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Like a solid game plan formulated for the Mountaineers football attack, anglers hoping to take full advantage of the state’s ample fishing options should have a strategy in place. Consider the following one, which scopes out 12 months of outstanding angling opportunities!

JANUARY
Gauley River – Walleyes
Few species bite as well during the winter months as do walleyes, particularly river dwelling walleyes. The Gauley River, the portion located between Summersville Dam and the river’s merger with the New River near Gauley Bridge, is worth investigating for winter river walleyes.

The Gauley plays host to a good walleye fishery, including fish of trophy proportions. The Summersville Lake tailwaters represents one of the better areas on the Gauley.

One of the biggest factors with the Gauley River is getting to the water. Access is good in the Summersville tailrace area. Below the tailrace the river flows swiftly through a remote canyon — the Gauley River National Recreation Area– where access is limited, as is good walleye habitat.

The lower portion of the Gauley is a slower moving water, and provides the better walleye water. Check out the river section from Swiss down to where it joins the New to form the Kanawha River at K & M Junction.

Public access areas are found at Persinger Creek in Nicholas County and Jodie in Fayette County.

Other Options
Another similar January angling option is to hit the tailwaters below R.D. Bailey Lake for walleyes.

Also, check out the white bass action on the Ohio River. Small in-line spinners are always good for these fish.

FEBRUARY
Stonecoal Lake – Rainbow Trout
West Virginia’s aggressive trout stocking program provides outstanding recreation on many rivers and creeks. But reservoirs such as Stonecoal Lake are part of the program, too. Still-water environments are particularly attractive when the streams are running high, or for folks that can’t — or don’t care to — hike along the rugged trails often found along trout streams.

Currently Stonecoal Lake is the holder of two state trout records; the length records for both golden rainbow and rainbow trout.

The lake is located in the Stonecoal WMA. The deep, cold impoundment covers 550 surface acres. Two concrete boat ramps are provided, as is fishing access for the handicapped. Boats are limited to 10-horsepower outboards.

Stonecoal Lake is found in Lewis and Upshur counties near the towns of Weston and Buckhannon. It is a short distance off of Interstate 79.

Other Options:
For more cold-water action, try targeting muskellunge on the Little Kanawha River.

The rainbow trout should be stirring on White Day Creek as well.

MARCH
Kanawha River – Hybrid Bass
Hard fighting hybrid bass can provide a good way of shrugging off the early spring cold. The Kanawha River provides one of the state’s better hybrid fisheries.

Focus your hybrid attention on the lower portion of the Kanawha, where the lock and dam system creates navigation pools. Three dams are found there, structures that attract both fish and fisherman. They are located at London, Marmet, and Winfield.

Shore anglers find good access and facilities below the dams. Boat anglers can cash in on the action, but need to stay below the buoy line that marks the restricted area.

Another key for fishermen and boating anglers in particular, is the presence of a warm water discharge into the river. Such discharges are common at industrial sites such as power plants and attract baitfish as well as hybrids.

Other Options
For some big-water angling action this month head to the Hannibal tailwater on the Ohio River for sauger.

Crappie on Sutton Lake are in a pre-spawn mood and hungry right now. In the cold waters of March your best bet is to offer the slabs a live minnow.

APRIL
South Branch Potomac River – Rainbow Trout
Come April there’s no better place to be than on one of the state’s blue ribbon trout streams, which would have to include the South Branch of the Potomac River.

The state manages the South Branch as three distinct areas — the Franklin, Smoke Hole and Catch-and-Release sections. Between the three there is something to meet the needs of pretty much any trout angler.

The Franklin section is stocked from about 1/2 mile from the Virginia line downstream past Franklin to about 2 miles south of the Upper Tract near the old Poor Farm. U.S. Highway 220 provides good access to most of this stretch.

The Franklin section is stocked every week from March through May. It also receives a stocking in January and two in February.

The Smoke Hole section runs from the U.S. 220 bridge downstream to the U.S. Forest Service Big Bend Recreation Area. Forest Service Road 74 provides access to a portion of this stretch, as does State Secondary Road 2.

The Smoke Hole section is stocked on the same schedule as the Franklin section.

Located within the Smoke Hole section is a 1-mile stretch managed as catch-and-release waters. This stretch begins about 2 miles below the U.S. 220 bridge. The area is stocked once in April.

The South Branch is located in Pendleton County.

Other Options
For another rainbow trout destination this month head over to the Upper Elk River.

The Belleville Pool on the Ohio River offers some possibilities for hybrid bass in April.

MAY
New River – Smallmouth Bass
Warming waters mean smallmouth bass are getting more aggressive. It’s time to take advantage of one of the state’s best angling opportunities in the form of river smallies. The New River provides one of the best places to pursue these fish.

C
ontrary to its name, the New River is one of the world’s oldest rivers, and plays host to outstanding fishing opportunities. The 53 miles designated as the New River Gorge National River contains some of the best smallie fishing, including a 12-mile catch-and-release section.

The New provides a blend of pools and fast water. Access is limited. It may be wise to make use of an outfitter. Float trips are available that run from as little as half-a-day to overnight trips. The lack of access, coupled with a strong catch-and-release ethic, means New River anglers can expect a good chance at a lunker bass.

River access is available in Fayette County at Hawks Nest Lake, McKendree and Stone Cliff. Raleigh County access areas are Glade Creek, McCreery and Sandstone Falls. Summers County offers several additional access points.

The catch-and-release area runs from the Interstate 64 bridge down to the National Park Service’s Sandbar access area near Quinnimont. You can access the area from either State Route 20 or SR 41.

Other Options
Rainbow trout fishing is at its best on the Shavers Fork this month.

May is also a good time for targeting muskies on Buckhorn River.

JUNE
Stonewall Jackson Lake – Largemouth Bass
Stonewall Jackson Lake was developed with a more “enhanced” plan in mind than older Corps of Engineers flood control lakes. Unlike most state reservoirs, there is plenty of cover in Stonewall Jackson Lake. Anglers continue to benefit from this, and largemouth anglers in particular.

Flooded timber is present in many of this 2,650-acre lake’s bays and coves and is one of the cover options you want to investigate as you search out post-spawn bass. The 26 miles of shoreline ensure you will have to do a bit of searching.

Catch and release regulations on black bass have been in place since the lake was first opened and provide the potential for lunker-sized largemouths.

Stonewall Jackson, by West Virginia standards, is somewhat wide and shallow. About a 20 percent of the lake is under a no-wake restriction. There is no horsepower restriction.

The reservoir is located in Lewis County, near Weston, just off of I-79.

Being a flood control lake that’s subject to changing levels, it’s wise to check on conditions before embarking on a trip there. Daily lake and recreation information on Stonewall Jackson can be obtained by calling (304) 269-7463.