Mount Storm Lake is one of the most unusual lakes in West Virginia – a 1,200-acre cooling reservoir for a power station high on the Allegheny Front, kept warm year-round by the plant’s discharge. That warm water makes it a rare winter bass fishery and even a cold-weather scuba spot, while the steady ridge-top wind has made it a magnet for windsurfers and sailors. There’s nothing else quite like it in the state.
This guide covers Mount Storm Lake: the year-round fishing, the windsurfing, and access. It’s part of our growing West Virginia Lakes Database.
- Mount Storm Lake at a glance
- The warm-water lake in the mountains
- Fishing Mount Storm Lake
- Windsurfing and sailing
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Know before you go
- Frequently asked questions
- Why is Mount Storm Lake warm?
- What fish are in Mount Storm Lake?
- Can you windsurf at Mount Storm Lake?
- Where is Mount Storm Lake?
Mount Storm Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~1,200 acres on the Stony River, at roughly 3,200 ft elevation
- Location: Grant County, eastern West Virginia (near Mount Storm)
- Built: as the cooling reservoir for the Mount Storm Power Station
- Top fish: largemouth bass (year-round), bluegill, channel catfish, crappie
The warm-water lake in the mountains
Mount Storm Lake cools the coal-fired Mount Storm Power Station, and the plant’s warm discharge keeps parts of the lake ice-free and warm even in the depths of an Allegheny winter. The effect is remarkable: largemouth bass stay active and feeding year-round, anglers fish in shirtsleeves while snow sits on the surrounding ridges, and scuba divers use the lake in winter when other waters are frozen. At over 3,000 feet on the windy Allegheny Front, it’s a one-of-a-kind setting.
Fishing Mount Storm Lake
The warm water makes Mount Storm a year-round largemouth bass lake, with the warm zones near the discharge staying productive through winter. Bluegill, channel catfish and crappie fill out the fishery. A West Virginia fishing license is required. Anglers target the warm-water areas in winter and the whole lake in the warmer months – it’s a genuine novelty to catch active bass in January in the West Virginia mountains.
Windsurfing and sailing
The lake’s exposed, high-elevation setting on the Allegheny Front brings steady, strong wind – and that’s made Mount Storm a noted destination for windsurfing and sailing. On a breezy day, sailboards skim across the warm water beneath the power station and the ridgeline wind turbines, a striking and unusual scene. The wind that powers the turbines also powers the sport.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Mount Storm Lake is near the community of Mount Storm in Grant County, eastern West Virginia, along WV-93, within reach of the Potomac Highlands. The Dolly Sods Wilderness, Bismarck and the high country of the Allegheny Front are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a West Virginia license is required.
- Year-round fishing: the warm discharge keeps bass active even in winter – a rare treat.
- Wind & weather: great for windsurfing, but the exposed, high-elevation lake can get rough and cold fast.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Mount Storm Lake warm?
It’s the cooling reservoir for the Mount Storm Power Station, and the plant’s warm-water discharge keeps the lake warm and largely ice-free year-round – even in the Allegheny winter.
What fish are in Mount Storm Lake?
Largemouth bass (caught year-round thanks to the warm water), bluegill, channel catfish and crappie.
Can you windsurf at Mount Storm Lake?
Yes – the steady, strong wind on the Allegheny Front makes it a well-known windsurfing and sailing lake.
Where is Mount Storm Lake?
In Grant County, eastern West Virginia, near the community of Mount Storm along WV-93.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
