CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources fisheries management division has proposed changes to protect some of West Virginia’s world class smallmouth fisheries from the invasive Alabaman Bass.
The proposals to the Natural Resources Commission include changing the black bass slot limit on the Greenbrier River to include only smallmouth bass. The current slot limit requires all black bass (spotted, largemouth, and smallmouth) to be immediately returned to the water if they are 12 to 20 inches in length and caught in the river from the U.S. Route 60 bridge at Caldwell downstream to the U.S. Route 219 bridge at Ronceverte.
A daily creel limit of six smallmouth bass with only one being over 20 inches will be permitted. Largemouth bass and spotted bass will be excluded from the regulation and will be under the general statewide daily creel limit of six per day with no size limit.
The proposed similar changes to the slot limit on the entire New River in West Virginia from the confluence with the Gauley upstream to the Virginia border, with the exception of Bluestone Lake from the dam upstream to Indian Creek and the catch and release section.
The current slot limit on those sections of the New River requires all black bass from 14 to 22 inches long to be returned to the water at once.
For the majority of New River the agency proposed a daily creel limit of six smallmouth bass with only one being over 22 inches permitted. Largemouth bass and spotted bass will be excluded from this regulation and will be under the general statewide daily creel limit of six per day with no size limit.
The new proposals also include the catch and release section on the New River. The catch and release section is from the I-64 bridge at Sandstone downstream to the National Park Service Grand View sandbar access point. The proposed restrictions would make that section catch and release would apply only to smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass and spotted bass will be excluded from the new regulation and will be under the general statewide daily creel limit of six per day with no size limit.
The only other change to the West Virginia fishing regulations for this year would be to make the Fayette County Park Ponds Class Q and Youth Fishing only. Those under the age of 15 or those with a physical disability would be the only ones allowed to fish. The Fayette County Commission, owner of the ponds, is in favor of the change.
The proposals will be put out in a questionnaire to sportsmen in the March 17th and 18th Sectional Meetings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17
- Farmington – WVDNR District 1 Office
- Alum Creek – Forks of Coal District 5 Office
- Parkersburg – WVDNR District 6 Office
Wednesday, March 18
- Romney – South Branch Inn
- Beckley – Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center
- Elkins – WVDNR Operations Center
The proposals will be voted on by the Natural Resources Commission at the third quarter meeting of 2026 after consideration of public input on the proposed changes.