CRANBERRY RIVER
Many trout anglers would rank the Cranberry River as the finest trout stream in West Virginia. Assistant chief Shingleton agrees. "The Cranberry is considered one of the best trout streams by many anglers who prefer the remote/walk-in type of fishing experience."

Such high opinions come with a hefty price, as the river's reputation has increased fishing pressure over the last 10 years. Featuring one of the state's highest trout densities, the Cranberry provides a trout fishery that features both numbers and size. However, it's the Cranberry's bountiful supply of trophy fish opportunities that makes the river so popular.

Stockings for 2006 tender limited offerings in January and February, and then heavy weekly stockings from March through May.

Meandering through the mountainous counties of Pocahontas and Webster, the Cranberry features a variety of fishing experiences for anglers. The Cranberry River is divided into two sections, the backcountry and the more accessible lower Cranberry.

Encompassing both the North Fork and South Fork tributaries, the backcountry offers 16 miles of trout- packed river that is closed to vehicle access. Many anglers will ride bicycles into the backcountry and stay in the overnight shelters along the river.

While the entire backcountry is closed to vehicle access, the lower Cranberry is just the opposite. With accessible roads running along the river, plenty of prime fishing water is available right by the highway. The lower Cranberry runs from the Cranberry Campground all the way to the mouth. The best way to access this section of the Cranberry is from Forest Service Road (FS) 76.

Much of the Cranberry's thriving trout fishery is primarily a result of treating the river's acid problem with limestone. Limestone drums developed by the West Virginia DNR proved instrumental in the dynamic recovery of the Cranberry River. Before limestone treatment, the Cranberry River was so acidic that trout could not survive through the year.

The Cranberry River system features three special regulation sections for trout. In the backcountry, a quarter-mile catch-and-release section is located on the North Fork of the Cranberry River from the limestone drum station down to the mouth. Another catch-and-release area extends from the mouth of the North Fork downstream for 4.3 miles to the Dogway Fork Bridge. Yet another catch-and-release section on the lower Cranberry starts at the Woodbine recreation area and stretches downstream 1.2 miles to Camp Splinter.

WILLIAMS RIVER
Overshadowed by the famous Cranberry, and to a lesser degree the North Fork and South Fork of the Cherry River, the Williams is a fabulous trout stream nonetheless. But even with less notoriety, the Williams River has its fan base.

"The Williams River gets a good bit of fishing pressure during the spring and fair pressure during the summer and fall if water levels are adequate," Mike Shingleton said.

The Williams features a mix of heavily stocked water as well as some wild trout water. Anglers will find wild brook and brown trout in the headwaters, while the stocked sections are located at Day Run and along National Forest Route 86 downstream of the Scenic Highway state Route 150 bridge. Much of the section from the 150 bridge to Cowen is stocked with trout.

The Williams is surrounded by gorgeous scenery and much of the stream passes through the pristine Monongahela National Forest. Also, with it beginning as a small headwater stream and increasing to a medium-sized river near Cowen, anglers can handpick what type of water is best suited to their fishing preference.