West Virginia Stream Conditions

Weekly Fishing Report -- Updated every Wednesday afternoon

October 8, 2008

FISHING

BEECH FORK – The reservoir is at summer pool. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304-525-5092. Anglers are finding success early and late in the day using small lures and soft plastics on light line.

BLUESTONE – Fishing on the lake has been good. Bass anglers should try around deeper structure such as rocky points or downed trees using small crankbaits, or spinnerbaits. Although, plastics and live bait are probably the top producing baits. With the cooler night we are now experiencing, anglers should see the bites really beginning to pick up as the water temperature falls. Channel and flathead catfish are still producing some on the lake. Anglers wanting to catch the whiskered ones should try drifting with live bait such as softshell crayfish, hellgrammites, or nightcrawlers. Chicken liver are also good. When you catch one, simply motor back up and drift through the hole again or anchor. Flatheads prefer live bait such as large chubs or a live sunfish. Carp, hybrid stripers, and smallmouth bass are hitting in the tailwaters with best baits being corn, chartreuse jigs and plastic jigs.

BURNSVILLE – The lake is approximately two feet below summer pool and milky. Water temperatures are in the 60’s and fishing is good. Bass are in about 10 feet of water and moving in and out of shallow water. Try fishing in the evenings as the sun goes down or early mornings for the best action. Crappie have been hitting minnows around fish attractors. Catfish have been caught on live bait in the evenings. Trout will be stocked in the tailwaters next week. For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304-853-2398.

EAST LYNN – The reservoir is at summer pool with a surface temperature of 79 degrees. Both the outflow and the reservoir are clear. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304-849-9861. Anglers are finding success early and late in the day using small lures and soft plastics on light line.

R.D. BAILEY – Fishing on the lake is good. Some large spotted bass may be caught. Some of the largest spotted bass in WV 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 now that the nights are getting cooler and the water temperature sis dropping some. Anglers should see the bite picking up for most species as the water temperature falls. Hybrid striped bass feed on shad so anglers should 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. Anglers may also want to try chicken liver for this hard fighting fish.

STONECOAL LAKE – The lake is five feet below summer pool and cloudy. Water temperatures are in the 60’s and fishing is good.  Bass are in about 10 feet of water. Try fishing in the evenings as the sun goes down or early mornings for the best action. Crappie and bluegill are hitting minnows around fish attractors. Reports of some nice channel catfish being caught in the evenings.  A few trout have also been caught. 

STONEWALL JACKSON – The lake is five feet below summer pool and cloudy. Surface temperature is in the 60’s and fishing is good. Bass are in about 10 feet of water and moving in and out of shallow water. Try fishing in the evenings as the sun goes down or early mornings for the best action. Crappie and bluegill have been hitting live bait and jigs.  Catfish have been caught on live bait in the evenings. Trout will be stocked in the tailwaters next week.  For more information contact Corps of Engineers at 304-269-7463.

SUMMERSVILLE – The lake is 22 feet below summer pool, clear, and fishing has been good. For bass, try 10-15 feet of water around rock points as well as the Battle Run area. Walleye have also been caught off of rock points and shallow areas in the McKee Creek arm of the lake. Outflow temperature is 54. Try fishing in the evenings as the sun goes down or early mornings for the best action. The tailwaters were stocked with brood trout on 9/11. 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 four feet below summer pool and clear. Water temperatures are in the 60’s and fishing is good. Bass have been in 5-10 feet of water. Try fishing in the evenings as the sun goes down or early mornings for the best action. Crappie have been hitting minnows around beaver huts and blown down trees. Trout will be stocked in the tailwaters in October. For daily information call Corps of Engineers at 304-765-2705. 

TYGART LAKE – The lake is 30 feet below the summer level and falling slowly.   White bass feed on minnows at dawn on the surface and can be seen breaking water in the coves.  Spinners, crank baits, and casting spoons are good baits for white bass.  Smallmouth bass can be caught at depths of 20 to 30 feet using minnows or tube jigs. Walleye will be scattered throughout the lake and could be at any depth during the day.  Start fishing for walleye at dark when they move into shallow water to feed.  Walk the shoreline and cast large rapalas or 3-inch plastic grubs.

There are lots of walleye and trout in the tailwater.  The tailwater temperature is 72 degrees.  Walleye fishing is best during higher flows (1,500 to 5,000 cubic feet per second) and trout fishing is best at low flows (less than 1,000 cubic feet per second).  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 a seasonal low and fishing will be best in the tailwaters of the locks and dams because fish are attracted to the currents. The most convenient tailwater area is the Hannibal Lock and Dam tailwater at New Martinsville. Picnic and restroom facilities make this a good place to bring the family. Channel catfish are being caught using chicken liver throughout the day and night. Hybrid striped will also move in and out of the tailwaters and can be caught using large crankbaits or chicken liver. Look for hybrids breaking the water on the surface as they chase bait fish. 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 water temperature is around 70 degrees.  Channel catfish can be caught along the shoreline throughout the river in 10-15 feet of water 20 to 50 feet from shore. Chicken liver or nightcrawlers are the best baits. Start fishing for sauger and walleye about an hour before sunset because they will begin feeding at dusk. Jigs with minnows or worms are particularly good baits but 3-inch plastic grubs will also be productive. White or chartreuse are good colors. Largemouth bass anglers should fish the weed beds along the shoreline between Star City and the state line. Schools of young gizzard shad can be seen breaking water while being attacked by hybrid striped bass. During these seasonal low flows, most fish are in deeper water during the day and move into the shallow at dusk.

 CHEAT LAKE – Fishing is good throughout the lake. Fish for crappie in submerged timber along the shoreline. This is also one of the best lakes for channel catfish. Two to three pounders are abundant, particularly in the area from Mt. Chateau upstream. Smallmouth bass are also common along the shoreline above Mt. Chateau. The embayments at the Cheat Lake Park and Trail are good areas for bank anglers to catch sunfish and largemouth bass. The rock riprap on the lake side of the recreation area also holds lots of fish. Fish for yellow perch in 10-15 feet of water along any shoreline using a piece of a nightcrawler and several split shot. Large sunfish are abundant along the shoreline across from the Sunset Beach cove up to the I-68 bridge.

Try the tailwater fishing pier for walleye and sauger.  Jigs with minnows or 3-inch power grubs are the best baits.  White or chartreuse are good colors.  Start fishing at dark when sauger and walleye begin feeding.  The pier is located entirely in West Virginia about 25 minutes from Morgantown.  Take U.S.  Rt. 119 from Morgantown to Point Marion, PA, turn right after crossing the Cheat River and proceed 4 miles to Cheat Dam.  The parking lot is in Pennsylvania but the entire pier is in West Virginia.  The pier is lighted for night fishing and is handicapped accessible. 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 the South Branch River and most rivers in the eastern panhandle are well below normal for this time of year and the water is clear. Float trips on the South Branch and Cacapon will be difficult in some areas especially at the downstream end of some pools.  Water temperatures are in the lower to mid 70’s and smallmouth bass are hitting top-water lures and a variety of plastics.  Smallmouth get easily spooked in clear water conditions so stay as far away from the location you are casting as possible.  Anglers have been catching lots of nice channel catfish in the larger pools of the South Branch.  Lots of nice smallmouth and channel catfish have been observed on the Shenandoah River at the head of the pools.  Channel catfish move into these riffle areas just before dark.  Anglers have also been doing extremely well on mainstem of the Potomac River fishing for smallmouth bass and sunfish.

Many smallmouth bass in the South Branch have 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.

Fall trout stocking is scheduled for the weeks of October 13th and October 20th.  Check the 2008 fishing regulations to determine if your favorite water receives fall trout stocking.  Up-to-date information regarding trout stocking can be found online at http://www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/Stocking/DailyStock.shtm or by calling the hunting and fishing hotline at (304) 558-3399.  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 near 200 cfs. Trout fishing has been fantastic. This is a great opportunity to do some fall 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

Small impoundments are in good fishable condition and anglers are catching lots bass and bluegill on top-water lures, plastics, and worms.  Bass can be caught from the shore to about 10 feet of water.  Channel catfish can also be caught from most small impoundments all summer long.  Remember not to fish to deep since many small impoundments still have summertime oxygen depletion in water deeper than 10 – 12 feet. 

Jennings Randolph Lake

Jennings Randolph Lake is currently 23 feet below conservation pool and dropping slowly.  The boat ramp on the West Virginia side of the lake is now closed due to the low lake levels. The ramp on the Maryland side of the lake is still open.  Some anglers have been doing well fishing for smallmouth, rockbass and sunfish, and some anglers are catching large channel catfish. This is a great time to target trout and smallmouth bass.  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

Bass fishing in Mt. Storm has increased slightly over the past few weeks. Anglers are still catching hybrid striped bass with chicken livers.  You will need to fish off the bottom for hybrids and stripers to prevent small channel catfish from stealing your bait.

CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA

Water levels are low and clear. It is a great time of year to introduce a child to fishing. Try using worms at a local pond or stream for bluegills and remember to have fun. Go out and make a memory that lasts a lifetime. Also, the fall trout stocking starts next week. Check the DNR website for statewide trout stockings and updated fishing information (www.wvdnr.gov)

SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA

The New and Greenbrier rivers are continuing to provide some good fishing for smallmouth bass.  The fall season is always great fishing and great scenery too. Reports of some large bass have come in from the Catch-and-Release section on the New River. This section is from the I-64 bridge downstream to the take-out at the Grandview Sandbar. Anglers should try plastic jigs fished slowly along the bottom. Spots below or above shoals are good spots to try. Southern WV is blessed with many small impoundments that have good fish populations. Waters such as Plum Orchard, Stephens, and Pipestem lakes have excellent largemouth bass populations and as fall approaches the time is prime to be on the waters. As the water cools, anglers will be seeing the bite pick up significantly.

SOUTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA

Lower Ohio and Kanawha rivers – Fishing is good along the navigable rivers and their locks for multiple species (bass, drum, walleye, sauger, hybrids). Check locations visually or check online for flow levels http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt prior to fishing rather than wasting a trip. Catfish are biting with reports of channel cats and flatheads from many locations on both rivers.

Guyandotte and Coal rivers – Catfish anglers are also having luck using various baits. Anglers finding success on multiple species during float trips on the Coal.

Poca River – No recent reports.

Elk River – Reports of bass and muskie when the water has been at a favorable level. 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 from the tagged fish. Your participation is much appreciated.

Mud River – A few reports of bass, catfish and muskie caught recently.

Small Impoundments – Fishing will improve over the next few weeks with falling temperature levels. Try your favorite lures and bait for bass and bluegill. For catfish, try chicken liver, 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. Take a kid or someone new to fishing out during a warmer day and let theme 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 but will improve for all species once temperature levels decrease with the onset of fall. Try for catfish and carp by using basic river rigs for terminal tackle. Catfish are biting on gobs of nightcrawlers, liver, cut bait, and live bait, with carp being caught on wheatie balls and other ‘family secret’ recipes of dough bait.

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 will improve over the next few weeks with falling temperature levels. Most streams and rivers are currently low. A rainstorm at this time of year will bring a flurry of activity and is a great time to hit your favorite stream or river. Rain and increased flows open up new habitat and offer relief from the heat. Additionally many food items are washed into streams or are displaced by rising water. Gamefish will be active to take advantage of these factors.

WEST-CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA

Early fall 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.  Pencil poppers and lead headed jigs with twister tails (white or chartreuses), are the lures 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.  Best times for sauger and walleye fishing are during non-daylight hours.

Fishing has been good for largemouth bass and bluegill in area lakes. Spinner baits and rubber worms are producing bass in areas of good cover, while bluegills are being taken on small jigs fished deep, at depths of 10-12 feet.  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.      

Local musky streams are not expected to be fishable this weekend.