General Information
The WVDNR maintains and oversees more than 500 public fishing and boating access sites on streams and lakes across the state. These sites range from large concrete ramps with courtesy docks to gravel bars where you can launch a kayak. Public fishing and boating access sites are built and maintained through funding from fishing license revenue and a federal excise tax on fishing and boating equipment and motor boat fuel (Sport Fish Restoration Program).
Requirements and Prohibitions
- Public fishing and boating access sites shall be used solely for the purpose of launching and retrieving watercraft fishing from the shore. No other use of access sites is allowed.
- After launching, vehicles shall be parked in available parking spaces.
- Any law enforcement officer acting under proper authority may prohibit an individual from launching a watercraft from any public fishing and boating access site.
The following are prohibited at public fishing and boating access sites:
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages or possession of an open container of alcoholic beverage.
- Swimming or bathing.
- Camping.
- Open fires.
- Trash disposal except where trash receptacles are provided.
- Discharge of firearms, fireworks and explosives.
- Leaving unattended watercraft.
- Commercial use except as authorized by the Director.
- Parking of any vehicle or the mooring of any watercraft in such a manner as to obstruct any avenue of ingress or egress, except for the purpose of launching.
Any person violating any of these rules and regulations shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 20 of the Code of West Virginia and such other laws as may be applicable.
It is the policy of the Division of Natural Resources to provide its facilities, accommodations, services and programs to all persons without regard to sex, race, age, religion, national origin or ancestry, disability or other protected group status. The Division of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity employer.
To view all public fishing and boating access sites, please visit our Interactive Fishing Map.