Fishing Bluestone Lake

AKA: New River Lake

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Bluestone Lake Fishing Video
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Bluestone Lake, WV

Popular Fish Species Bluestone Lake, WV

Bluestone Lake Popular Fish - Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Although largemouth bass fishing is quite popular here, Bluestone Lake also maintains a significant smallmouth bass population. Many locals enjoy smallmouth fishing, as smallies are tough fighters and very exciting to catch. Smallmouth bass fishing is good virtually anytime they are shallow. Use shallow spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, crankbaits, tube baits and jerkbaits around rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In winter, spend your time on deeper structure with small worms, jigs and spoons. Largemouth bass and spotted bass also reside here in good numbers. Rock piles and points are prime areas for smallmouth as these areas are also home to crawfish.

Bluestone Lake Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

Catfish anglers have three species to to pursue at Bluestone Lake, and channel cats top the list. For weekend anglers, most any rod and reel will work for catching channel catfish at Bluestone Lake, as long as the line is strong enough. For serious catfish enthusiasts, using the right equipment enhances success, especially when you hook one of the big boys. A medium action, to medium-heavy action rod is ideal, in the 6' to 7' range. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits on at least 10-pound line. Use sharp hooks with bait holders on the shank, or circle hooks for live bait. The state record channel catfish is over 33 pounds, and Bluestone Lake holds some pretty big ones. Flathead catfish also reside in the lake and fishing for them is often good as well. Night fishing for catfish often delivers better results than daytime fishing. Fishing for channel catfish is often most productive around any kind of structure in the area. In Spring channel catfish migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin.

Crappie Fishing

Crappie are a mainstay of many fisheries in the area. Bluestone Lake maintains a good crappie population. The lake has big schools of both black crappie and white crappie. These two species generally school by with their own, but once located around cover, you may find that you catch both species, due to the fact they often share the same cover. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water.

Bluestone Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, rock bass, white bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass and muskie at Bluestone Lake in West Virginia.

The scenic natural beauty of Bluestone Lake draws campers and boaters to this 2,000 acre lake in southern WV, at Hinton. Great fishing is the draw for anglers wishing to explore its more than 30 miles of shoreline (even more at flood stage).

The lake has resident populations of bass, white bass, striped bass, hybrid stripers, crappie, catfish, sunfish and muskie. In addition there are trout which flow into the lake from Indian Creek which are stocked by WV DNR. Bluestone Lake Marina offers boat rentals, gas and other marina services. There are various places along the lake/river where roads provide limited access to the shoreline for fishing from the bank.

Primary fish species residing in Bluestone Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Bluestone Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

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Marinas

Bluestone Lake Marina
661 Marina Lane
Hinton, WV 25951
304 466-1010