Summersville Lake
Summersville Lake is West Virginia's largest lake, on the Gauley River near the town of Summersville. It has clear water and rocky shores and is a popular bass lake.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
Fish the rocky shoreline and cliffs with tubes and jerkbaits.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Walleye | ||||||||||||
| Crappie |
Boat launches
5 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Battle Run rampFeeCorps of Engineers, southwest part of the lake off Summersville Lake Rd; two lanes, dockDirections ↗
- Salmon Run rampFeeCorps of Engineers, north end of the US 19 bridge; two lanes, dockDirections ↗
- Summersville Lake Boat Docks rampPublicTwo-lane ramp off Summersville Lake Boat Docks Rd, north sideDirections ↗
- Summersville Lake Winter RampPublicOne-lane ramp off Summersville Lake Rd, south side; used at winter poolDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee West Virginia DNR or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye Dam upstream to mouth of Persinger Creek; only 1 over 30 in | 20-30 in must be released | 8 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at West Virginia Division of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Summersville Lake MarinaNearby1706 Summersville Airport Rd, Summersville, WV(304) 872-1331Directions ↗
- Walmart SupercenterNearby200 Wal St, Summersville, WV(304) 872-6734Directions ↗
Local tips
- Trout are stocked in the Gauley tailwater below the dam.
- Try creek arms like Meadow Creek, Peters Creek, and Hominy Creek.
- The clear water calls for light line and natural colors.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Summersville Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.