Take Time for a Family Fishing Getaway

Fishing is a great way to unplug for the day, reconnect with nature and spend quality time with your kids.

Summer is winding down, but you still have time to plan that last family getaway before school starts. Don’t forget to pack your rod and reel! West Virginia state parks and forests offer a fun and affordable way to get the whole family hooked on fishing.

Cast a line and revel in the natural beauty of West Virginia’s parks and forests. You’ll find mountain lakes and streams stocked with trout, bass, bluegill and other sport fish. You can also enjoy a wide array of other park activities and overnight accommodations. So, what are you waiting for?

Find Your Fishing Spot

Looking for a place to fish, but not sure where to go? Check out some of these parks and forests!

Audra State Park‘s clear, clean waters of the Middle Fork River make an ideal habitat for trout. And nearby Teter Creek Lake offers trout, bass and bluegill fishing. The park also has camping facilities and hiking trails.

With more than 100 lakefront campsites, Beech Fork State Park offers the unique opportunity to fish for largemouth and hybrid striped bass, crappie, catfish, sauger and bluegill right from your campground! Boat rentals also are available seasonally.

Bluestone State Park’s 2,000-acre lake offers prime bass, catfish, crappie and bluegill fishing. Boat rentals are available at Bluestone marina. Overnight accommodations are available at the park campground. Or you can book a lodge room or cabin at nearby Pipestem Resort State Park, which has trout and smallmouth bass in Long Branch Lake and in the Bluestone and New rivers.

With its swift water and currents, the Left Fork of Holly River at Holly River State Park offers excellent trout fishing. Overnight accommodations are available at the campground or cabins.

Greenbrier State Forest is the ideal base camp for fishing on the Greenbrier River, which offers some of the finest smallmouth bass, trout, crappie, bluegill, catfish and walleye fishing opportunities in the eastern U.S. The river can be accessed easily from the 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail, so you can even pack your gear onto your bike and ride to your favorite fishing hole.

And if you’re looking for an award-winning spot, head to Little Beaver State Park! It was recently voted one of the nation’s Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat. The 18-acre Little Beaver Lake offers year-round fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish. Boat rentals are available seasonally.

Purchase Your License and Plan Your Trip

Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have a current license and stamps! If you don’t have one, purchase one today at www.wvfish.com.

Find parks and forests that offer great fishing opportunities and plan a fun-filled family getaway today!