Reel In Real Good Fishing
Do warmer days have you dreaming of the murmur of a mountain stream or the tug of a trophy trout? Grab your gear and head to Grant County, where the North Fork of the Potomac River makes for the best trout fishing in West Virginia. Whether you’re fly fishing for trout or casting for bass, you’ll find your picture-perfect fishing spot—and a cozy place to kick back after a day on the water.
Stay
Turn your fishing trip into a full retreat at Harman’s Luxury Log Cabins, where you’ll find the perfect balance of rustic charm and modern luxury. Settle in at your one- to four-bedroom cabin outfitted with a stone fireplace, private outdoor hot tub, and charcoal grill, then head over to the main attraction: exclusive access to a private 2-mile stretch of the North Fork. If it’s trophy trout you seek, the stream is regularly stocked with trout weighing up to 10 pounds—mostly rainbows, but occasionally brown, brook, tiger, and golden trout. Enhance your excursion with insider tips and tricks from Harman’s professional fly fishing guides. 10042 North Fork Highway, Cabins
Nestled in the heart of the Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, Smoke Hole Caverns & Log Cabin Resort is nothing short of an angler’s paradise. Whether you crave the convenience of a fully outfitted RV site or the comfort of a riverside cottage, one of this resort’s 80 rustic retreats is sure to meet your needs. Bring the kiddos to Smoke Hole Outfitters’ on-site Catch 'n Keep Fee Fishing Trout Pond or try your hand at a monster trout lurking in the private Catch 'n Release Trophy Trout Stream, stocked with rainbow, brook, golden, brown, and tiger trout weighing up to 10 pounds. Book a lesson and learn all there is to know about fly fishing from the best of the best: owner and expert angler Josh Hedrick. 8290 North Fork Highway, Cabins
Cast
Hit three of West Virginia's top trout streams with Three Rivers Guiding and spend a half- or full-day wading or casting from shore with expert guides who know these waters like the backs of their hands. Cabins
Or, put an agritourism twist on your trip at Mountain Meadow Farm, a pay-to-fish trout farm stocked with only the finest, feistiest fish—rearing and ready for you to reel ‘em in. 1602 Jessi Ours Road, Scherr
Ready to head out on your own? Find crystal-clear rivers, rugged mountain streams, and well-stocked lakes across Grant County's best fishing spots. Whether you aim to catch and keep or reel and release, you’re sure to find your new favorite fishing hole.
Bass and trout are abundant in the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River between Judy Gap and Cabins and in the South Branch just east of Petersburg at Welton Park, with access for wading, kayaking, and canoeing. For views you can’t find anywhere else, try the Smoke Hole Canyon section of the South Branch. For more scenic and secluded trout fisheries, stop by the North Fork of Lunice Creek and the North Fork of Patterson Creek.
Lake fishing more your style? Head to South Mill Creek Lake for 48 peaceful acres of bass, catfish, crappie, trout, and bluegill fishery—and for an extra memorable experience, try night fishing. You’ll find 1,200 acres of open water stocked with bass, catfish, bluegill, and walleye at Mt. Storm Lake, and you can test your skills in the black bass fishing tournament in May.