When it comes to fishing, West Virginia has plenty of great lakes and rivers to choose from. So much so that it may be difficult to pick the best spot to fish. While everyone has their own list of characteristics they prefer, here are what we think of as some of the best places to go fishing in West Virginia.
These are in no particular order, and this is by no means an exhaustive list.
1. Sutton Lake
The state Division of Natural Resources says it's a favorite for catching largemouth bass.
2. Burnsville Lake
It’s a great place to fish bass, but it’s often overlooked by fisherman. The DNR report says it's also a great place for musky.
3. Beech Fork State Park in Wayne County
The WV DNR says it has largemouth and spotted bass, hybrid striped bass, walleye, channel catfish, and bluegill. Trout are stocked monthly February through May.
4. The Cheat River
Located in the eastern part of the state, the Cheat is a great place to fish brooke trout.
5. Summersville Lake
The WVDNR states that the lake was stocked last month with 650 pounds of rainbow trout.
6. The Greenbrier River
Located in in Greenbrier, Monroe,Pocahontas, Summers counties, this river is great for fishing trout and smallmouth bass.
7. Plum Orchard Lake
Game and Fish Magazine said July is a great month for fishing bluegills there and that it’s the best impoundment in the state for fishing bluegills. It’s a fishing lake, so other types of boating are not allowed.
8. Bluestone Lake near Hinton
Someone once caught a record breaking 29-pound striped bass there.
9. Spruce Knob Lake
Located in the Monongahela National Forest, the lake is stocked with trout once in January, twice in February, weekly March through May, and twice in October, the DNR reports.
10. Summit Lake in Greenbrier County
It has "abundant supplies of panfish and bass" says Wikipedia.
11. The Potomac River
West Virginia DNR says it's a favorite for fishing channel catfish, small mouth bass and trout. Pictured above is the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River.
12. Sandstone Falls on the New River
A popular fishing spot for smallmouth bass and catfish.
How many of these have you fished at? Do you agree that these are some of the best places to fish in West Virginia? If you have other spots you enjoy, please share in the comments. We would love to hear from you!
If you're looking for more information, you may appreciate this article regarding fishing in West Virginia, and this list from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
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