Early Spring on WV Rivers Can Yield Big Catches

As water temperatures heat up, West Virginia anglers would be well served to dust off their fishing tackle and start wetting a line at the first opportunity.

"Water temperatures are up probably six to eight degrees in the last week or so.  They’re right in that 48-to-50 degree range in a lot of places which is super," said DNR Biologist Frank Jernejcic. "Flows are a little above normal but are approaching normal.  So everything is just right."

Jernejcic is biologist for northern West Virginia, but has spent a lifetime exploring the waters across West Virginia.   During the earliest times he recommends rigging for big walleye, musky, and small mouth bass.

"I worked on the (New) river one night last night about this time and we found loads of big walleye, I’m talking 20-inch,  big smallmouth, and even some musky all in the same place,"  said Jernejcic. "We were on the river above what I would have considered my fishable level, but it’s fishable."

The early season from now until late May won’t produce numbers, but where the fishing lacks in quantity of bites, it will often overcompensate for quality.

"When we look at the catch records, this is the time for the big smallmouth bass," Jernejcic said. "You won’t catch a lot, but you’ll catch big ones or the next month or month in a half."

Spring rains can often change rivers flows in the course of a day and sometimes hours.  Jernejcic recommends paying close attention to the USGS Stream Flow data and knowing what the "normal" flow is on the stretch of river you fish.    Stream flow information may save you time and gas money to get to water finding the conditions for fishing less than favorable.