monongalia County

1-acre pond located at the Westover Park just off U.S. Route 19 approximately .5 mile east of I-79 Westover exit.

Streams

Davis Creek - Kanawha County

From Route 23 bridge near the entrance of Kanawha State Forest upstream including all tributaries (17.2 miles).

Laurel Fork – Wyoming County

300-yard section of Laurel Fork in Gilliand Park in Oceana. Access is by Route 10.

Mash Fork of Camp Creek – Mercer County

100-yard section of Mash Fork in Camp Creek State Park/ State Forest atMash Fork Waterfalls. Access by county Route 19/5 from I-77, exit 20.

Walleye

Catch-and-Release

New River (5-mile section from Meadow Creek public access site upstream to base of Sandstone Falls in Raleigh and Summers counties), as well as Charles Fork and Dog Run lakes

1. All walleye caught must be returned to the water at once.
2. No walleye shall be in the angler’s possession while on the waters designated as catch-and-release.

Minimum Size Limit

Monongahela River, Tygart River (from the mouth upstream to Valley Falls) and West Fork River (downstream of Stonewall Jackson Lake Dam), as well asBurnsville, Stephens and Stonecoal lakes

1. All walleye under 15 inches long must be returned to the water at once.
2. Daily creel limit of eight walleye.

Ohio River (including Ohio River tributary reciprocal boundaries) and the Kanawha River upstream to the Winfield Lock and Dam

1. All walleye under 18 inches long must be returned to the water at once.
2. Daily creel limit of two walleye.

Slot Limit

Bluestone, Coal, Elk (including Sutton Lake), Greenbrier, Gauley (excluding Summersville Lake-Summersville Dam upstream to mouth of Persinger Creek), Kanawha (upstream of Winfield Locks and Dam) and New (excluding no-harvest area near Sandstone) rivers, including all tributaries

1. All walleye from 20 to 30 inches long must be returned to the water at once.
2. Daily creel limit of two walleye, only one of which may be over 30 inches long.

Summersville Lake (Summersville Dam upstream to mouth of Persinger Creek) and Cheat Lake and the entire length of the Cheat River

1. All walleye from 20 to 30 inches long must be returned to the water at once.
2. Daily creel limit of eight walleye, only one of which may be over 30 inches long.

Other Special Regulations

Dixon Lake

(Pedlar Wildlife Management Area)

CATCH-AND-RELEASE ALL SPECIES

1. All species of fish must be returned to the water at once.
2. No fish shall be in the angler’s possession (creel limit 0) while fishing in designated catch-and-release lakes and streams.
3. Use of live minnows is prohibited.
4. Use of barbed hooks is prohibited.

Baitfish Regulations

1. It is illegal to possess any darter in West Virginia

Darters are small fishes (1–5” in length) that belong to the perch family with yellow perch and walleye. Although much smaller, darters share similar characteristics to their gamefish cousins, such as having two separate dorsal (top) fins that are approximately equal in length. Anyone collecting live baitfish is advised to inspect their catch for darters. Generally, darters will stay on the bottom of the bait bucket and do not swim freely in the water column. Any fishes displaying this bucket behavior and possessing two dorsal fins should be either returned at once into the waters where they were collected or destroyed immediately. Darter colorations can range from brightly colored to drab brown. See examples of regional darter species here: (efish.fishwild.vt.edu/families/percidae. html). When in doubt, throw it out!

2. Zero possession limit for all non-game fishes (including their collection for any use); and no fish, including dead/packaged minnows, may be used as bait in the following waters:

A. East and West Forks of the Greenbrier River including all tributaries.

B. Gauley River upstream of the Route 55/20 bridge (i.e., Curtin, W.Va.) including the Cherry, Williams, Cranberry, and upper Gauley rivers and all respective tributaries.

C. Camp Creek (Mercer County) and all tributaries.

D. Manns Creek including Glade Creek in Babcock State Park and all tributaries.

NOTE: These areas are delineated on the maps above.

3. It is illegal to release any fish into public waters other than the location where it was captured.

DO NOT release unused baitfish.

NOTE: Baitfish regulation 2 (see below) applies to the shaded areas illustrated on the maps above.

Crayfish

1. A fishing license is required to catch or use crayfish from public lands as fishing bait.
2. Licensed anglers may take or have in his or her possession no more than 50 crayfish for use as fishing bait.
3. A seine, throw net or minnow trap may be used to obtain crayfish for use as fishing bait provided the seine, throw net or minnow trap meet certain specifications. (See Seining for Aquatic Life/Minnow Traps on page 13.)
4. It is illegal to dig crayfish out of its burrow or place of refuge for use as fishing bait, pursuant to W.Va. Code 20-2-5. A crayfish may be taken by hand for use as fishing bait from the stream it was captured.
5. It is illegal to release any aquatic organism including crayfish, alive or dead, used or unused, into public waters other than the location where it was captured, pursuant to W.Va. Code 20-2-64.

Salamanders

A person may take the following salamanders year-round for use as fishing bait.

Turtles and Frogs

The take or possession of any native West Virginia reptile or amphibian species not listed hereafter is prohibited pursuant to W.Va. Code 20-2-4.

Turtles

Frogs and Toads

Residents and nonresidents may take or possess green and American bullfrogs.

Diamond Darter and Candy Darter

1. The diamond darter and candy darter are small fish found in the perch family and are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
2. For more information, go to USFWS site at fws.gov/species/search

Paddlefish and Sturgeon

All fish must be returned to the water immediately.

All Mussel Species

It is illegal to possess mussels or any parts thereof.

Wanton Waste

It is illegal for any person to cause through carelessness, neglect or otherwise to let any edible portion of any game fish to go to waste needlessly. The edible portion is the fillet meat from the gill plate to the tail fin. Edible meat does not include bones, sinew, viscera, meat from the head or neck, meat thathas been damaged or rendered inedible by method of taking, or meat that is reasonably lost as a result of boning or close trimming of bones.

Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of notless than $100 nor more than $500, or confinement in jail not less than10 days nor more than 100 days, or both fined and confined; suspension of hunting

and fishing license for a period of two years; and a applicable forfeiture and replacement provisions in Chapter 20, Article 2, Section 5a of the code.

Other Methods of Fishing

Except as authorized on pages 13-14, it is illegal to take fish by any means other than by rod, line and hooks.

It is illegal to:

• use a firearm, crossbow, dynamite or any like explosive, or a poisonous mixture placed in the water for the purpose of killing or taking fish, frogs, aquatic turtles or other forms of aquatic life.
• use any free-floating device (jug fishing) used to deploy a hook and line.
• fish with more than two (2) lines or poles in an impoundment stocked with trout by the WVDNR from January 1 – May 31.
• stock fish in the waters of West Virginia. Please do not release unused bait into West Virginia waters.
• sell any fish for profit.
• sell or give any fish caught in public waters to a pay pond.
• improperly dispose of, leave on a bank or in the water fish taken while bow fishing.
• fish within 200 feet of Division of Natural Resources personnel who are stocking fish in public waters.
• use game fish as bait unless that game fish was legally caught with a rod, line and hooks or purchased from a licensed bait dealer. See Special Regulations for possession rules.

Bow Fishing

Bow fishing for game fish is not permitted. A complete list of gamefish is on the back cover of the regulations. Only common carp, bighead carp, silver carpand grass carp may

be taken by bow year-round; smallmouth buffalo are not carp and cannot be shot year-round. Other nongame fish may be taken by bow during all months of the year except May and June. All anglers must have a valid fishing license in order to fish using a bow. All persons using a bow to fish must observe all applicable fishing regulations. Fish taken by bow fishing may not be returned to the water or left on the bank.

It is Illegal to:

use an arrow having an explosive head or shaft or an arrow dipped in or smeared with poison or other chemicals.

Dipping

Dipping for nongame fish is legal year-round with a valid West Virginia fishing license. A dip net may not exceed 36 square feet in overall area, and its meshmay not be smaller than one-fourth (1/4) inch.

Gigging, Snagging and Snaring

Suckers, carp, fallfish and creek chubs may be taken by snaring year-round. Nongame fish, certain turtles (see Turtles and Frogs regulations on page 11)and eels may be taken by gigging, snagging, or snaring from January 1 – May 15 and from July 15 – December 31, except that snagging and gigging shall be prohibited within 100 feet of all U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Locks and Dams and their appurtenances. Snagging of game fish is prohibited.

Hand-Fishing for Catfish

It is legal to hand-fish or “noodle” only for catfish in West Virginia public waters from June 15 to Aug. 31 with fishing permitted from sunrise to sunset. See page 3 for more details.

Ice Fishing

Holes cut for ice fishing must be no larger than 10 inches in diameter. This applies to public waters where ice fishing is allowed.

Seining for AQUATIC LIFE/Minnow Traps

Game fish may not be seined or trapped. A seine may be used to obtain minnows for use as bait provided the seine is not longer than eight feet nor deeper than four feet. A thrownet may be used provided the radius is no larger than 12 feet and mesh size no larger than one (1) inch. Minnow

traps may be used provided the openings are not larger than one inch in diameter. A person may have in his possession no more than 50 minnows nor more than a total of 100 aquatic animal life (see Salamanders and Turtles and Frogs on page 11) unless obtained from a licensed dealer and a bill of sale is provided. A valid West Virginia fishing license is needed to collect minnows and other aquatic life. Minnow traps must be tagged with a waterproof, legible tag bearing either the owner’s name and address or his or her WVDNR identification number. Minnow traps must also be checked once every 24 hours.

Trotlines and Droplines

Trotlines and droplines must be attached to the bank or a tree thereon, must bear an identification tag that is legible and waterproof, and must be attended every 24 hours. The tag must either bear the owner’s name and address or his or her WVDNR identification number. Wire or cable lines and hooks with more than one point are prohibited.

It is Illegal to:

• fish with trotlines and droplines in state-managed impoundments except Stonecoal, Hawks Nest, Mt. Storm, Cheat and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes (See chart on pages 18-19 for state-managed lakes.)

• attach a trotline to public piers and docks or within 50 feet of dam appurtenances
• use droplines on the Elk River, Hughes River, Little Kanawha River, Middle Island Creek, and South Fork of Hughes River

Spearfishing and Diving

1. Nongame fish may be taken by spearfishing from July 1 – September 30 during daylight hours only. Gamefish are not permitted to be taken while spear fishing. A complete list of gamefish is on the back cover of the regulations.
2. Spearfishing is prohibited on the following:
   1. Elk River, from Sutton Dam downstream to the U.S. Route 19 bridge at Sutton;
   2. New River, from Bluestone Dam downstream to the lower bridge at Hinton.
3. Spearguns may be discharged only beneath the surface of the water.
4. It is illegal to use a bolt having an explosive head or shaft or a bolt dipped in or smeared with poison or other chemicals.
5. A diver may not spearfish in such a manner as to interfere with other anglers.
6. A diver may not spearfish in heavily traveled boat lanes, marked swimming areas or marked waterskiing areas.
7. “Diver down flag” shall be a red field of not less than 10 inches x 10 inches dimension with a white diagonal stripe not less than 1.5 inches wide running upper left to lower right. The flag shall be displayed at all times and be affixed to a separate flotation device. No such flag shall be attached to any navigational device or placed so as to obstruct boat traffic. Divers must come up within 100 feet of flag. All powerboats will remain a minimum distance of 100 feet away from the marker flag. The top of the flag shall be at least 3 feet above the surface of the water.
8. Fish taken by spearfishing may not be returned to the water or left on the bank.