Statutes, codes, and regulations
West Virginia Administrative Code
Agency 58 - Natural ResourcesTitle 58 - LEGISLATIVE EXEMPT RULE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DIVISION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Series 58-60 - Fishing Regulations
Section 58-60-11 - Other Fishing Methods

W. Va. Code R. § 58-60-11

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Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 49, December 6, 2024
Section 58-60-11 - Other Fishing Methods
11.1. Dipping.
11.1.1. Dipping for nongame fish is legal year-round.
11.2. Bow Fishing.
11.2.1. Carp may be taken by bow year-round; other nongame fish may be taken by bow during all months except May and June.
11.3. Gigging, Snagging, and Snaring.
11.3.1. Nongame fish, turtles, and eels may be taken by gigging, snagging, or snaring from January 1 through May 15 and from July 15 through December 31, except as provided in Section 11.3.2. of these regulations: Provided, however, that snagging and gigging shall be prohibited within 100 feet of all U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Locks and Dams and their appurtenances.
11.3.2. Suckers, carp, fallfish, and creek chubs may be taken by snaring year-round.
11.4. Trotlines and Droplines.
11.4.1. Trotlines.
11.4.1.a. Trotlines are prohibited on impoundments designated by the director and published annually.
11.4.1.b. Trotlines may be used at the following impoundments:
11.4.1.b.1. Beech Fork (Wayne County).
11.4.1.b.2. Bluestone (Summers County).
11.4.1.b.3. Burnsville (Braxton County).
11.4.1.b.4. Cheat Lake (Monongalia County).
11.4.1.b.5. East Lynn (Wayne County).
11.4.1.b.6. Hawks Nest (Fayette County).
11.4.1.b.7. Jennings Randolph (Mineral County).
11.4.1.b.8. Mt. Storm Lake (Grant County).
11.4.1.b.9. R. D. Bailey (Mingo and Wyoming counties).
11.4.1.b.10. Stonecoal (Lewis and Upshur counties).
11.4.1.b.11. Stonewall Jackson (Lewis County).
11.4.1.b.12. Summersville (Nicholas County).
11.4.1.b.13. Sutton (Braxton County).
11.4.1.b.14. Tygart (Taylor County).
11.4.2. Droplines.
11.4.2.a. Droplines are prohibited on the following:
11.4.2.a.1. Impoundments designated by the director and published annually.
11.4.2.a.2. Elk River (Randolph, Webster, Braxton, Clay, and Kanawha counties).
11.4.2.a.3. Hughes River (Wirt County).
11.4.2.a.4. Little Kanawha River (Braxton, Gilmer, Calhoun, Wirt, and Wood counties).
11.4.2.a.5. Middle Island Creek (Tyler and Pleasants counties).
11.4.2.a.6. South Fork of Hughes River (Doddridge, Ritchie, and Wirt counties).
11.4.2.b. Droplines may be used at the following impoundments:
11.4.2.b.1. Beech Fork (Wayne County).
11.4.2.b.2. Bluestone (Summers County).
11.4.2.b.3. Burnsville (Braxton County).
11.4.2.b.4. Cheat Lake (Monongalia County).
11.4.2.b.5. East Lynn (Wayne County).
11.4.2.b.6. Hawks Nest (Fayette County).
11.4.2.b.7. Jennings Randolph (Mineral County).
11.4.2.b.8. Mt. Storm Lake (Grant County).
11.4.2.b.9. R. D. Bailey (Mingo and Wyoming counties).
11.4.2.b.10. Stonecoal (Lewis and Upshur counties).
11.4.2.b.11. Stonewall Jackson (Lewis County).
11.4.2.b.12. Summersville (Nicholas County).
11.4.2.b.13. Sutton (Braxton County).
11.4.2.b.14. Tygart (Taylor County).
11.5. Underwater Spearfishing.
11.5.1. Nongame fish, except catfish, may be taken by underwater spearfishing from July 1 through September 30 during daylight hours only.
11.5.2. Spearfishing is prohibited on the following:
11.5.2.a. Elk River, from Sutton Dam downstream to the U.S. Route 19 bridge at Sutton.
11.5.2.b. New River, from Bluestone Dam downstream to the lower bridge at Hinton.
11.6. Hand-fishing ("noodling").
11.6.1. Only channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish species are permitted to be taken by hand-fishing from June 15 through August 31 during daylight hours only.
11.6.2. Hand-fishing is prohibited on all state-managed impoundments, with the following exceptions:
11.6.2.a. Stonecoal Lake (Lewis and Upshur counties).
11.6.2.b. Hawks Nest Lake (Fayette County).
11.6.2.c. Mt. Storm Lake (Grant County).
11.6.2.d. Cheat Lake, (Monongalia County).
11.6.2.e. All U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes.
11.6.3. The daily creel limit for all combined catfish species taken by hand-fishing is four, of which only one may be 35-inches or longer and only two of which may be blue catfish. All additional prohibitions and restrictions related to location, size limits, creel limits and possession limits for catfish in this rule are applicable.
11.6.4. The daily creel limit for hand-fishing is included as part of daily creel limit and possession limits for hook and line fishing for catfish.
11.6.5. The use of SCUBA gear or any other artificial breathing apparatus to hand-fish is prohibited.
11.6.6. The placement or use of artificial cavities and nesting boxes for hand-fishing is prohibited. Only naturally occurring cavities and naturally occurring habitats are permitted for hand-fishing.
11.6.7. Use or possession of hooks, gaffs, spears, or any fishing tackle other than hands, including use of bait or fish attractors, is prohibited.

W. Va. Code R. § 58-60-11