West Virginia’s mountain reservoirs offer outstanding bass fishing – trophy largemouth in fertile WMA lakes, clear-water smallmouth and spotted bass in the big deep reservoirs, and even year-round bass on a warm power-plant lake. If you’re looking for the best bass fishing lakes in West Virginia, this guide ranks the top waters for largemouth and smallmouth. Each links to our full lake guide. This page is part of our West Virginia Lakes Database.
The best bass lakes in West Virginia
- Plum Orchard Lake – trophy largemouth. Consistently ranked among the state’s top producers of trophy-sized largemouth bass, this Fayette County WMA lake is the first stop for big-bass anglers in West Virginia.
- Mount Storm Lake – year-round bass. A warm-water power-plant cooling lake in the high Alleghenies, Mount Storm fishes for largemouth all year – even producing bass in the dead of winter when other lakes freeze.
- Summersville Lake – clear-water smallmouth. The state’s largest, deepest lake is gin-clear and loaded with smallmouth and spotted bass around its rock walls and points – a finesse-fishing favorite.
- Sleepy Creek Lake – largemouth. A remote Eastern Panhandle lake with weedy structure that grows good largemouth bass (plus northern pike) in a wild WMA setting.
- Stonewall Jackson Lake – largemouth & spots. A big central-state reservoir with a resort and marina, holding largemouth and spotted bass alongside its muskie.
- Bluestone Lake – river smallmouth. On the New and Bluestone rivers, this third-largest lake in the state offers strong smallmouth fishing in moving, rocky water.
- Burnsville Lake – largemouth & musky. A Braxton County Corps lake with timbered coves that hold largemouth bass and muskie.
- Sutton Lake – mixed bass. A central-state reservoir off I-79 with largemouth and smallmouth among its many arms and points.
- Cheat Lake – largemouth & smallmouth. A long reservoir near Morgantown, popular for both bass species and easy access from the city.
- Woodrum Lake – largemouth. A quiet Jackson County WMA lake managed for quality largemouth (and muskie), with a six-bass limit and only one over 16 inches.
More good bass water includes East Lynn Lake, Beech Fork Lake, Upper Mud River Lake and Berwind Lake.
Largemouth or smallmouth in West Virginia?
For trophy largemouth, fish the fertile WMA lakes – Plum Orchard above all, plus Sleepy Creek, Woodrum and Mount Storm (which fishes all winter). For smallmouth and spotted bass, head to the big clear reservoirs – Summersville is the standout, with Bluestone, Cheat and Sutton also strong. A West Virginia fishing license is required, and several lakes (like Woodrum) have special bass size and creel limits, so check the current regulations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bass lake in West Virginia?
Plum Orchard Lake is the top trophy-largemouth lake, while Summersville Lake is the best clear-water smallmouth and spotted-bass fishery. Both are among the finest bass lakes in the state.
Where can you bass fish in winter in West Virginia?
Mount Storm Lake, a warm-water power-plant cooling lake, stays open and productive for largemouth bass year-round, even in winter.
Which West Virginia lakes have smallmouth bass?
Summersville, Bluestone, Cheat and Sutton lakes all offer good smallmouth fishing, with the clear, deep Summersville Lake the standout.
Related: see the largest lakes in West Virginia, the best lakes in West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
