In this article
Do You Need a Fishing License in West Virginia?
Yes. Anyone age 15 or older needs a fishing license in West Virginia. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) issues all licenses and enforces fishing law statewide.
Anglers under 15 fish free. Residents 65 and older qualify for free lifetime hunting and fishing privileges with an Over-65 Lifetime License. Active-duty military stationed in West Virginia fish at resident rates.
A trout stamp is required to fish for or possess trout from any stocked trout water. The conservation stamp is also required for residents and nonresidents 15 and older.
How Much Does a West Virginia Fishing License Cost in 2026?
Resident annual fishing license costs $19. Resident trout stamp adds $10. Conservation stamp adds $5. A resident fishing and hunting combo runs $37.
Nonresident annual fishing license costs $40. Nonresident 1-day is $5. Nonresident 3-day is $13. Nonresident trout stamp is $16. Nonresident conservation stamp is $13.
Over-65 Lifetime License is free for qualifying resident seniors. Standard licenses expire March 1 each year regardless of purchase date.
Where to Buy a West Virginia Fishing License
Buy online at wvhunt.com (the WVDNR portal). Digital licenses on your phone are accepted by natural resources police statewide.
In-person sales happen at WVDNR offices, Walmart, sporting goods stores, and county clerk offices. Bring photo ID and proof of residency for resident rates.
Phone orders are available through the WVDNR licensing center. Online and phone purchases include a small transaction fee.
West Virginia Free Fishing Days 2026
West Virginia Free Fishing Days fall on the weekend after Memorial Day, but Free Fishing Day in 2026 is set for Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14. No license is required for residents or nonresidents on these days.
Free fishing days waive the trout stamp and conservation stamp requirements. WVDNR also hosts free clinics and stocks extra trout for the event.
All bag limits, size limits, and season dates remain in effect during free fishing days.
West Virginia Fishing Regulations You Should Know
Statewide creel limits include 6 black bass (12-inch minimum on most waters, 14-inch on certain lakes), 25 crappie with a 9-inch minimum, and 6 trout daily on stocked waters.
Wild trout streams have catch-and-release sections, fly-fishing-only zones, and seasonal closures. The Cranberry, Williams, and Elk rivers all have special regulations.
West Virginia stocks over 600,000 trout annually in over 200 streams and lakes. Check the WVDNR stocking schedule for fresh stocking updates.
Best Fishing Spots in West Virginia
The New River and Greenbrier River produce trophy smallmouth bass, walleye, and muskellunge. The Elk River is a top wild brown trout stream in the eastern US.
Summersville Lake, Stonewall Jackson Lake, and Sutton Lake hold quality bass, walleye, and crappie. The South Branch Potomac River offers excellent smallmouth and stocked trout.
Cranberry River, Williams River, and Seneca Creek deliver wild trout fishing in pristine wilderness. Spruce Knob Lake holds native brook trout in the highlands.
Frequently Asked Questions
A resident annual fishing license costs $19. Nonresidents pay $40 annually. Add $10 resident or $16 nonresident for the trout stamp, plus a conservation stamp.
No. Anglers under age 15 fish free in West Virginia. They must still follow all WVDNR bag limits, size limits, and seasons when keeping fish.
Free Fishing Days fall on Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14, 2026. No license, trout stamp, or conservation stamp is required for those two days.
Yes to fish for or possess trout. The resident trout stamp costs $10. Nonresident trout stamp is $16. Both are added to the base fishing license.
Buy online at wvhunt.com, the official WVDNR portal. Digital licenses on your phone are valid immediately and accepted by natural resources police.
Yes. The Over-65 Lifetime License is free for qualifying resident seniors and covers all fishing and hunting privileges for life, including trout.