Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.
WV’s flagship — a national-park trophy smallmouth river with native-strain walleye, musky, and big flatheads. Hinton-to-Thurmond is the classic float; the lower Gorge is serious whitewater, not wading water.
Region: New River / Greenbrier Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: New at Hinton, New at Thurmond
WV’s signature backcountry trout river — gated forest roads, stocked and holdover rainbows/browns with native brookies up high, and a famous catch-and-release section. WVDNR names it a stream that may hold trout year-round.
Region: Gauley / Cranberry / Central Mountains · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Cranberry near Richwood
The longest free-flowing river in the East and WV’s classic smallmouth float, shadowed by the 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail. Stocked trout in the upper Durbin–Marlinton reaches; musky and channels in the lower pools.
Region: New River / Greenbrier Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Greenbrier at Durbin, Greenbrier at Buckeye, Greenbrier at Alderson, Greenbrier at Hilldale
The Slaty Fork–Webster Springs reach is WV’s most storied fly water — limestone springs, sulphur hatches, catch-and-release sections on the Slaty Fork and Back Fork, and real holdover browns. Community consensus puts it among the state’s best trout areas.
Region: Monongahela Highlands · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Elk below Webster Springs
High-elevation Cheat Mountain trout water — cold at 3,000+ feet, stocked through the Bemis and Bowden sections with wild fish up top near Cheat Bridge. A WVDNR fall trout destination.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Shavers Fork near Cheat Bridge, Shavers Fork below Bowden
One of WV’s most famous rivers — trout-to-warmwater transition water above Summersville, and world-renowned release-driven whitewater below the dam. Fish the upper river and the tailwater edges between releases — check the schedule absolutely. (The USGS tailwater gauge is stale; live data covers Craigsville and Belva.)
Region: Gauley / Cranberry / Central Mountains · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye · USGS gauges: Gauley near Craigsville, Gauley above Belva
Cranberry’s twin across the mountain — one of WVDNR’s named best coldwater streams, with heavy stockings along the Highland Scenic Highway and delayed-harvest water near Tea Creek. Pairs with Cranberry for the classic Mon Forest trout weekend.
Region: Gauley / Cranberry / Central Mountains · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Williams at Dyer
The dry-fly river under Seneca Rocks — stocked trout water through the North Fork Valley with a catch-and-release area near Seneca Creek, and wild fish in the cold feeders. A WVDNR fall trout destination.
Region: Potomac Highlands / Eastern Panhandle · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: North Fork at Cabins
Two rivers in one: stocked trout water around Franklin and the famous Smoke Hole canyon, then one of the Mid-Atlantic’s best smallmouth floats through the Trough downstream. WVDNR lists rainbows, browns, smallmouth, channels, and sunfish through the system.
Region: Potomac Highlands / Eastern Panhandle · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: South Branch at Franklin, South Branch near Petersburg, South Branch near Springfield
The comeback river — acid-mine drainage nearly killed it; Friends of the Cheat brought it back. Smallmouth and channel cats through the canyon reaches, stocked rainbows in restoration sections, and a growing float fishery.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Cheat near Parsons, Cheat below Saltlick Creek (Rowlesburg), Cheat at Albright
Tannin-dark trout water through Canaan Valley and above the Falls — brook, brown, and rainbow trout with a listed catch-and-release section in Tucker County. Cold, moody, and gorgeous.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Blackwater at Davis
Below Sutton the Elk turns warmwater — one of WV’s best musky rivers with smallmouth, walleye, and channels down to Charleston. Different river, same name: don’t expect trout here.
Region: Monongahela Highlands · Fish for: Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Elk at Queen Shoals
The Kanawha Valley’s home water — Big Coal and Little Coal join at Alum Creek to form the mainstem, with a popular water trail, spotted bass and smallmouth in the rocky runs, and channels in the pools. Minutes from Charleston and fished hard by locals.
Region: Southern Coalfields · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass · USGS gauges: Big Coal at Ashford, Little Coal at Danville, Coal River at Tornado
The Tygart runs from the high valley near Elkins down through Belington, Philippi and the Tygart Dam gorge to Grafton — a long, varied smallmouth and musky river with stocked-trout water up top and pool-and-riffle bronzeback country below. Wadeable in the upper and middle reaches at normal summer flow; the lower gorge and dam tailwater are big, pushy water.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: Tygart Valley River Near Dailey, Wv, Tygart Valley River At Belington, Wv, Tygart Valley River At Philippi, Wv, Tygart Valley River At Colfax, Wv
Southern WV’s sleeper: WVDNR calls the upper Guyandotte below R.D. Bailey Lake excellent year-round trout water — a cold tailwater in coalfield country with catch-and-release regs in the drainage — while the river turns to smallmouth and channels by Logan.
Region: Southern Coalfields · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Guyandotte near Baileysville, Guyandotte at Logan
The main-stem Potomac forms WV's northeastern border, and the reach around Shepherdstown and Harpers Ferry is legendary smallmouth water — wide, ledge-rock river full of bronzebacks, with catfish and the occasional musky. This is big water: wadeable on the ledges at low summer flow, but a float or boat opens up far more of it.
Region: Potomac Highlands / Eastern Panhandle · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Potomac River At Shepherdstown, Wv
WV’s biggest interior river — formed at Kanawha Falls where the New and Gauley meet, then running through Charleston to the Ohio. A pooled, lock-and-dam big-river fishery for hybrid stripers, sauger, catfish and smallmouth. This is boat and bank water, not a wading river; the falls area is the exception where you can fish the rocks on low flow.
Region: Kanawha Valley · Fish for: Hybrid Striped Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Kanawha River At Kanawha Falls, Wv, Kanawha River At Charleston, Wv
The WV–Maryland border river below Jennings Randolph Lake — a cold, limestone-buffered tailwater at Barnum that has become one of the region's best trout fisheries after decades of AMD cleanup. Downstream it warms into smallmouth water. The Barnum tailwater fishes on lower generation; watch the release schedule.
Region: Potomac Highlands / Eastern Panhandle · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: North Branch Potomac River At Barnum, Wv
The Shenandoah's final miles run through WV's Eastern Panhandle to meet the Potomac at Harpers Ferry — storied smallmouth water over long limestone ledges. The lower river at Millville is broad, ledgey bronzeback country. Wadeable on the ledges at low flow; a float covers far more of it.
Region: Potomac Highlands / Eastern Panhandle · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Shenandoah River At Millville, Wv
An Eastern Panhandle smallmouth gem that runs north out of the Lost River sink country past Wardensville and Capon Bridge to the Potomac at Great Cacapon. Long, low-gradient, ledge-rock smallmouth water — one of WV's best float-and-wade bronzeback rivers. Wadeable at summer flows; a canoe extends your range.
Region: Potomac Highlands / Eastern Panhandle · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Cacapon River Near Great Cacapon, Wv
A cold, tumbling headwater of the Black Fork and Cheat system that drains the high country around Gladwin and Hendricks. It holds stocked and wild trout in its upper reaches and picks up smallmouth as it warms toward the Cheat. Steep, rocky wade water — fishable when flows drop after snowmelt and spring rain.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Dry Fork At Hendricks, Wv
A Tygart tributary that gathers from the Randolph County highlands and runs past Buckhannon to meet the Tygart near Philippi. Stocked-trout water in the cold upper reaches gives way to solid smallmouth and musky habitat downstream. Wadeable through most of its length at summer flows.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Buckhannon River At Alton, Wv, Buckhannon R At Buckhannon, Wv, Buckhannon River At Hall, Wv
A long, meandering west-central river running from Burnsville Lake down through Glenville and Grantsville to the Ohio at Parkersburg. Below Burnsville Dam it's a cool tailwater; downstream it broadens into classic musky, smallmouth and catfish water. Mostly a float river with wadeable riffles at low summer flow.
Region: Little Kanawha / West-Central · Fish for: Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Little Kanawha River At Burnsville, Wv, Little Kanawha River At Glenville, Wv, Little Kanawha River At Palestine, Wv
The South Fork runs out of the Franklin and Brandywine highlands north to meet the South Branch near Moorefield. Cold, trout-stocked water up high gives way to strong smallmouth habitat in the broad limestone valley below. Wadeable through most of its length at summer flow.
Region: Potomac Highlands / Eastern Panhandle · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: S F South Branch Potomac River At Brandywine, Wv, S F South Branch Potomac River Nr Moorefield, Wv
The West Fork runs out of Stonewall Jackson Lake past Weston and Clarksburg to join the Tygart at Fairmont, forming the Monongahela. Below the dam it's a cool, steady river with good smallmouth and a real musky reputation. Mostly a float-and-wade river; the tailwater near Weston stays cool and fishable through summer.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: West Fork R Bl Stonewall Jackson Dam Nr Weston, Wv, West Fork River At Butcherville, Wv, West Fork River At Enterprise, Wv
The Bluestone carves a rugged gorge through Bluestone State Park and the national scenic river corridor before reaching Bluestone Lake and the New. It's a warm, rocky smallmouth stream with rock bass and the occasional musky. Wade-and-hop water in the gorge when flows are moderate.
Region: New River / Greenbrier Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Bluestone River Near Pipestem, Wv
A whitewater tributary of the Cheat famous for its rugged gorge and waterfalls, Big Sandy also fishes well for smallmouth in its lower reaches and holds stocked trout up high in spring. Rocky, technical wade water — pick your days when flows are down.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Big Sandy Creek At Rockville, Wv
A Gauley tributary that runs cool out of the central-mountain wetlands past Nallen toward the lower Gauley gorge. It carries stocked trout in its upper reaches and smallmouth downstream, with a wild, remote character. Wade water when flows are down; the lower gorge is pushy freestone.
Region: Gauley / Cranberry / Central Mountains · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Meadow River At Nallen, Wv
Often called the longest creek in the country, Middle Island winds through Doddridge and Tyler counties past Middlebourne to the Ohio at St. Marys. It's a broad, slow-moving smallmouth, musky and catfish stream with a serpentine, remote character. A float river with wadeable riffles at low flow.
Region: Northern Panhandle / Ohio Valley · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: Middle Island Creek At Little, Wv, Middle Island Creek At Hwy 18 Nr Middlebourne, Wv
A small, rocky freestone that tumbles through Audra State Park before joining the Tygart. It carries stocked trout in spring and a healthy population of smallmouth and rock bass through summer. Classic wade-and-hop pocket water when levels are moderate.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Middle Fork River At Audra, Wv
A cold Greenbrier tributary running out of the Monongahela National Forest past Anthony to meet the Greenbrier below Alderson. It's one of the better trout streams in the Greenbrier Valley — stocked and holding some wild fish — with smallmouth in the lower end. Small, rocky wade water.
Region: New River / Greenbrier Valley · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Anthony Creek Near Anthony, Wv
The Tug Fork forms the WV–Kentucky border through the heart of the southern coalfields, running past Welch, Williamson and Kermit toward the Big Sandy. It's a warm, resilient smallmouth and catfish river that has rebounded as water quality improved. Mostly float-and-bank water; wadeable on the riffles at low flow.
Region: Southern Coalfields · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Tug Fork At Litwar, Wv, Tug Fork At Williamson, Wv, Tug Fork At Kermit, Wv
A limestone-fed Eastern Panhandle creek running north past Martinsburg to the Potomac. It's a low-gradient, cool-flowing smallmouth and rock bass stream with surprisingly good fishing for its size. Small wade water — fishable most of the season outside high flows.
Region: Potomac Highlands / Eastern Panhandle · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Opequon Creek Near Martinsburg, Wv
A Morgantown creek that’s the poster child for WV acid-mine-drainage recovery — a long restoration effort has brought trout back to its upper reaches, and it’s stocked and fished along the rail-trail. Small, accessible wade water; conditions still vary reach to reach, so check current WVDNR stocking status.
Region: Cheat / Tygart / North-Central · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Deckers Creek At Morgantown, Wv
An Eastern Panhandle freestone-to-limestone creek running past Jones Springs toward the Potomac. It's stocked with trout in spring and holds smallmouth and rock bass through the warm months. Small, wadeable creek water with easy access off the valley roads.
Region: Potomac Highlands / Eastern Panhandle · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Back Creek Near Jones Springs, Wv
A slow, lowland western-WV river that gathers below Mud River Reservoir and winds past Milton to the Guyandotte at Barboursville. Warm, turbid and fertile, it's a largemouth, catfish and sunfish stream more than a wade fishery. Best fished from the bank or a small boat on the lower, dam-influenced flow.
Region: Southern Coalfields · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Mud River Near Milton, Wv
Flow readings come straight from USGS gauges and refresh every 15 minutes. Every West Virginia river shows the exact reading time for each gauge, so you always know how fresh the number is.
All 36 West Virginia rivers we track are rated Wadeable, Caution, Limited, or Blown out against thresholds tuned to each individual gauge. Open the dashboard for a live top-to-bottom read of every river.
CFS — cubic feet per second — is how much water is moving past the gauge. Higher CFS means faster, deeper, pushier water. The safe range differs on every river, which is why each gauge carries its own thresholds rather than one blanket number.
Each river page shows total observed rainfall over the last 48 hours plus the forecast for the next 48 hours at that gauge — the fastest way to tell whether the water is about to blow out or start clearing.
We track 36 West Virginia rivers behind live USGS gauges. Open any river for live conditions, species timing, public access points, and recent rainfall.