West Virginia
West Fork River below Stonewall Jackson Dam
Location Snapshot
West Fork River below Stonewall Jackson Dam is a managed West Virginia tailwater below Stonewall Jackson Dam, distinct from the reservoir above. The principal supported target is rainbow trout, with brown trout adding additional species variety to the same fishery.
Current River Rating
Fair · 61
Conditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Medium confidence
Should I Go?
Consider
Recommended Window
Tuesday, 5:00 PM–8:00 PM
Why
- Water temperature is within the preferred trout range.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
Timing Evidence
Window confidence: High
Current Readings
- Flow
- 368 CFS
- Gage Height
- 9.62 ft
- Water Temperature
- 64.2 °F
- Observation Time
- Oct 20, 2026, 11:15 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 03058000 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
37°F
Feels like
32°F
Wind
2 mph E
Wind gust
4 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 5:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Tue 8 AM
Clear
Temp 37°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Tue 12 PM
Clear
Temp 56°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Tue 4 PM
Clear
Temp 63°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Tue 8 PM
Clear
Temp 53°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Wed 12 AM
Clear
Temp 47°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Wed 4 AM
Clear
Temp 43°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Tue, Oct 20
Mostly clear
High 63°F / Low 37°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 12 mph
Wed, Oct 21
Clear
High 62°F / Low 39°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 9 mph
Thu, Oct 22
Clear
High 64°F / Low 41°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 7 mph
Fri, Oct 23
Clear
High 67°F / Low 42°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 9 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
The West Fork below Stonewall Jackson Dam is the Stonewall Jackson Lake tailwater in Lewis County, which West Virginia stocks with trout.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at West Fork River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Target species
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Tailwater
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Stocking information
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Official sources
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Lewis, West Virginia
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Lewis
Management Category
Inland trout tailwater
Regulation Scope
West Fork River below Stonewall Jackson Dam.
Regulation Summary
West Fork River below Stonewall Jackson Dam: WVDNR inland trout-tailwater rules. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
rainbow-trout, brown-trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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