Laurel Creek Fishing Guides
A mountain creek in the Gauley headwaters of Nicholas County, running cold and rhododendron-lined through Allegheny highland country and holding native brook trout in its upper reaches.
Guides on the Laurel Creek
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About the Laurel Creek
Laurel Creek runs through the Allegheny Highlands of Nicholas County and feeds the Gauley River system, in country that is steep, forested and thinly populated. The creek is named for the rhododendron thickets that line much of it, and anyone who has fished West Virginia mountain water knows exactly what that implies about the casting. This is tight, close-quarters fishing in beautiful surroundings.
The upper reaches are the coldest and most interesting. Shaded by heavy canopy and fed by mountain seeps, they hold native brook trout, the only trout genuinely native to these mountains. These are small fish, brilliantly colored, and they are the reason many anglers make the walk. Rainbow trout and brown trout are present through the middle reaches, with stocking supplementing what holds over naturally.
Lower down the creek widens and warms, the canopy opens, and the fishery shifts toward warmwater species. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and redbreast sunfish occupy these reaches and fish well through summer when the upper water is better left alone. The transition is gradual enough that a single long day can cover both, though it involves real walking.
Flows respond quickly to weather, as they do throughout this part of West Virginia. The creek rises hard after mountain storms and drops back fast, and summer dry spells can reduce the upper reaches to a thin thread of connected pools. The gauge is worth checking, and late summer trips to the headwaters should be approached with the fish’s welfare in mind.
Much of this country is public. National forest and state wildlife management lands cover substantial portions of the Gauley headwaters, and access is generally from forest roads and crossings followed by walking. Fenwick and Summersville are the nearest points for services, and the main Gauley River, one of the better known rivers in the East, is close enough to combine easily.
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Access
Fenwick - the community at the gauge and the nearest reference point.
Summersville - the nearest town of size, with lodging, food and tackle.
Gauley River - the larger river this creek feeds, well known in its own right.
Monongahela National Forest - the public land covering much of this highland country.
Richwood - a nearby town with access to the upper Cherry and Cranberry country.
West Virginia DNR stocking listings - the authority on which reaches are stocked and when.
Cranberry Wilderness - the large roadless tract in the same headwater country.
Seasons
Spring: high cold water and the best stocked trout fishing of the year.
Summer: upper reaches stay cool under canopy while lower water turns to smallmouth.
Fall: low, clear and the prettiest fishing of the year for native brook trout.
Winter: cold, low and quiet, with fish concentrated in the deeper pools.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Laurel Creek?
As of Sep 17, 5:15 am, the USGS gauge LAUREL CREEK NEAR FENWICK, WV reads 11 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Laurel Creek?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Redbreast Sunfish, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass on the Laurel Creek in West Virginia.
Where can you access the Laurel Creek?
Fenwick - the community at the gauge and the nearest reference point. Summersville - the nearest town of size, with lodging, food and tackle. Gauley River - the larger river this creek feeds, well known in its own right. Monongahela National Forest - the public land covering much of this highland country. Richwood - a nearby town with access to the upper Cherry and Cranberry country. West Virginia DNR stocking listings - the authority on which reaches are stocked and when. Cranberry Wilderness - the large roadless tract in the same headwater country.
When is the best time to fish the Laurel Creek?
Spring: high cold water and the best stocked trout fishing of the year. Summer: upper reaches stay cool under canopy while lower water turns to smallmouth. Fall: low, clear and the prettiest fishing of the year for native brook trout. Winter: cold, low and quiet, with fish concentrated in the deeper pools.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Laurel Creek?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the West Virginia agency site: https://wvdnr.gov/fishing/fishing-regulations/