Get your family hooked on fishing by casting a line at a West Virginia state park.
Lakes and streams at West Virginia’s parks and forests are some of the best places to catch a fish, but they’ll be even better thanks to the return of announced trout stockings on Fridays and Saturdays in March, April and May. They start on March 13 and run through May 22.
These stockings are perfect for families and new anglers looking for a way to enjoy fishing at their favorite park or forest. It’s also a great opportunity to get out and explore a park you’ve never visited before. Families who wish to stay at a state park or forest on a stocking weekend are encouraged to make travel plans in advance because cabins and lodges book up fast.
Anglers also should make sure they have a valid fishing license. They can be purchased at www.wvfish.com.
Stocking dates and locations
Whether you like fishing from the shores of a big lake or wading in a trout stream, there’s a stocking location for you.
March 13
- Blackwater Falls — Pendleton Lake, Thomas Park Lake
- Chief Logan — Chief Logan Lake
- Holly River — Laurel Fork (inside park), Left Fork of Holly River
- Tomlinson Run — Tomlinson Run Lake, King Creek, Tomlinson Run
March 20
- Audra — Middle Fork River
- Blackwater Falls — Blackwater River
- Cacapon Resort — Cacapon State Park Lakes
- Coopers Rock State Forest — Big Sandy, Coopers Rock Lake
- Pipestem Resort — Longbranch Lake
- Seneca State Forest — Seneca Lake
- Stonewall Resort — Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters, Sutton Tailwaters, Burnsville Tailwaters
- Watoga — Watoga Lake, Greenbrier River (Marlinton)
March 27-28 (Bold dates indicate West Virginia Gold Rush stockings)
- Babcock — Boley Lake
- Blackwater Falls — Pendleton Lake, Thomas Park Lake
- Camp Creek — Camp Creek, Mash Fork
- Canaan Valley Resort — Glady Fork, Shavers Fork (Lower/Bemis)
- Cass Scenic Railroad — Greenbrier River (Cass)
- Cedar Creek — Cedar Creek Lake
- Chief Logan — Chief Logan Lake
- Little Beaver — Little Beaver Lake
- Pipestem Resort — Longbranch Lake
- Seneca State Forest — Seneca Lake
- Tomlinson Run — Tomlinson Run Lake, King Creek, Tomlinson Run
- Tygart Lake — Tygart Tailwaters
April 3-4 (Bold dates indicate West Virginia Gold Rush stockings)
- Blackwater Falls — Blackwater River
- Cacapon Resort — Cacapon State Park Lakes
- Coopers Rock State Forest — Big Sandy, Coopers Rock Lake
- North Bend — North Bend Tailwaters
- Stonewall Resort — Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters, Sutton Tailwaters, Burnsville Tailwaters
- Watoga — Watoga Lake
April 10
- Audra — Middle Fork River
- Camp Creek — Camp Creek, Mash Fork
- Holly River — Laurel Fork (inside park), Left Fork of Holly River
- Watoga — Watoga Lake, Greenbrier River (Marlinton)
April 17
- Cacapon Resort — Cacapon State Park Lakes
- Canaan Valley Resort — Glady Fork, Shavers Fork (Lower/Bemis)
- Coopers Rock State Forest — Big Sandy, Coopers Rock Lake
April 24
- Blackwater Falls — Blackwater River
May 1
- Seneca State Forest — Seneca Lake
- Stonewall Resort — Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters, Sutton Tailwaters, Burnsville Tailwaters
- Tygart Lake — Tygart Tailwaters
- Watoga — Watoga Lake
May 8
- Audra — Middle Fork River
- Blackwater Falls — Blackwater River
- Holly River — Laurel Fork (inside park), Left Fork of Holly River
May 22
- Canaan Valley Resort — Glady Fork, Shavers Fork (Lower/Bemis)
- Coopers Rock State Forest — Big Sandy, Coopers Rock Lake
Announced stockings correspond with the annual schedule published in the 2020 West Virginia Fishing Regulations and include the variety and number of trout in a typical stocking. Licensing requirements and fishing regulations remain the same.
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