Striped Bass & Hybrid Striper Fishing In West Virginia

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

West Virginia offers exciting opportunities for striped bass fishing, particularly for hybrid stripers, which are a crossbreed between striped bass and white bass. These hard-fighting fish provide anglers with thrilling battles and are highly sought after in the state's major lakes. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about striped bass and hybrid stripers fishing and identify popular striper waters in the state.

Striper Fishing Video

Learn the basics for striped bass and hybrid striper fishing.

One of the premier lakes for striped bass and hybrid striper fishing in West Virginia is the 2,080-acre Summersville Lake. This reservoir is known for its healthy population of hybrid stripers, which can grow to impressive sizes. Anglers targeting hybrid stripers often troll or cast lures near submerged structures or in open water, mimicking the fish's preferred forage. Summersville Lake has produced hybrid stripers weighing over 20 pounds, offering anglers the opportunity to land trophy-sized fish.

Another popular lake for striped bass and hybrid striper fishing is the 1,750-acre Sutton Lake. This reservoir is known for its excellent hybrid striper fishery, attracting anglers from across the region. Hybrid stripers in Sutton Lake can reach impressive sizes and put up a strong fight, making for an exhilarating angling experience. Anglers can target them by trolling with large diving plugs, casting swimbaits or live bait, or fishing near the lake's dam and deep structures.

In West Virginia, state records for hybrid stripers highlight the exceptional fishing opportunities available. The state record for hybrid striper is over 16 pounds, caught in Summersville Lake in 1996. This record serves as a testament to the quality of hybrid striper fishing in West Virginia and the potential for anglers to land impressive fish.

When targeting striped bass and hybrid stripers in West Virginia, it's essential to be aware of the fishing regulations and size limits specific to each lake. Additionally, anglers should practice catch-and-release for larger fish to help maintain healthy populations and sustain the fishery for future generations of anglers.

With its abundance of major lakes and reservoirs, West Virginia provides ample opportunities for anglers to pursue striped bass and hybrid stripers. Whether trolling, casting, or using live bait, the thrill of hooking into a powerful hybrid striper in one of West Virginia's scenic lakes is an experience that anglers won't soon forget.

Striped Bass Lakes

Beech Fork Lake, Bluestone Lake, East Lynn Lake and Mt Storm Lake are the primary waters for stripers in WV. Rivers flowing into and out of these lakes may also have a few stripers.

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams become the ideal spawning grounds for stripers. Landlocked stripers then populate the lakes.

Click the images and links above for species details.

West Virginia State Record Striped Bass

The state record striped bass was caught from Bluestone Lake.

The state record hybrid striped bass came from the Kanawha River.

Fishing for Stripers in West Virginia

When fishing for stripers concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. If you can locate schools of shad, stripers are often close by. When the baitfish are shallow over the deep water, you can catch stripers on crankbaits or by swimming spoons at appropriate depths. Check West Virginia fishing reports for current striper information. And for the ultimate thrill try large topwater baits if you see any surface feeding action. When the stripers are deep, jigs and jigging spoons work well. Live and cut bait will also take striped bass when they are in medium to deeper water. Fish nearby or in the river channel if it is a defined depth change. Trolling is also an excellent way to fish for stripers. Use flashy lures in bigger sizes.

Striped bass fishing information, by state.