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Fishing Areas
Beech Fork - Lake is at summer pool. Lake and tailwater are clear. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 525-5092. Saugeye and hybrid striped bass are going after minnow-tipped and grub-tipped jigs, while black bass will hit buzz baits, plastics and spinners. Catfish are being caught on night crawlers, chicken liver and small gizzard shad. Bluestone - Lake is at summer pool. Lake and tail water are clear. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 466-0156. With cooler weather, fishing on the lake has been only fair. Bass anglers should try around any structure such as rocky points or weed beds using small crank baits, spinner baits or plastic worms. During any warm spells, anglers may find larger bass near the shallows in the slightly warmer water, giving them more opportunities at some trophy bass. Jigs and live bait are probably the top producing baits during these cold spells. Channel and flathead catfish are still producing on the lake. Anglers wanting to catch the whiskered ones should try drifting with live bait such as soft shell crayfish, hellgrammites or night crawlers. Chicken liver is also good. When you catch one, simply motor back up and drift through the hole again. Flatheads prefer live bait such as large chubs or a live sunfish. Carp, hybrid stripers and small mouth bass are hitting in the tail water with best baits being corn, chartreuse jigs and plastic jigs. Burnsville - Lake is at summer pool. Lake and tail water are cloudy. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 853-2398. Good-sized crappie were being caught in 8- to 10-feet of water (on bottom) with minnows. Bluegill action has slowed. Channel catfish are hitting chicken liver in the evenings. A 58-pound flathead catfish was caught last month. Saugeye fishing is best in the evenings while trolling deep-diving plugs around sandy points and the mouths of coves. Spotted and largemouth bass were being caught on crankbaits and plastic worms in the main lake. A few saugeye have been caught in the tail waters. East Lynn - Lake is at summer pool. Lake and tail water are clear. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 849-9861. Fishing the deeper water along rocky areas with minnow and grub-tipped jigs is working well on saugeye and hybrid striped bass. Fishing the shoreline with plastic lizards and rubber worms will work on largemouth and spotted bass. Chicken liver and night crawlers are being used to take catfish. R.D. Bailey - Lake is approximately 12 feet below summer pool. Lake and tail water are clear. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 664-9587. The colder weather has slowed fishing somewhat. However, with a bout of stable weather, fishing will pick up. Some large spotted bass are being caught. Some of the largest spotted bass in West Virginia are found in R.D. Bailey Lake. The spotted bass will be found along the rocky drops, with clay points another good spot to try. Good baits are plastic jigs in smoke and chartreuse colors or live shad. These bass can be found moving into shallower water to feed during any warm spell. Hybrid striped bass feed on shad, so watch for any schools of shad because the hybrid will usually be nearby. Best baits are lures such as rattletraps, spoons or white/chartreuse jigs. Walleye are starting to be creeled by local anglers. Best places to try are along the shallow clay flats either early or late. Best baits are jigs tipped with minnows or night crawlers. Fall trout stockings will be coming up in early October in the tail water. Stonecoal Lake - The lake is 5 feet below summer pool and milky. Catfish are being caught in the evenings on chicken liver from boat and shore. Some nice bass are being caught on crank baits and soft plastic lures around fish attractors. Anglers should try night crawler rigs or trolling crank baits for walleye. Jigs and live minnows are working great for catching crappie around beaver huts and shallow coves. Trout fishing has been fair for anglers trolling or casting spinners from boat and shore. A few musky are being caught by anglers trolling large plugs. Stonewall Jackson - Lake is approximately two feet below summer pool. Lake and tail water are milky. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 269-7463. Surface temperature of the lake is around 67 degrees. Bass fishing has been good the past week. The cool water has made fish more active in the afternoon. Anglers are having the most success with plastic worms and topwater plugs fished around standing timber and rip-rap. Catfish are being caught mainly with live minnows and jigs in about 1- to 6-feet of water (try standing timber and under bridges). Saugeye are hitting jigs tipped with live bait and on small crank baits, especially late in the evenings. A 50-inch musky was caught and released 2 weeks ago by an angler trolling a large plug in the West Fork arm of the lake. Summersville - Lake is approximately 12 feet below summer pool. Lake and tail water are clear. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 872-5809. The walleye are down deep at about 45- to 50-feet. Try using bottom bouncing with a night crawler rig for walleye. A few have been caught trolling this past week. Also try crank baits in evenings as walleye begin to feed. small mouth are hitting plastic baits and shallow-running plugs around the shoreline and fish attractors. Topwater plugs have also produced a few bass in the mornings and evenings. Crappie fishing should begin to pick up this month. Try minnows around fish attractors in about 12- to 15-feet of water. Catfish are hitting chicken liver in the evenings. Sutton - Lake is approximately three feet below summer pool. Lake and tail water are clear. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 765-2705. Largemouth and spotted bass have been active in afternoon hours as temperatures begin to cool. Try soft plastic worms, crank baits and topwater plugs. Catfish are hitting in the evenings. Try chicken liver, night crawlers and cut steak. Crappie are hitting minnows and jigs in about 10- to 15-feet of water just off fish attractors and the tunnel road. small mouth bass are being caught around submerged trees and fish attractors. Tailwater action has slowed for trout. Tygart - Lake is approximately 14 foot below summer pool. Lake and tail water are clear. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 265-5953. The Doe Run ramp is the only ramp which provides access at the winter pool level. Tube jigs have been very consistent for small mouth and continue to produce fish, but many other types of bait are also working. Try casting deep-diving crank baits to the shore and retrieving along the bottom out to 15 feet. During the day, fish deep for walleye in the lake using jigs and minnows. Walleye will move into shallow water at night to feed and can be caught by anglers walking the shoreline and casting jigs and power grubs. Channel catfish are being caught at night by shoreline anglers using chicken liver or cut bait. Trout and walleye can be caught in the tail water where the water temperature is 65 degrees. Use spinners or power bait for trout, and jigs with minnows or power grubs for walleye. Shoreline anglers can also catch walleye by casting larger minnow-imitating crank baits. You can also try trolling with spinners to catch trout. Walleye fishing is best at high flows (2 to 4 gates open) and trout fishing is best at low flows (1 gate open). NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA
Pike Island and Hannibal Tailwaters - Fishing remains good throughout the river. During rising or high water conditions, fish will move into the banks or embayments. High water also means turbid or off-color conditions, so noisy surface baits will be effective. Try using buzz baits along shorelines or in the embayments. small mouth bass are common in the tail waters, while largemouth bass occupy the embayments and shoreline areas throughout the pools.
Channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers, minnows, stink baits or chicken liver. Hybrid striped bass and white bass are being caught in the tail waters on large minnows, casting spoons, or jigs and three-inch twister tails. Use at least 8- or 10-pound test line to fight the fish in the currents. Sauger can be caught in the tail waters on jigs tipped with minnows or 3-inch power grubs. White or chartreuse are good colors. Sauger can also be caught at the mouths of tributaries and at the bottom edge of secondary drop-offs along the main channel. Monongahela River - Shoreline weed beds are good locations to fish for largemouth bass. Try buzz baits or other noisy surface baits in turbid or high water. White bass and small mouth bass are being caught in the Opekiska, Hildebrand and Morgantown tail waters. Jigs and minnows or plastic grubs are the preferred baits, but crank baits are working too. Channel catfish are being caught at night on chicken liver or cut bait. Sauger are hitting jigs tipped with minnows or 3-inch white or chartreuse power bait. Cheat Lake - The lake is at summer pool level but may be off-color from recent rains. Try the two embayments at the new recreation area. Streams - Streams are still higher than normal for this time of year and intermittent rains have kept water temperatures in a good fishing range. Fishing success has been very good for small mouth and rock bass. Most baits are effective now but buzz baits and tube jigs are particularly good. A pear-color Super Fluke is also working well, particularly if the water is high and off-color. Buzz baits will also be a good bait for higher water conditions. EASTERN PANHANDLE
The South Branch, Cacapon and Shenandoah rivers are in excellent fishing condition. For small mouth bass, surface lures such as buzz baits are very effective, especially in areas of submerged weed growth. Where weeds are not present, tube jigs (especially pumpkin color), plastic grubs, plastic worms and crank baits such as the Rebel crayfish are excellent lures.
Flyfishing methods can also be very effective on warm water species as well as trout. Stream fishing for small mouth bass using white or chartreuse poppers and muddler minnow imitations are very effective. Water conditions on Eastern Panhandle streams have been excellent this summer and small mouth bass fishing has been outstanding. CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA
Area rivers are normal and clear. Fishing on West Virginia rivers has been excellent this fall. The fall trout stocking season starts on October 10. Try to plan a fishing/hunting day trip. Trout are still being caught on many area rivers and streams. Check out the WV DNR web page for fishing information www.dnr.state.wv.us. The small mouth and rock bass fishing has been great in the Elk, Tygart and Buckhannon. Reports of large carp and catfish being caught in Buckhannon River this week.
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA
The New and Greenbrier rivers are continuing to provide some excellent fishing for small mouth bass. Try white spinner baits or small rapalas in black and silver or live bait such as minnows. Spots below or above shoals are good spots to try. Southern West Virginia is blessed with many small impoundments that have good fish populations. Waters such as Plum Orchard, Moncove and Pipestem lakes have excellent largemouth bass populations and fall is a prime time to be on the waters.
SOUTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA
Ohio River - As the fall season approaches river fishing is getting better. Boating anglers are hitting the shorelines with buzz baits in the early morning and late evening to catch some nice black bass, while minnow and grub-tipped jigs are taking hybrid striped bass, sauger and saugeye. The tail water at the locks and dams are giving up some real nice catfish while using cut baits, minnows and chicken liver.
Kanawha River - Fishing the tail water of the London Lock and Dam is good for small mouth bass while using crank baits and spinners. Some walleye, sauger and saugeye are being taken on minnow and grub-tipped jigs. Boating anglers are hitting the shorelines up and down the river using crank baits, buzz baits, spinners and rubber worms to catch some nice black bass. Catfish are being taken throughout the river while using cut baits, chicken liver and night crawlers. With deer season fast approaching, when you plan your hunting trip you will want to make sure you have your fishing gear along. There are many waters throughout the state in which an anglers can enjoy a great afternoon of fishing. Check your fishing regulations or contact the local wildlife office in the area you plan to hunt for information on fishing. WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA
Fishing has been good below the Bellevue and Willow Island dams, where anglers have been catching white bass, hybrid striped bass, freshwater drum and a few other species while using minnows, silver spoons, jig/twistertail/minnow combos, and white spinners fished near these dams in water that has eddies and/or back current. As water temperature cool during the fall, sauger and walleye will show up below these dams. Terminal tackle for sauger and walleye include jigs and twistertail combos, and minnows fished along the bottom.
Largemouth bass fishing has been as good as it has been in years within the Ohio River System. Spinner baits, crank baits, and rubber worms are producing fish within the Willow Island, Belleville and Racine pools. Fish are being found along weed bed areas and spots with good cover. Anglers seeking largemouth bass in small impoundments should try Conaway Run, Mountwood, Charles Fork, O’Brien, Woodrum or Elk Fork lakes. Spinnerbaits, crank baits or rubber worms fished along the shoreline in areas with good cover can be very productive. Elk Fork Lake has many largemouth bass in the 8- to 10-inch range, and is a great place to take children fishing. Area musky streams may be fishable by this weekend if no additional rain is received. Fall is an excellent time to fish, as musky are most active with water temperatures around 60 degrees. Larger crank and jerk baits work well in areas with good cover. Try the catch-and-release area on Middle Island Creek, or one of the rivers with the Hughes River System. |
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