West Virginia names its licences by class letter, and you will hear them called that at the counter: Class B is the resident fishing licence, Class F the non-resident one, Class L a five-day. Every licensed angler also needs the Conservation Stamp, five dollars for residents and thirteen for visitors, so the shelf price is never the whole price. The trout stamp costs visitors sixty per cent more than residents.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every West Virginia fishing fee
Licences run by calendar year.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-day fishing, Class LL | Visitor | 1 day | $3.00 |
| Five-day fishing, Class L | Resident | 5 days | $8.00 |
| Junior sportsman, ages 15-17, Class XJ | Resident | Annual | $16.00 |
| Junior sportsman, Class XXJ | Visitor | Annual | $16.00 |
| Fishing, Class B | Resident | Annual | $19.00 |
| Sportsman hunting, fishing and trapping, Class X | Resident | Annual | $35.00 |
| Fishing, Class F | Visitor | Annual | $37.00 |
| Sportsman plus, Class XP Includes the trout stamp. | Resident | Annual | $45.00 |
| Sportsman, three years, Class X3 | Resident | 3 years | $105.00 |
| Sportsman plus, three years, Class XP3 | Resident | 3 years | $135.00 |
West Virginia names its licences by class letter, which is how they appear at the point of sale: Class B is the resident fishing licence, Class F the non-resident one.
Passing through? A visitor pays $16 for one day here, because the conservation stamp is compulsory with it, and the annual works out cheaper after 4 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the West Virginia extras on top of the base licence, as WVDNR lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trout fishing stamp, Class O | $16.00 for visitors, and included with the Sportsman Plus licence. | $10.00 |
| National forest stamp, Class I | β | $2.00 |
A trout stamp is an endorsement, not a licence: it is useless without the licence above it. What it costs in every state, and the 26 that require none.
Do you need a fishing licence in West Virginia?
Yes, from age 15. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$24.00 a year if you live in West Virginia, $50.00 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 15.
- Everyone on the state free fishing days.
Nobody needs a licence on West Virginiaβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official WVDNR licensing page β
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 13 West Virginia waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- New River Gorge β Fayette County
- Cheat Lake β Monongalia County
- Summersville Lake β Nicholas County
- Elk River β Clay County
- Tygart Lake β Taylor County
- Stonewall Jackson Lake β Lewis County
- Bluestone Lake β Summers County
- Tygart Valley River β Barbour County
- Greenbrier River β Greenbrier County
- South Branch Potomac River β Hampshire County
- Cranberry River β Webster County
- Kanawha River β Fayette County
All 13 West Virginia waters β
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in West Virginia?
$24.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $50.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in West Virginia?
Yes, from age 15, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $24.00 for a resident annual licence, $50.00 for a visitor. 2 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in West Virginia?
From age 15. Anglers under 15 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a West Virginia fishing licence online?
Yes. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources sells online and through licence agents.
What is a Class B fishing licence in West Virginia?
The standard resident annual fishing licence, $19.00. Class F is the non-resident equivalent at $37.00, and Class L is a five-day resident licence at $8.00.
Do I need a conservation stamp in West Virginia?
Yes, every licensed angler does: $5.00 for residents and $13.00 for visitors, on top of the licence. Our prices include it.