American Eel
American Eel are catadromous fish that live most of their adult lives in freshwater before returning to the Sargasso Sea to spawn.
Scientific Name: Anguilla rostrata
- These snake-like fish have elongated bodies covered in mucus, with females growing up to 4 feet and males to 1.5 feet.
- They're distinguished from water snakes by their ribbon-like swimming motion versus the rope-like movement of snakes.
Fishing in West Virginia
Gauley River
New River
Kanawha River
Elk River
Cranberry River
Little Kanawha River
Greenbrier River
Tygart Valley River
West Fork River
Sutton Lake
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Found in two major watersheds: the Chesapeake Bay drainage (including the Potomac River and its tributaries like the Shenandoah River in the Eastern Panhandle, extending inland to Preston and Pocahontas counties) and the Gulf of Mexico drainage (traveling up the Mississippi-Ohio River system to tributaries like the Elk River in Braxton County and Gauley River in Greenbrier County).
Key Locations
- Focus efforts in the Shenandoah River system in the Eastern Panhandle, Potomac River tributaries, and in the western regions target the Elk River drainage and Gauley River system.
- Notably absent from the Monongahela, Cheat, Tygart Valley, Guyandotte, Tug Fork, and Big Sandy watersheds.
Specific Spots
- Target areas near dams and below hydroelectric facilities where eels concentrate, particularly the tailwaters.
- Fish near tributary mouths, thermal refuge areas, and areas with structure like rock formations, snags, fallen trees, and areas with mud, sand, or gravel bottoms where eels hide during daylight.
- Fish depths of 5-6 feet near shore where eels typically hide during the day but emerge to feed at night.
- Target areas with pocket pools, braided channels around exposed bedrock, and deeper pool and run habitats.
- Fish areas where small watercourses meet larger rivers.
American Eel FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for American Eel in West Virginia?
Use cut bait and minnows as primary offerings - dead minnows on hooks are particularly effective.
When is the best time to fish for American Eel in West Virginia?
Spring and summer months when they're most active. Spring fishing improves when water temperatures exceed 15°C (59°F), triggering upstream migration behavior. Avoid fishing during February through April when eels are completing their spawning migration to the ocean.
How do you catch American Eel in West Virginia?
Use drift fishing and still fishing techniques rather than active presentations.
What do American Eel eat?
American Eels are primarily nocturnal predators feeding on crustaceans, aquatic insects, worms, small fish, clams, mollusks, and soft-shelled crabs. They're opportunistic feeders that will consume virtually any aquatic organism they can find.
Where do American Eel live in West Virginia?
Found in two major watersheds: the Chesapeake Bay drainage (including the Potomac River and its tributaries like the Shenandoah River in the Eastern Panhandle, extending inland to Preston and Pocahontas counties) and the Gulf of Mexico drainage (traveling up the Mississippi-Ohio River system to tributaries like the...
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