Fishing O’Brien Lake

AKA: O’Brien Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
O’Brien Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Boat Launch Ramps
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O’Brien Lake, WV

Popular Fish Species O’Brien Lake, WV

Crappie Fishing

O’Brien Lake has become a pretty decent crappie fishing lake. The lake has good populations of both black crappie and white crappie. These two species generally school 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.

O’Brien Lake Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

At O’Brien Lake, most any rod and reel will work for catching channel catfish, as long as the line is strong enough. Sharp hooks are important too. However, 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 O’Brien Lake holds some pretty big ones. 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.

Bluegill Fishing

Fishing for bluegill is quite popular at O’Brien Lake. Young and old, beginners and seasoned anglers alike, all enjoy catching a bunch of fat bluegill. This year, much like recent years, the bluegill population is healthy and always looking for something to eat. Bluegill fishing is as basic as fishing gets. Any pole, reasonably small line and small hooks baited with anything edible, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to position. Bluegill hang around brush, rocks, vegetation or any cover available.

O’Brien Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie and bluegill at O’Brien Lake in West Virginia.

Bass are the big draw at O’Brien Lake, which is a 217-acre lake in western WV, 7 miles east of Ripley. About a dozen miles of shoreline wrap this fishery offering good fishing for bass, crappie and catfish.

Timber, brush and laydowns are popular cover for bass and crappie, while catfish tend to hang around deeper structure off shore around ledges, flats and points just off the river channel.

Primary fish species residing in O’Brien Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

O’Brien Lake Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: NEARBY

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

O’Brien Lake Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, at the south end of the Statts Mill Road Bridge, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.