Fishing is one of the most popular activities on the New River. The diversity of fish in its waters makes the New River an excellent warm water fishery. With proper respect for the river and its resources and a few safety precautions, anglers can enjoy a quality fishing experience.
Public river access points within New River Gorge National River are available at the Tug Creek Beach, Brooks Falls, Hellems Beach, and Sandstone Falls via River Road at Hinton; Meadow Creek; McCreery, Grandview Sandbar, Mill Creek, and Glade Creek off Hwy. 41 near Prince; Dunglen and Stone Cliff near Thurmond; Cunard; and Fayette Station.
To access the New River across private property, one must receive permission from the land owner.
Other places to fish include Bluestone National Scenic River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, Meadow River, Greenbrier River, Bluestone Lake, and Summersville Lake.
Las Vegas may be the gambling capital of the world but it is much more than just bright lights, glitz and glamour and casino after casino. If you’ve booked flights to Las Vegas but want to avoid the betting hoards, why not take yourself off for a spot of fishing at the beautiful Lake Mead, just minutes from the Strip.
Lake Mead is the 16th largest man-made lake in the world. It was created by the Hoover Dam along the Colorado River and occupies about 1.5 million acres of rugged landscapes. Lake Mead offers year-round recreational activities, with everything from boating to swimming, hiking, wildlife watching and fishing. If you’re a keen wildlife photographer, or fisherman for that matter, this is the perfect place for you. Escape the plastic palms and slot machines of Las Vegas and instead spend the day catching some sun on Lake Meads very own sandy beach with not so much as a blackjack table in sight.
Mount Rainier National Park isn’t known for its fishing, so don’t be disappointed if you fail to catch fish, or if the fish are small! Only experienced anglers do well and then only during limited times of the season. Rivers and streams are open from late-May or early-June through late-October, and most lakes are ice-free July through October.
Several species of fish listed under the Endangered Species Act are present in park streams. Native resident trout are also found in park streams. Therefore, we encourage you to use barbless hooks and artificial lures and to release uninjured fish. No fishing license is required in the park. However, if you plan to overnight in the backcountry, you will need a wilderness permit.
Acadia National Park and the surrounding area offer opportunities for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Lakes and ponds can have several species of freshwater game fish, including trout, landlocked salmon, smallmouth and largemouth bass, and other species. Ocean species include mackerel, bluefish, and striped bass. Freshwater fishing requires a State of Maine fishing license, as determined by state law. A license is not required to fish in the ocean.
Freshwater Fishing
The freshwater fishing season in Maine is generally April through September. Check the State of Maine’s Open Water Fishing Regulations handbook for exact dates (see More Information for instructions on obtaining a copy of this publication).
Fishing the Chattahoochee River year-round for its trout, bass, catfish, and other species can be a great experience. The river stays a cool temperature year-round, rarely getting warmer than 50 degress Farenheit. The river within the park is open for fishing from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Night fishing is not allowed.
The river offers excellent opportunities for leisurely fishing, paddling a raft, canoe or kayak to observe wildlife and wildflowers, or simple relaxed recreation. On days when Buford Dam is not releasing water, the river below the dam is calm "flat water" with an occasional class I/II shoals or rapids. Currents can be strong around submerged rocks and jagged tree snags that are found in the river. Rubber-soled shoes are a must for tackling slippery rocks and the occasional broken glass bottle. Shoals are identified by purple shading and river miles are indicated in red on the park map.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has a variety of aquatic habitats, and is home to both warm-water and cold-water fish species. The Delaware River offers a chance to catch smallmouth bass, muskel- lunge, walleye, catfish, and panfish. Shad reach the recreation area around May. The small lakes and ponds provide excellent fishing for rock bass, pickerel, catfish, sunfish, and panfish. Brook and brown trout are found in most in tributaries such as Flat Brook NJ and Bushkill Creek PA, and rainbow trout in Van Campens Brook NJ.
All waters within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area are open to sport fishing unless otherwise posted. See state information for Special Regulation Waters.
Before Whiskeytown Lake was constructed, the area’s streams and creeks provided an abundance of fish for people and wildlife. Today, one of the most popular water sports within Whiskeytown National Recreational Area is fishing. The clear waters of Whiskeytown support a variety of game fish that can be successfully caught from a boat or from the lake and stream shoreline.
Seasons
Fishing is allowed year- round in the lake, however, the streams feeding Whiskeytown are only available for fishing from the last Saturday in April through November 15.
Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities.
Native channel catfish:
Native channel catfish can be found in the pools of the larger waters of the system and in the channels of the main river. Channel catfish generally weigh 2-4 pounds with a 10 pound catch considered a good catch.
Blue catfish (chucklehead):
Blue catfish can be found in the same areas as the channel catfish. Size, breeding, and feeding habits are similar to the channel catfish.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is an amazing contrast of high desert, deep lake and shallow river, mountains and canyons, primitive backcountry and modern technology.
Whether you choose to fish from a boat or from the shoreline, Bighorn Lake provides abundant opportunities to catch numerous species of fish while being surrounded by some of the most beautiful outdoor scenery in the northwest United States. The information given below will give you a good idea of the opportunities for fishing either from the shoreline or a boat.
Shore Fishing
The Wyoming end of the lake has over 50 miles of accessible shore line including the Yellowtail Wildlife Unit. These shore lines are close to nearby roads. Thye also have ample driftwood for shore line evening fires if needed. Please check about any fire restrictions that may be in effect during high fire danger periods. There is limited shore fishing in the Montana end of Bighorn Lake.
Glacier Bay is best known for tidewater glaciers, wildlife watching, and impressive scenery, but sport fishing in the Bay can be an amazing experience. Visitors from all over the world enjoy fishing for sport fish in Glacier Bay's rich waters.
Glacier Bay offers a wide variety of fish species for anglers to pursue in both salt and freshwater. In saltwater most anglers target the bottom-dwelling halibut, but salmon species are often sought after as well. In Glacier Bay’s freshwater rivers and lakes anglers can fish for salmon and sea-run trout while enjoying the beauty and solitude of wilderness.
Pacific Halibut
Halibut are usually taken from May through September, although they’re available all year long. These species tend to move into shallower water in warmer summer months and overwinter in deeper waters, usually beyond reach of sport anglers.
