Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 36, September 6, 2024
Section 58-60-9 - Catch and Release Trout Fishing Regulations9.1. Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Areas. 9.1.1. The Back Fork of the Elk River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A four mile section in Webster County beginning two miles upstream from Webster Springs near County Route 24/3 and extending upstream along County Route 24 to a point near Breece.9.1.2. The Shavers Fork Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Areas.9.1.3. The North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A three-quarter mile section in Pendleton County at the mouth of Seneca Creek near the Seneca Rocks Visitors Center. This area can be reached from County Route 28/3.9.1.4. The South Branch of the Potomac River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A one mile section in Pendleton County beginning one mile below U.S. Route 220 at Eagle Rock and extending downstream.9.1.5. The Cranberry River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A four and three tenths mile section in Webster and Pocahontas counties beginning at the junction of the North and South Forks and extending downstream to the low water bridge at Dogway Fork. Access is by foot on Forest Service Route 76 from the Cranberry Glades parking area.9.1.6. The North Fork of Cranberry River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A one-quarter mile section in Pocahontas County beginning at the mouth and extending upstream to the dam. Access is by foot on Forest Service Route 76.9.1.7. The Elk River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A two mile section in Randolph County beginning at Elk Springs and extending downstream to the Rose Run bridge. Access is by secondary route 49.9.1.8. The Blackwater River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A three and one-half mile section in Tucker County that extends from the secondary route 28 bridge downstream to the mouth of the North Fork.9.1.9. The Glade Creek of New River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A three mile section in Raleigh County that extends from the mouth of Glade Creek upstream to the National Park Service footbridge.9.1.10. The Slaty Fork section of Elk River Catch and Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A four and six-tenths mile section in Pocahontas County beginning at the junction of Old Field Fork and Big Spring Fork and extending downstream to the mouth of Dry Branch, including Props Run and Big Run. Access is by foot from County Route 219/12 on the south and 219/2 on the north.9.1.11. The North Fork of Cherry River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A one and eight-tenths mile section in Nicholas County that extends from the Richwood water supply dam upstream to the first State Route 39 bridge. Access is by State Route 39.9.1.12. The Bluestone River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A one mile section in Summers County beginning at a stream gauge station within Pipestem Resort State Park extending upstream to the mouth of Mountain Creek.9.1.13. The Seneca Creek Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- A two-tenths mile section in Pendleton County beginning at the mouth extending upstream to the Rt. 28 bridge.9.1.14. The Mill Creek Catch-and-Release Brook Trout Fishing Area: -- Entire length of Mill Creek and its tributaries with Kumbrabow State Forest in Randolph County.9.1.15. The Middle Fork of Williams River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- Entire length of Middle Fork of Williams River beginning at its junction with Williams River and including all of its tributaries within Webster and Pocahontas Counties.9.1.16. The Tea Creek Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- Entire length of Tea Creek beginning at its junction with Williams River upstream of Tea Creek Campground and including all of its tributaries within Pocahontas Counties.9.1.17. The Red Creek Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- Entire length of Red Creek upstream of County Route 45 bridge and including all its tributaries within Tucker County.9.1.18. The Otter Creek Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- Entire length of Otter Creek and including all of its tributaries within Randolph and Tucker Counties.9.1.19. The Guyandotte River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- Entire length of the Guyandotte River upstream of the railroad bridge in Mullens including all tributaries totaling 101 miles. (Wyoming and Raleigh Counties).9.1.20. The Barkers Creek of Guyandotte River Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- From the mouth of Barkers Creek upstream to include the entire drainage area for a total of 88 stream miles. (Wyoming County).9.1.21. The Elkhorn Creek Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Area: -- From the mouth of Elkhorn Creek upstream to include the entire drainage area for a total of 171 stream miles. (McDowell County).9.2. Fishing on Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Areas is permitted during daylight hours only.9.3. Only artificial flies and lures made of metal, wood, feathers, hair, or synthetic material may be used or in one's possession on Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Areas. No lure or fly with any scent, oil, or edible enticement added onto or impregnated into, may be used or possessed on Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Areas. This restriction applies regardless if scent is added in the manufacturing process or applied afterward. 9.3.1. Multiple-hook lures must have barbless hooks.9.3.2. Single-hook lures may have barbed hooks.9.4. All trout caught on Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing Areas must be returned to the water at once. To release a deeply hooked or gill-hooked trout, the line should be cut.