Hatch-chart pattern list
Best Flies for Cranberry River (West Virginia)
The Cranberry River in West Virginia is primarily a wade fishery. It is a freestone fishery for Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout, with the most reliable window in April, May, June. The patterns below are matched to the hatch chart we publish for this water. They are not a live report of what other anglers caught this week.
What's hatching now
Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Cranberry River hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.
| Month | Insect | Size | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Midge | #22-26 | Mercury Midge |
| February | Midge | #22-26 | Zebra Midge |
| Blue-winged Olive | #20-22 | Parachute BWO | |
| March | Early Black Stonefly | #14-16 | Black Stonefly Dry |
| Blue-winged Olive | #18-20 | Parachute BWO | |
| April | Quill Gordon | #14 | Quill Gordon Dry |
| Hendrickson | #14 | Hendrickson Parachute | |
| Little Black Caddis | #18 | Black X-Caddis | |
| May | Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis |
| Light Cahill | #14 | Light Cahill Parachute | |
| March Brown | #12 | March Brown Wet | |
| June | Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis |
| Yellow Sally | #14-16 | Yellow Sally Dry | |
| Sulphur | #16 | Parachute Sulphur | |
| July | Caddis | #16 | Elk Hair Caddis |
| Terrestrials | #14-18 | Black Ant, Beetle | |
| August | Terrestrials | #12-16 | Hopper, Beetle, Ant |
| Caddis | #16-18 | Tan X-Caddis | |
| September | Blue-winged Olive | #18-20 | Parachute BWO |
| Caddis | #16 | Elk Hair Caddis | |
| Terrestrials | #16 | Black Ant | |
| October | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO |
| Midge | #22-24 | Mercury Midge | |
| November | Blue-winged Olive | #20-22 | Parachute BWO |
| Midge | #22-26 | Mercury Midge | |
| December | Midge | #22-26 | Mercury Midge |
Nymphs
Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.
Dries
Dries and terrestrials for the Cranberry River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.
Streamers
Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.
Setup
4X and 5X cover most nymphing. 4X on dries until the fish get picky, then 5X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.
FAQ
- What flies work on the Cranberry River?
- Start with Zebra Midge and BWO Parachute, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Cranberry River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.
- When is the best time to fly fish the Cranberry River?
- The editorial window we list is April, May, June, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.
- Do I need a guide on the Cranberry River?
- West Virginia has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.
- Where can I see live flow for the Cranberry River?
- Open the Cranberry River river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.
- Is this a report of what's working now on the Cranberry River?
- No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.