Beware of certain rules and regulations when fishing this summer

BECKLEY (WVNS) – The Mountain State is home to many natural streams with different species of fish. With summer on the way, people are getting their fishing poles ready to tackle the open water.

You may not realize, but there are a lot of rules when it comes to fishing in West Virginia.

Whether it is the number of trout you can keep, what you must catch and release or what license you need, there are rules that must be followed.

59News stopped by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources in Beckley to find out more about fishing regulations and rules in the Mountain State.

Joel Slabe, Assistant Fisheries Biologist for the District 4 WVDNR, said in his experience, there are two consistent problems he sees.

“Well, fishing without a license can be a common issue. Then, you know, every now and again you have people that wanna keep more fish than is allowed. I would say fishing without a license, that’s the big one. Make sure you get your fishing license,” said Slabe.

There are three ways to fish. You can fish on a boat, on the shoreline, or wade through the water.

Out of these three, wading through water is arguably the most dangerous if not performed correctly.

Slabe said wading through water can be dangerous, but if you follow certain steps, you can be safe.

“When your wading, you wanna be careful and wear a belt. If you fall over in the river and your waders fill up with water, that can be an issue where it can get really heavy and you can drown. So, make sure you are wearing a wading belt. I would probably not wade past too close to your chest,” said Slabe to 59News.

Slabe said West Virginia is a hidden gem for fishing since it is rural in most areas. He said fishing in the Mountain State is a one of a kind experience but safety, rules, and regulations still apply.

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