Summersville Lake fishing conditions · West Virginia

Today, 11 am–9 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 68.

Right now: 68 for smallmouth bass, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

683 am
68
68
686 am
58
53
589 am
58
68
6812 pm
68
68
683 pm
68
68
686 pm
68
68
589 pm
58
53
58Tue
58
58
583 am
53
53
536 am
53
53
539 am
53
58
6812 pm
68
68

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 2 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Mostly Clear
Air: 42°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are West Virginia regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

68MarginalToday, 11 am–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 6 black bass a day combined, no statewide minimum. Some waters add a 12" minimum or a protected slot; the New River releases bass from 14 to 22".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Walleye

Sander vitreus

68MarginalToday, 11 am–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

8 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 8 walleye, sauger and saugeye a day, no statewide minimum. Several lakes and rivers protect walleye from 20 to 30".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Feb–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalToday, 11 am–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 6 black bass a day combined, no statewide minimum. Some waters add a 12" minimum or a protected slot; the New River releases bass from 14 to 22".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalToday, 11 am–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

30 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 30 crappie a day, black and white combined, no minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalToday, 11 am–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

30 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 30 channel catfish a day on rivers, streams, Corps of Engineers lakes, Cheat, Mt. Storm and Stonecoal; 4 a day in state-managed impoundments.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalToday, 11 am–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: 6 trout a day combined (rainbow, golden rainbow, brook, tiger and brown), no statewide minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · West Virginia

Season here: Feb–Apr, Nov–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.43 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:43 am
Sunset today6:31 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 7:50 am–8:50 am
Major solunarToday 12:20 pm–2:20 pm
Minor solunarTonight 6:00 pm–7:00 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. West Virginia DNR has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: West Virginia DNR · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

West Virginia’s largest lake — 2,700 acres of clear, deep water nicknamed "the Little Bahamas of the East." A smallmouth bass, walleye, and crappie fishery over rock and timber, with stocked trout in the cold tailwater below the dam and channel catfish throughout. Multiple public ramps and shoreline access in the surrounding state-park land.

Walleye from 20 to 30" must be released; 8 a day, only 1 over 30". Black bass are 6 a day combined, with no minimum. The Gauley River tailwater below the dam is a noted trout and whitewater run.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesWest Virginia
WhereNicholas County · 38.2300, -80.8900

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

New River (Thurmond Gorge)22 mi · West VirginiaBest today 11 am–8 pm

82Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Summersville Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Summersville Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Summersville Lake?

Summersville Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Summersville Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Summersville Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Summersville Lake have?

Summersville Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Walleye from 20 to 30" must be released; 8 a day, only 1 over 30". Black bass are 6 a day combined, with no minimum. The Gauley River tailwater below the dam is a noted trout and whitewater run.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Summersville Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Summersville Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Summersville Lake tidal water?

No. Summersville Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.