West Virginia Stream Conditions

Weekly Fishing Report -- Updated every Wednesday afternoon

July 1, 2009

FISHING

BEECH FORK – The reservoir is at summer pool. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304-525-5092.  Bass have been caught using Carolina rigged worms, flukes, crankbaits, and shad imitating lures (match the size). Anglers are doing well on panfish, and catfish with many people finding success fishing through the night to beat the heat and boat traffic.

BLUESTONE – The lake is currently high and muddy so fishing is poor, however, once it begins to drop and clear fishing will pick up. Spring is here and the fish are moving and feeding in preparation for spawning. Crappie may be found near any structure such as downed trees or brush piles. They will be hitting small minnows or doll flies. Bass are being caught off rocky points and around downed trees using live bait and artificials such as spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Anglers should look for points that have some cover such as stumps, logs, or weed beds. Try slow rolling a spinnerbait, bumping off the stumps. Some hybrid striped bass may be caught using large minnows. Anglers should begin trying spots such as the mouth of Indian Creek or up the Bluestone Arm as these fish, even though infertile, still make mock spawning runs upstream. Smallmouth bass are being caught in the tailwaters. Successful anglers are using tube jigs in pumpkinseed or motoroil colors. Anglers should be careful wading and wear your personal flotation devices.

BURNSVILLE – The lake is at summer pool and milky. For bass try shallow water and structure. Crappie have moved up to structure and are hitting minnows and jigs. Trout were stocked in the tailwaters on May 26 (190 pounds). For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304-853-2398.

EAST LYNN – The reservoir is at summer pool. Both the outflow and the reservoir are murky with a surface temperature of 75 F degrees. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304-849-9861. Catches of various species reported (catfish, bass, panfish).  

R.D. BAILEY – The lake is currently turbid but as the water clears fishing will begin to pick up. Fish are beginning to move and feed in preparation for the spawn. Crappie will spawn around standing timber and brush piles and will hit small minnows. For artificials, use doll flies in white and yellow. Spotted bass are hitting plastic jigs in crawfish colors. The spotted bass will be found along the rocky drops with points with downed trees another good spot to try. Remember to fish slow! The trout stocked in the tailwaters are still providing good fishing. Best baits are corn, salmon eggs, and small jigs.

STONECOAL LAKE – The lake is at summer pool and clear. A few trout have been caught this past week on powerbait. Bass and panfish are also being caught in and around structure. Crappie have moved up and are being caught on minnows and jigs.

STONEWALL JACKSON – The lake is at summer pool and milky. For bass try shallow water and around structure. Crappie have moved up to structure and are hitting minnows. Trout were stocked in the tailwaters on May 26. Before heading to the lake please contact Corps of Engineers at 304-269-7463.

SUMMERSVILLE – The lake is at summer pool and clear. A few walleye have been caught in the 10-15 feet of water. Bass and panfish are also being caught in and around structure. Trout were stocked in the tailwaters on May 29. If you are looking for a back country trout fishing experience hike down in and enjoy. For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304-872-5809.

SUTTON – The lake is at summer pool and clear. Bass have moved out to about 10 feet of water and fishing is good. Crappie are on structure and hitting jigs and minnows. Trout were stocked in the tailwaters on May 26 (1,100 pounds). Before heading to the lake please call Corps of Engineers at 304-765-2705. 

TYGART LAKE – The lake is near the summer level after a spring of high water. Try casting crankbaits or tube jigs to the bank or jigging blade baits in 10 to 20 feet of water for bass. The heads of coves will warm faster than the main lake and will concentrate spawning bass and sunfish. Target walleye in 20 to 40 feet of water with a jig and minnow or nightcrawlers.

There are lots of trout and walleye in the tailwaters. Call the Corps of Engineers telephone hotline at 304-265-5953 for daily lake and tailwater conditions.

NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA

OHIO RIVER (New Cumberland, Pike Island, and Hannibal pools and tailwaters): The river is at normal seasonal levels. Channel and flathead catfish can be caught throughout the river. Chicken livers or cut baits are always good to catfish. Sauger, smallmouth bass, walleye, hybrid striped bass, and white bass are attracted to the currents at lock and dam tailwaters. This is a good time to catch larger bass. During normal flows, walleye and sauger will start feeding about an hour before sunset and then throughout the night. Jigs with minnows are particularly good baits but 3-inch plastic grubs will also be productive. White or chartreuse are good colors.

MONONGAHELA RIVER – The river is at a normal level and clearing up after a week of turbid water. Fish surveys three weeks ago found lots of smallmouth bass, sauger and large bluegill along the shoreline for a mile below each of the dams. Bass tournament success remains good and is a predicator of success for other species. Sauger and walleye will begin feeding at dusk. Jigs with minnows are particularly good baits but 3-inch plastic grubs will also be productive. White or chartreuse are good colors. Warm water discharges at the Rivesville and Morgantown power plants will attract fish all spring. A pier at the Morgantown plant makes fishing safe and convenient.

CHEAT LAKE – The lake is now at summer recreation level and can only fluctuate 2-feet until November. Channel catfish can be caught throughout the lake but are particularly numerous upstream of Mt. Chateau. Large sunfish are abundant along the shoreline from Sunset Beach cove to the Ices Ferry Bridge. Now is also the time to fish for big bass. Cheat Lake has been one of the top lakes for bass fishing tournament success for the past five years. The embayments at the cheat Lake Park will warm up faster than the main lake. This is a good area for bank anglers to catch sunfish and largemouth bass. Keep track of the lake elevation and predicted daily changes in elevation on the Cheat Lake website at www.cheatlaketoday.com.

EASTERN PANHANDLE

South Branch and Cacapon Rivers - Flows in most large streams and rivers are near normal for this time of year. The water is clear in most streams but localized thunderstorm can quickly cause turbid water. Water temperatures are in the upper 70’s and great for smallmouth bass fishing. Smallmouth bass are being caught on both topwater lures and plastics near the head of pools. Many smallmouth bass in the South Branch gave been tagged as part of a fish movement and fish health study. If you catch a tagged fish, please clip off the tag and return it to DNR for a reward.

Hunting and fishing license can be purchased online at https://www.wvhunt.com/wizard/hflw000.asp and digital copies of the hunting and fishing regulations are also available online.

North Branch River  - The flows in the North Branch are currently at 300 cfs and great for trout fishing. Flows in the North Branch can be monitored by watching the USGS stream gages or the Jennings Randolph website (www.nab.usace.army.mil/recreation/jenran/recinfo.htm).

Small Impoundments -  Anglers fishing in small impoundments are still having great success. Bass and catfish are biting and many anglers have caught channel catfish and largemouth bass up to 6-pounds in the last couple of weeks. Small impoundments have stratified for the summer so make sure you fish shallow since fish are confined to the top 6 to 8 feet of water. Try fishing cold impoundment like Rock Cliff Lake for lots of holdover trout.

Jennings Randolph Lake - Jennings Randolph Lake is currently one foot below conservation pool.  No recent reports of angler success but smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish and trout would all be good choices. Jennings Randolph Lake has a dedicated phone line for up-to-date recreational information (304) 355-2890.  Recreational information can also be found at www.nab.usace.army.mil/recreation/jenran/recinfo.htm.

Mt. Storm Lake - Anglers at Mt. Storm should target hybrid striped bass, largemouth, and smallmouth bass. Recent biological surveys have indicated good bass populations and lots of gizzard shad. Therefore, anglers may want to try shining crankbaits that imitate shad.

CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA

Water levels are normal and clear.  Trout stocking is completed until October with the exception of summer brood stockings. Summer is a great time of year to introduce a youngster to fishing. Check out the WVDNR website or call your local DNR office for a location to try your luck. You will be making a lifetime of memories!! A few waters that were stocked with trout in the past few weeks were: Shavers Fork, Williams River, Spruce Knob Lake, and Cranberry River. Check the DNR webpage for statewide trout stockings and updated fishing information (www.wvdnr.gov).

SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA

Anglers should check this year’s fishing regulations to see which waters will be stocked. For a more up-to-date list, please call the hotline at 558-3399 or check online at www.wvdnr.gov. Some of our lakes remain clear year round and lake anglers can find some excellent bass and bluegill fishing at Plum Orchard Lake. Best baits are plastic worms fished slowly along the bottom, spinnerbaits are also good choices for the bass while the bluegill will take small jigs, red worms, or other small live baits.

SOUTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA

Lower Ohio and Kanawha rivers – Fishing is very good along the navigable rivers and their locks for multiple species (bass, drum, walleye, sauger, hybrids). Catfish (flatheads, channels, blues) are biting good for anglers on various baits, etc. Temperature will become more of a critical factor as we move into the summer, try during low light (early and late) for preferred gamefish. Check locations visually or check online for flow levels http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt prior to fishing rather than wasting a trip.  

Guyandotte and Coal rivers – Reports of bass and hybrids caught at the lower and upper falls. Additional reports of catfish (both flatheads and channel) biting well from anglers using liver and fresh cut bait.

Poca River – Reports of catfish being caught on various baits.

Elk River – Reports of smallmouth and muskie being caught from the mouth up to the dam at Sutton.  The WVDNR is conducting a muskie study on the Elk River currently. If an angler keeps a muskie with what appears to be a metal tag on the dorsal fin, please contact the district office in Pt. Pleasant immediately (304-675-0871). We would like to gather information (total length = tip of snout to maximum length with the tail fin lobes squeezed together, location of capture, tag number) from the tagged fish. Flyers have been placed at put-ins, and in small tackle/convenient stores along the Elk River in Braxton, Clay, and Kanawha counties. Your participation is much appreciated.

Mud River – Reports of muskie being caught on various lures.

Small Impoundments –Try your favorite lures and bait for bass and bluegill. For catfish, try chicken lever, hot dogs, bubble gum and even soap! Shelled shrimp available at any grocery store is also a good choice as is a “gob” of nightcrawlers fished on the bottom. Liver and prepared ‘stink’ baits work well also. Take a kid or someone new to fishing out during a warmer day and let them experience the fun as well!

Reservoirs –  Check the USACOE website (http://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/) and the USGS website (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt) for reservoir and tailrace conditions.  Fishing in area reservoirs is good to excellent right now. Conditions are close to optimal right now for many preferred gamefish. Temperature will become more of a factor as we move into the summer. Fish will become more active under low light and cooler conditions to combat the warmer weather, and increased boat traffic, etc. To target walleye and saugeye concentrate during ht low light periods of dusk and dawn and/or fish at night using shad imitations and jigs around rocky points and drop-offs. Hybrids can also be taken on shad imitating lures or minnows. Concentrate your effort during low light or under darkness for these brutish fish. As we progress into the summer carp can be found in the shallow backwater areas of reservoirs spawning. Anglers can target these strong fighting fish with either bows or with rod and reel.

Rivers and Streams – Check the USGS website (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt) for river/stream conditions and check local landings visually before wasting a trip. Fishing is picking back up for all species with warming temperature levels. As stressed before, seams (areas where slow ore slack water meets faster water) will be the ticket and/or deeper areas adjacent to the seam areas. Pay extra attention to water temperature and keep your preferred gamefish’s habits in mind. For catfish use stink baits and cut baits for channels, and live bait and/or fresh cut bait for flatheads.

WEST-CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA

This is an excellent time to fish Ohio River Tail-waters.  Anglers fishing below the Belleville and Willow Island dams are catching white bass, hybrid striped bass, and a few other species.  Lead headed jigs with twister tails (white or chartreuses), which are fished along the bottom, are the lure of choice.  Clever anglers are tipping their jig hooks with minnows or shad.  Best spots to fish these areas include eddies and back-current sections, and anywhere that river flows are unusual. Schools of hybrid striped bass will periodically move up to the surface to ambush prey, so keep a look out for this activity. When this activity is seen, agitator bobbers fished with rubber minnow imitations or fresh bait fished with surf casting equipment, generally provides the best result. Fresh bait (small skipjack) can be caught from these areas using “Sabiki” rigs.  

Elsewhere on the Ohio River fishing for catfish has been good. Channel catfish anglers should use nightcrawlers, chicken liver, or prepared catfish type baits. Live fish should be used for flatheads. Good fishing sites for catfish include deep areas along islands and tributary mouths.

Fishing has been good for largemouth bass in area lakes.  Spinner baits, rubber worms, crankbaits, and surface lures are producing bass in areas of good cover. Good choices for area lakes include Mountwood in Wood County, Conaway Run in Tyler, Charles Fork in Roane, North Bend Lake in Ritchie County, and Elk Fork, Woodrum and O’Brien lakes in Jackson County. Best fishing times will be early in the morning and during the evening hours. These lakes can also supply good bluegill fishing. For these sunfish use trout magnets or spinners, small jigs, or small worms, Fishing for 8 to 12 inch sized largemouth bass at Woodrum Lake in Jackson County has also been quite good.

Summer is a good time to fish for channel catfish in area lakes and streams. Chicken liver, nightcrawlers and prepared catfish baits work well. Remember fishing at night is generally better than fishing during the day for catfish in the summer.

Local musky streams are expected to be fishable this weekend. Summer musky anglers use large crankbaits or jerk baits and best spots are usually around fallen trees or riffle areas. Fishing has been quite good this year for musky along Middle Island Creek, the Little Kanawha River, and on the Hughes River and it’s forks.