Fishing Report For Stonewall Jackson Lake, WV

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Reports showing bass tournament results indicate, to win most events here, it takes an average of over 3 pounds per fish.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are currently in the mid 40's, and bass can be found from 18 to 30 feet deep. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools in 5 or so feet deeper water. They are currently being caught in the upper east arm along deep channel breaks in the Little Skin Creek arm, around standing timber in the central lake basin, and off the main channel near the dam. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with jerkbaits, drop shots, jigs or finesse worms are often the key to getting bites.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 4 to 10 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 4 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 8 to 10 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they are typically caught in 4 to 6 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 8 to 12 feet deep. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Some good reports typically come from anglers fishing around Little Skin Creek.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 8 to 12 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 15 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

Current Report: Good

WINTER. The current water temperature is in the mid 30's. Now that the shallows have turned cold, crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Currently they are being caught using a very slow presentation, in 12 to 25 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. Good reports are coming from standing timber and brush piles, in the West Fork arm and Little Skin Creek arms. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 10 to 14 feet of water to feed. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 6 to 12 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 6 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush, wood and artificial fish habitat, are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in slightly deeper water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 6 to 18 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber pockets in the north and central basins, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. As Fall begins warming the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 8 to 14 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 10 to 20 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles. The points and channel bends near the mouths of Little Skin Creek and West Fork, are popular areas in Fall.

Current Report: Good

Muskie are avid predators, and the bigger ones prefer big baits. If you want to hook a 4-foot monster, Stonewall Jackson Lake is the ideal place.

WINTER. Current water temperatures are in the mid 30's, and dropping. Muskie have moved deeper and hold on deeper structure and main-channel edges in 12 to 30 feet of water. Points, deep weedbeds, drop-offs, channel edges and corners around the mouths of rivers are all good places to find them this time of year. Ice fishing can be productive when the ice is safe, but muskie are being caught all through cold-winter season. Cold water causes muskie to be less active in winter, due to slowed metabolism. Slow moving, or motionless presentations are in order. Jigging spoons, ciscoes, shiners and suckers are favorites of muskie enthusiasts.

SPRING. Muskie move from their deep wintering habitat into shallow bays and flats for Spring spawning. They prowl 2 to 6 feet deep, once water temperatures get into the 50's. Shoreline flats and weedbeds, in the Little Skin Creek arm and other creek arms in the upper region of the lake, are popular spawning grounds. Topwater is already catching a few musky, and should get better during mornings and evenings through the Summer. Noisy, flashy, and bright color lures are ideal during this time as they are very aggressive. After the spawn is over and water temperatures rise, concentrate on weed lines, and drop-offs along the edges of weedy flats, 6 to 12 feet deep. Anglers also catch nice muskie around standing timber. Due to the number of trees, casting is a preferred method, and allows anglers to work all around and through these clusters of trees. Big spinners, bass assassins, and Johnson spoons will all attract hungry muskie.

SUMMER. Early and late in the day, muskie cruise shallower cover in search of food in 4 to 8 feet of water. During mid day they prefer the cooler water 12 to 15 feet deep. Ledges, reefs, weedbeds, islands and channel edges are the primary areas to find muskie during the warmer months of Summer. Some of the larger muskie may also suspend in open water, just outside these areas. Trolling or drift fishing reportedly produces some nice catches, using spoons, big spinners and deep diving crankbaits.

FALL. Cooling water moves these predators into shallower water to feed. They spend other times of the day on points and flats, from 6 to 20 feet deep, along drops into even deeper water. This is a good time to catch a trophy fish. Main lake channel edges, points around secondary creek inlets, mid-lake humps, and flats around creek mouths like Little Skin Creek and West Fork are all popular areas in Fall. Later in Fall, they drop into 10 to 15 feet of water, often moving shallower for short periods of time, mostly in late afternoon when the shallows are the warmest.