East Lynn Lake is a quiet, wooded 1,000-acre reservoir on Twelvepole Creek in Wayne County, southwestern West Virginia – a low-key fishing and camping lake surrounded by a large wildlife management area. Without the crowds of the busier lakes, it’s a favorite of bass and crappie anglers, campers and hunters looking for a peaceful slice of the southern coalfields.
This guide covers East Lynn Lake: the fishing, the camping and wildlife area, and access. It’s part of our growing West Virginia Lakes Database.
East Lynn Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~1,000 acres on Twelvepole Creek
- Location: Wayne County, southwestern West Virginia (near Wayne & Huntington)
- Built: East Lynn Dam, completed 1971 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Top fish: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, muskie
Fishing East Lynn Lake
East Lynn is a solid warmwater fishery known for its panfish and bass: largemouth bass lead the way, with excellent crappie, abundant bluegill, good channel catfish and some muskie. A West Virginia fishing license is required. The lake’s many timbered coves and creek arms hold crappie and bass, and its quiet character means you can fish without fighting heavy boat traffic.
Camping, the wildlife area and recreation
The Corps’ East Fork Campground provides a wooded base with sites and boat access, and the surrounding East Lynn Lake Wildlife Management Area – thousands of acres of forest – offers hunting, hiking and wildlife watching. The undeveloped shoreline and limited development give the lake a remote feel, well suited to paddling, fishing and camping rather than high-speed boating.
Getting there and what’s nearby
East Lynn Lake is south of Wayne in southwestern West Virginia, about 40 minutes south of Huntington. The southern coalfields and the Tug Fork country lie farther south, with Huntington the nearest city for services.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a West Virginia license is required.
- Quiet & wild: surrounded by a large WMA – peaceful, with limited development.
- Best seasons: spring and summer for bass, crappie and bluegill; fall for camping and hunting nearby.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in East Lynn Lake?
Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and some muskie – a strong panfish and bass lake.
Can you camp at East Lynn Lake?
Yes – the Corps’ East Fork Campground offers wooded sites and boat access, with a large wildlife management area surrounding the lake.
Where is East Lynn Lake?
South of Wayne in Wayne County, southwestern West Virginia, about 40 minutes south of Huntington.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
