Berwind Lake, Dry Fork stocked with trout in McDowell County

Berwind Lake and Dry Fork got trout on April 28, giving McDowell County anglers two local waters to target as spring fishing season builds across the county. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources posted the stocking after the end of the business day, part of its normal system of updating anglers only after the trucks have finished the work.

That matters in a county where a stocked lake or stream can turn into a weekend outing without a long drive. Families looking for a low-cost activity, retirees planning a morning on the bank and anglers stopping for bait, gas and lunch now have two McDowell County options to work into a short trip close to home.

Berwind Lake sits in the Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area in southern McDowell County, about 12 miles from Welch and near War. Public references describe the site as a 20-acre lake inside an 85-acre wildlife management area managed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The area has long served residents and visitors for fishing, hunting, primitive camping and limited day use recreation.

Dry Fork, also in McDowell County, adds a stream fishery to the county’s spring trout lineup. Together, the two stockings give local anglers a lake and a stream option, both close enough to support quick after-work trips and weekend outings that can spill over into nearby small businesses.

The timing also fits a busy stretch for trout fishing across West Virginia. The WVDNR’s 2026 Gold Rush program ran from March 30 through April 11 and featured an estimated 50,000 golden trout stocked in 69 lakes and streams statewide. About 100 of those fish carried numbered yellow tags, making spring stocking one of the state’s biggest seasonal draws.

Anglers heading to Berwind Lake or Dry Fork need a valid West Virginia fishing license and trout stamp if they are age 15 or older. The WVDNR says stocking locations are posted by the end of each business day on its stocking page and by hotline at 304-558-3399, since daily schedules are not released in advance.

For McDowell County, the stocking is a small but practical boost: fresh trout, local access and another reason to spend a spring day outside without leaving the county.