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Last WV DNR Update on May 7, 2008 BEECH FORK The reservoir is close to summer pool and muddy to murky. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304-525-5092. Trout have been stocked in the tailrace recently. 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 through 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 clear. Water temperatures are in the 60's and fishing is good. Bass have moved up to 5 to 10 feet of water. Crappie have been hitting minnows around fish attractors. The tailwaters have been great for trout and other fish. For more information call Corps of Engineers at 304-853-2398. EAST LYNN The reservoir is at summer pool with a surface temperature of 54 degrees. Both the outflow and the reservoir are murky. For more information call the Corps of Engineers recorded message at 304-849-9861. Trout have been stocked in the tailrace recently. 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. Remember to fish slow! Hybrid striped bass will be making a mock spawning run up stream in April so anglers may want to concentrate their efforts in the upper lake. The trout stocked in the tailwaters are providing good fishing. Best baits are corn, salmon eggs and small jigs. STONECOAL LAKE The lake is at summer pool and clear. Water temperatures are in the 60's and fishing is good. Bass have been caught in 10 to 15 feet of water. Crappie and bluegill are hitting minnows around fish attractors. A few trout have also been caught. STONEWALL JACKSON The lake is at summer pool and cloudy. Water temperatures are in the 60's and fishing is good. Surface temperature is 65 degrees. Bass are in about 10 feet of water. Crappie and bluegill have been hitting live bait and jigs. The tailwaters have been great for trout and other fish. For more information contact Corps of Engineers at 304-269-7463. SUMMERSVILLE The lake is at 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 degrees. The tailwaters were stocked with tour ton May 1. 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 milky. Water temperatures are in the 60's and fishing is great. Bass are in about 5 - 10 feet of water. Crappie have been hitting minnows around beaver huts and blown down trees. The tailwaters have been great for trout. For daily information call Corps of Engineers at 304-765-2705. TYGART LAKE The lake is approximately two feet above the summer level. Walleye have finished spawning. Start fishing for walleye at dark when they move into shallow water to feed. The heads of coves will warm faster than the main lake so bass and sunfish will be more active in these areas. Smallmouth bass can be caught using crankbaits or tube jigs along the shoreline. Look for white bass at the head of coves or the upper part of the lake. Fish for crappie in the fish shelters between the boat ramps at the marina. The tailwater temperature is 53 degrees. Walleye numbers are as high as they will be for the year in the tailwater, and this is the best place in northern West Virginia to fish for them. The trout stocking is on schedule. 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)Fishing success for all species has been good for the past few weeks and will be increasing as water temperatures rise. The water temperature in embayments will increase faster than the main river, so largemouth bass and sunfish will be more active in these areas. Recent fish surveys found lots of large smallmouth bass in the Pike Island tailwaters and downstream for one mile. Walleye and sauger have finished spawning and will be attracted to the currents at lock and dam tailwaters. A good area for bank anglers is the calm water at the approach to the locks. Fishing boats are not allowed in this area because of the danger from barges. During normal or low 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. Hybrid striped bass and white bass will also move in and out of the tailwaters and tributary mouths, and can be caught using large crankbaits. MONONGAHELA RIVER The water temperature is 61 to 65 degrees. Fishing success has been good for bass and crappie during the last three weeks and will be increasing for all species as water temperatures rise. The water temperature in the embayments will increase faster than the main river, so largemouth bass and sunfish will be more active in these areas. Sauger and walleye have finished spawning and will be attracted to the currents at lock and dam tailwaters. A good area for bank anglers is the calm water at the approach to the locks on the Westover side of the river, particularly during high water. When flows are normal, start fishing about an hour before sunset because sauger and walleye will begin feeding at dusk. During high flows, the fish will be active throughout the day. 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 A 9-pound channel catfish was caught this week in one of the embayments but they can be caught throughout the lake. The embayments at the Cheat Lake Park will warm up faster than the main lake and are good areas for bank anglers to catch catfish, sunfish and largemouth bass. Now is the time to fish for big bass. Cheat Lake has been one of the tope lakes for bass fishing tournament success for the past 5 years. Keep track of the lake elevation and predicted daily changes in elevation on the Cheat Lake website at www.cheatlaketoday.com. The summer level will be maintained starting May 1 and the winter ramp at the cheat Lake Park will be closed for the summer. 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 when sauger and walleye begin feeding. The pier is located entirely in West Virginia about 25 minutes from Morgantown. Take US Rt. 119 from Morgantown to Point Marion, PA, turn right after crossing the cheat River and proceed four mile 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. EASTERN PANHANDLE 
SOUTH BRANCH AND CACAPON RIVERSFlows in streams and rivers are near normal flow and the water is clear. Water temperatures are now in the 60's and smallmouth are preparing for spawning. Smallmouth are currently hitting a variety of baits. 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. The 2008 trout stocking season is still going strong and lots of trout are being caught in the major rivers. A daily trout stocking report is available online at http://www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/stocking/dailystock.shtm or by calling the hunting and fishing hotline at 304-558-3399. The 2008 fishing regulations include the trout stocking schedule. Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased online at https://www.wvhunt.com/wizard/hfw000.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 600 cfs and wading angler should use caution while wade fishing. The next whitewater event on the North Branch is scheduled for the weekend of May 17 and 18. Flows in the North Branch can be monitored by watching the USGA stream gages or the Jennings Randolph website at www.nab.usace.army.mil/recreation/jenran/recinfo.htm. SMALL IMPOUNDMENTS Small impoundments are in good fishable condition and anglers have been very successful for trout. As water temperatures continue to rise, bass and bluegill are now actively feeding in preparation for spawning. Bass can be caught on plastics in about 10 feet of water. Check the 2008 fishing regulations for small impoundment trout stocking schedules. JENNINGS RANDOLPH LAKE Jennings Randolph Lake is currently at conservation pool. The boat launches on both the West Virginia and Maryland side of the lake are now open. If you purchased a seasonal pass for either ramp, don't forget the pass is valid for both ramps. This is a great time to target walleye, most anglers have success near the head of the lake. Jennings Randolph Lake has a new dedicated phone line for up-to-date recreational information 304-558-3980. 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 been slow and recent tournaments have not done very well. Anglers are still catching hybrid striped bass with chicken liver. You will need to fish off the bottom to prevent small channel catfish from stealing your bait. CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA 
Water levels are normal and clear. Lots of trout have been stocked in the state and District 3 waters including Shavers Fork, Buckhannon River, Spruce Knob Lake, French Creek Pond and Cranberry. The Buckhannon was stocked from the rail last week. If you are looking to get away from the crowds this would be a good place to try. Check the DNR webpage for statewide trout stockings and updated fishing information (www.wvdnr.gov).SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA 
Trout stockings are in full gear now so anglers are encouraged to get their fill of trout fishing before the waters become too warm. Angles should check the 2008 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. The New and Greenbrier rivers are high and muddy and unfishable at present. 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 RIVERSFishing is very good along the navigable rivers and their locks. The sauger bite has been excellent the past few days with numerous reports of good catches at all the lock and dam access sites along the Ohio and the Kanawha. Check locations visually or check online for flow levels http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt prior to fishing rather than wasting a trip. Anglers are finding success with white jigs, streamers, large plugs, and live bait suspended under bobbers for gamefish, especially hybrid striped bass, and walleye. GUYANDOTTE AND COAL RIVERS No reports. POCA RIVER Reports of bass and an occasional muskie when the water has been clear. ELK RIVER Reports of bass and muskie when the water has been at a favorable level. MUD RIVER A few reports of bass caught recently. SMALL IMPOUNDMENTS Many small impoundments have been or will be stocked with trout over the next few months, check your 2008 regulations. During colder periods try worms, salmon eggs, and paste type baits. If warmer weather is in the forecast use spinners and small lures, but fish them slow. Try clipping a small split shot 6" to 10" above spinners to help get them down into the strike zone. Vary your retrieve until the fish let you know what they like. Spinners and other lures will become effective as water temperatures rise. Take a kid or someone new to fishing out during a warmer day and let theme experience the fun as well!! Catfish will also bite even during colder periods. Try worms, bubble gum, liver, cut bait or prepared catfish bait. RESERVOIRS Check the USACOE website (http://www.lrhwc.usace.army.mil/wq/lkcond.html) and the USGS website (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt) for reservoir and tailrace conditions. Fishing can be slow or good during April. Target shallow areas warmed by the sun for early season bass. Soft plastics fished slow and close to the bottom are a good choice. As the spring spawn approaches and passes, gamefish (bass in particular) will react and segregate themselves based on preferred habitat. Keep this in mind during subsequent fishing trips. And finally, anglers will have to deal with muddy or turbid water due to spring rains and higher flows in the early spring. Experiment with lure variety, color and size selection. Walleye, saugeye and hybrids will bite good during the next few months due to their preference for "cooler water." Fishing during cloudy, stormy, overcast weather (or at night) will increase your odds of catching walleye and saugeye even further through the spring. Walleye and saugeye are adapted to see better under low light conditions and frequently are more active at these times. Carp can be caught using various dough baits throughout the early spring. For catfish continue to use stink baits and cut baits for channels, and live bait and/or fresh cut baits for flatheads. But like all fish, their activity will be reduced during cold weather periods - always fish slow and be patient during early spring outings. Catfish and carp will be more active in warmer shallow water areas during this month. 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. Try favorite haunts for muskie as water temperature levels rise. Above and below riffle areas are a good choice now for muskie. Large bucktails are excellent for muskie as are other local lures such as Amma Slammas or large plugs. As stressed many times before, seams (areas where slow or slack water meets faster water) will be the ticket and/or deeper areas adjacent to the seam areas during the upcoming spring months in rivers and streams. Often gamefish will lay in wait in the deeper adjacent areas and move into the seam during the warmer periods of the day to feed. During the early spring this can sometimes be in the middle of the day. Pay extra attention to water temperature and keep your preferred gamefish's habits in mind. Fish areas you prefer at odd times or when the water temperature is the warmest. Sometimes a change of only a few degrees (brought on by the warming afternoon sun) can spur fish to become active and feed. Another pattern worth trying is to concentrate on any shallow areas warmed by the sun. If these patterns don't work try to figure what the fish are doing using various techniques and approaches. WEST-CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA 
This is an excellent time to fish Ohio River Tailwaters. 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 chartreuse), which are fished along the bottom, are the lure of choice. Clever anglers are tipping their jig hooks with minnows. Fishing for white bass can be quite good this time of year and medium-sized white spinners work well. Hybrid striped bass are being caught on the surface, and agitator bobbers, and large surface plugs work well for these top water feeders. Best spots to fish these areas include eddies and back-current section, and anywhere that river flows are unusual.Fishing for largemouth bass can be good during warm sunny days in area lakes. Slowly fished rubber worms or jig-and-pig combos are good terminal tackle choices. Area lakes with good winter bass angling opportunities include Mountwood in Wood County, Conaway Run in Tyler County, Charles Fork in Roane County, North Bend Lake in Ritchie County, and Elk Fork, Woodrum, and O'Brien lakes in Jackson County. Area trout fishing opportunities are winding down. Conaway Run Lake in Tyler County, is the only lake in the area that receives trout in May. Trout anglers can use a variety of baits including small worms, mealworms, salmon eggs, cheese, or trout power bait. Small spinners, joe type flies, and trout magnets also work well, for anglers casting the shoreline or fishing from boats. Trolling small lures is also effective. Musky streams are expected to be fishable this weekend, and muskies are quite active. Hot spots this time of year include areas both upstream and downstream of fast moving water. Musky anglers should try medium to large lures. Middle Island Creek, the major streams in the Hughes River system and the Little Kanawha River are good area musky waters. Get the Stream Conditions for your favorite fishing spot! |
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