South Branch (Catch and Release)
Stocked stream · Pendleton County · Upper Tract
Last stocked: 4 months ago (Thu, May 7, 2026)
South Branch (Catch and Release) is a WV DNR trout-stocked stream in Pendleton County, West Virginia, near Upper Tract. WVDNR's 2026 stocking schedule: stocking frequency varies.
Recent trout stockings
- Thu, May 7, 20264 months ago
- Tue, Apr 14, 20265 months ago
- Thu, Mar 12, 20266 months ago
Showing the three most recent stockings. Free data is delayed 24 hours.
Stream conditions
Latest reading Sep 17, 11:05 AM EDT — our updates are running behind
South Branch Potomac River at Franklin (USGS 01605500) · 12.1 mi from this water
Gauge is at Franklin, about 12 miles from the catch-and-release section, on the same river.
7-day range 28 cfs – 34 cfs (the shaded days)
median daily flow for the date (USGS normals)
Daily mean flow with each day’s low–high band (through Wed, Sep 16, 2026)
Below normal for Sep 16 · about 76% of the median daily flow (36 cfs)
Show the daily values
| Day | Mean | Low | High | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19 | 62 cfs | 62 cfs | 62 cfs | 40 cfs |
| Aug 20 | 54 cfs | 54 cfs | 54 cfs | 40 cfs |
| Aug 21 | 47 cfs | 47 cfs | 47 cfs | 40 cfs |
| Aug 22 | 45 cfs | 45 cfs | 45 cfs | 40 cfs |
| Aug 23 | 69 cfs | 69 cfs | 69 cfs | 40 cfs |
| Aug 24 | 51 cfs | 51 cfs | 51 cfs | 40 cfs |
| Aug 25 | 43 cfs | 43 cfs | 43 cfs | 40 cfs |
| Aug 26 | 39 cfs | 39 cfs | 39 cfs | 39 cfs |
| Aug 27 | 38 cfs | 38 cfs | 38 cfs | 39 cfs |
| Aug 28 | 76 cfs | 76 cfs | 76 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Aug 29 | 59 cfs | 59 cfs | 59 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Aug 30 | 48 cfs | 48 cfs | 48 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Aug 31 | 43 cfs | 43 cfs | 43 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Sep 1 | 40 cfs | 40 cfs | 40 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Sep 2 | 36 cfs | 36 cfs | 36 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Sep 3 | 34 cfs | 34 cfs | 34 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Sep 4 | 34 cfs | 34 cfs | 34 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Sep 5 | 41 cfs | 41 cfs | 41 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Sep 6 | 53 cfs | 53 cfs | 53 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Sep 7 | 43 cfs | 43 cfs | 43 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Sep 8 | 36 cfs | 36 cfs | 36 cfs | 38 cfs |
| Sep 9 | 33 cfs | 33 cfs | 33 cfs | 37 cfs |
| Sep 10 | 32 cfs | 32 cfs | 32 cfs | 37 cfs |
| Sep 11 | 32 cfs | 32 cfs | 32 cfs | 37 cfs |
| Sep 12 | 33 cfs | 33 cfs | 33 cfs | 36 cfs |
| Sep 13 | 34 cfs | 34 cfs | 34 cfs | 37 cfs |
| Sep 14 | 33 cfs | 33 cfs | 33 cfs | 37 cfs |
| Sep 15 | 30 cfs | 30 cfs | 30 cfs | 36 cfs |
| Sep 16 | 28 cfs | 28 cfs | 28 cfs | 36 cfs |
Source: USGS Water Data (provisional data, subject to revision; readings refresh every 30 minutes). cfs = cubic feet per second; gage height is the water level at the gauge, not depth. The reading is at the gauge, not necessarily at the stocked section. Normals: 69 years of USGS daily record (1950–2026), approved values. Flows well above normal for the date usually run high and off-color.
Stocking schedule (WVDNR 2026)
- VStocking frequency varies
Schedule codes from the 2026 West Virginia Fishing Regulations Summary. Actual stocking dates appear above as WVDNR reports them. Every stocked water by schedule code →
Fishing regulations
No special trout regulations are listed for South Branch (Catch and Release) in the 2026 summary; statewide trout rules apply.
Statewide trout limits: 6 per day, 12 in possession, no minimum size.
About South Branch (Catch and Release)
- Type
- Stream
- County
- Pendleton County, WV
- Nearest town
- Upper Tract
- Land designation
- Private/Other
Stocking dates are sourced from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources daily stocking reports. Stocking-schedule codes, special regulations, and lake facilities are summarised from the 2026 West Virginia Fishing Regulations Summary and can change during the season; the West Virginia Code and current WVDNR regulations control — check wvdnr.gov/fishing-regulations before fishing. Location details are approximate.