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West Virginia's waters are blessed with a variety of fish resources, including 178 species and 3 hybrid sport fishes distributed among 24 different families. Interestingly, approximately 20 percent are sport fishes, 80% are nongame fishes and 75% are found in just five families: (60-species) of carps and minnows, (31) perch, (18) suckers, (14) bass and sunfish and (12) catfish. Brook trout is our state fish, and the species requires cold, clean streams to survive, thus making this species an important indicator of environmental quality and climate change.
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Freshwater Fishes
West Virginia's waters are blessed with a variety of fish resources, including 178 species and 3 hybrid sport fishes distributed among 24 different families. Interestingly, approximately 20 percent are sport fishes, 80% are nongame fishes and 75% are found in just five families: (60-species) of carps and minnows, (31) perch, (18) suckers, (14) bass and sunfish and (12) catfish. Brook trout is our state fish, and the species requires cold, clean streams to survive, thus making this species an important indicator of environmental quality and climate change.- Seminar on Appalachian stream fishes by Dr. Stuart Welsh:
- Podcast on brook trout ecology and conservation:
Episode 8: Nathaniel Hitt, Biologist and Brook Trout Guru - Science summary: how river flows affect freshwater fish communities:
Changing Freshwater Flows Affect Fish Populations in the Potomac River - An overview of fish biodiversity in West Virginia:
West Virginia Fish - Fish identification tools:
Fish Identification (WVDNR)
American Eel
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