Photo by Presidio Studios.
Blue Ridge Outdoors: Tight Lines Article
Pocahontas County, West Virginia
What better place to spend your days on the water than the “birthplace of rivers,” Pocahontas County, W. Va.
From January to May, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources stocks rivers, streams, and lakes with trout across the county, including the Greenbrier, Williams, and Cranberry rivers. Multiple access points allow you to customize your trip length. Explore the area on the Greenbrier River Trail by foot, bike, or horse as the 78-mile rail trail follows the winding river.
Get off the grid and cast a line in Seneca State Forest, located in the National Radio Quiet Zone. Fish the stocked Seneca Lake and nearby Greenbrier River for trout and bass. Fish Watoga Lake at Watoga State Park, West Virginia’s largest park, for largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and trout. Both locations offer miles of trails for hiking and biking and campsites for overnight lodging when you get off the water.
Visit the Edray State Trout Hatchery to see the stocked trout at all stages of development. Learn more about the stocking process, fish breeding, and how they navigate West Virginia streams.
Pocahontas County receives ten percent of West Virginia’s hatchery trout.
Get the full package with one of the professional fly fishing outfitters in the area. Knapps Creek Trout Lodge offers beginner lessons, backcountry exploration trips, family-friendly outings, and gear rentals. When you’re done on the water, head back to the lodge for a home cooked meal and good night’s rest before doing it all again the next day. Take a half day guided wade trip or book a weeklong immersive experience on the best West Virginia trout streams with Elk River Inn & Cabins, an Orvis-endorsed outfitter. Fish Old Field Fork right out the backdoor or head to the Greenbrier, Williams, and Cranberry rivers and beyond.
Access over a half mile of private fishing waters on a mountain spring creek and four trout ponds with Pocahontas Fish & Game Adventures. Bunk in their restored log cabin for a true mountain getaway. Load up on fishing supplies, including your fishing license, at Appalachian Sport. Take advantage of the lodging above the store and shuttle service to the Greenbrier River. Jack Horner’s Corner has all the bait and equipment you need for the weekend just a few miles from Watoga State Park.
Explore a new waterway to fish each time you visit Pocahontas County, W. Va.
The Mon
“Monongahela National Forest provides visitors with scenic vistas, country roads, flowing streams and abundant plant and animal life. It was established in 1920 and encompasses one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States.”
Greenbrier River Trail- At less than a 1% grade, this trail is perfect for families!
Take your family on a bicycle ride - forget the city, the traffic and the rush. Relax, enjoy the scenery and the wildlife here in Pocahontas County along one of West Virginia’s most successful rail-to-trail conversions.
