Plum Orchard Lake is one of West Virginia’s premier bass lakes – a 202-acre reservoir in the Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area near Pax in Fayette County. Built in 1962 and famous for producing trophy largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish, with four boat ramps and 42 rustic campsites, it’s a top-tier southern-West Virginia fishing destination an easy drive off I-77 and the New River Gorge. This guide is part of our growing West Virginia Lakes Database.
- Plum Orchard Lake at a glance
- How deep is Plum Orchard Lake?
- Fishing Plum Orchard Lake
- Boating and water level
- Camping and things to do
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Know before you go
- Frequently asked questions
- What fish are in Plum Orchard Lake?
- Can you camp at Plum Orchard Lake?
- How deep is Plum Orchard Lake?
- Where is Plum Orchard Lake?
Plum Orchard Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~202 acres
- Depth: average ~15 ft, maximum ~40 ft
- Built: 1962, within the 3,201-acre Plum Orchard Lake WMA
- Location: Fayette County, near Pax and Scarbro
- Top fish: largemouth bass (trophy), channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, sunfish
How deep is Plum Orchard Lake?
Plum Orchard Lake averages about 15 feet deep and reaches roughly 40 feet at its deepest, across about 202 acres. That good depth, combined with abundant flooded timber, points and coves, is exactly what makes it one of the state’s best big-bass factories – deep enough to hold quality fish through summer and winter, shallow enough in its arms to grow them fast.
Fishing Plum Orchard Lake
This is the main event: Plum Orchard is one of the top producers of trophy-sized largemouth bass in West Virginia, along with quality bluegill, crappie and channel catfish. A West Virginia fishing license is required. Anglers flip the flooded timber and work the points and coves for bass, fish the brush and channels for crappie, and soak baits for catfish. Four boat ramps give excellent access around the lake. The fishery is well managed and consistently rated among the best small reservoirs in the state.
Boating and water level
Four boat ramps make launching easy, and the lake suits bass boats, johnboats, kayaks and canoes. As a WMA impoundment, Plum Orchard’s level can be drawn down at times for management; check current conditions before launching.
Camping and things to do
The Plum Orchard Lake WMA covers 3,201 acres of forested ridges and wetlands and offers 42 rustic camping sites for tents and trailers, plus hunting, hiking and wildlife watching. It’s an easy place to make a fishing weekend of it, and the world-class New River Gorge National Park, Sandstone Falls and the Hawks Nest area are all within a short drive. There’s no developed swim beach; it’s primarily a fishing-and-camping lake.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Plum Orchard Lake is in Fayette County near Pax and Scarbro, just off I-77 in southern West Virginia. Beckley, the New River Gorge and Hawks Nest State Park are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a West Virginia license is required.
- Trophy bass: one of the state’s best largemouth lakes – practice selective harvest.
- Camp & fish: 42 rustic WMA campsites and four boat ramps.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Plum Orchard Lake?
Trophy largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill and sunfish – it’s one of West Virginia’s top bass lakes.
Can you camp at Plum Orchard Lake?
Yes – the Plum Orchard Lake WMA has 42 rustic campsites for tents and trailers.
How deep is Plum Orchard Lake?
It averages about 15 feet and reaches roughly 40 feet at its deepest, across about 202 acres.
Where is Plum Orchard Lake?
In Fayette County near Pax and Scarbro, just off I-77 in southern West Virginia.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
Explore more West Virginia lakes: the largest lakes in West Virginia and the deepest lakes in West Virginia.
