Tygart Valley River Fishing Guides
A long West Virginia river that starts as stocked trout water and turns into some of the state's better smallmouth and musky fishing.
Guides on the Tygart Valley River
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About the Tygart Valley River
The Tygart Valley River covers more ground than most West Virginia rivers and changes character completely as it goes. It rises in the high country of southern Randolph County, runs north through the broad farmed valley past Dailey, Elkins and Belington, then cuts into gorge country below Philippi before reaching Tygart Lake near Grafton. Each of those reaches fishes differently, and the gauge near Dailey sits on the upper, coldest one.
The upper valley is stocked trout water. West Virginia puts rainbows and browns into the accessible reaches through the spring, and the combination of easy roadside access and a wide, gentle river makes it popular and productive early in the year. As the river drops north and warms, smallmouth bass become the dominant fish, and the middle and lower reaches hold good numbers along with rock bass, channel catfish and walleye.
Muskellunge are the river’s quiet claim to fame. The Tygart carries a genuine musky population through its middle and lower reaches, and a small dedicated crowd fishes for them from drift boats and rafts through the cooler months. It is low-percentage fishing in the way musky always is, but the river is one of the more consistent places in the state to try.
Access is good. Route 219 and Route 250 follow much of the valley, there are numerous bridge crossings and town accesses at Elkins, Belington and Philippi, and the Tygart Valley River Trail opens up bank walking. Below Philippi the river enters a rougher gorge with class water that draws paddlers, and the fishing access there is more limited and more committing. Valley Falls State Park below Grafton marks the lower end of the river and is worth a stop for the falls alone. Guides working the Tygart are few and mostly musky specialists, so most anglers here are fishing on their own account.
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Access
Dailey - the gauge crossing at the top of the stocked trout reach.
Valley Bend - upper valley roadside access along Route 219.
Elkins - town access and the largest service base on the river.
Tygart Valley River Trail - rail-trail bank access through the middle valley.
Belington - town access and a common float put-in.
Philippi - historic covered bridge access above the gorge reach.
Tygart Lake - the bottom of the river and the lake tailwater below it.
Seasons
Spring: trout stocking in the upper valley and high water through the middle river.
Summer: prime smallmouth fishing in the middle and lower reaches.
Fall: cooling water, the best musky months and clear low flows.
Winter: cold and quiet, with occasional musky effort by the committed.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Tygart Valley River?
As of Sep 17, 6:00 am, the USGS gauge TYGART VALLEY RIVER NEAR DAILEY, WV reads 47 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Tygart Valley River?
Anglers target Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Muskellunge, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye on the Tygart Valley River in West Virginia.
Where can you access the Tygart Valley River?
Dailey - the gauge crossing at the top of the stocked trout reach. Valley Bend - upper valley roadside access along Route 219. Elkins - town access and the largest service base on the river. Tygart Valley River Trail - rail-trail bank access through the middle valley. Belington - town access and a common float put-in. Philippi - historic covered bridge access above the gorge reach. Tygart Lake - the bottom of the river and the lake tailwater below it.
When is the best time to fish the Tygart Valley River?
Spring: trout stocking in the upper valley and high water through the middle river. Summer: prime smallmouth fishing in the middle and lower reaches. Fall: cooling water, the best musky months and clear low flows. Winter: cold and quiet, with occasional musky effort by the committed.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Tygart Valley River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the West Virginia agency site: https://wvdnr.gov/fishing/fishing-regulations/