Cheat Lake fishing conditions · West Virginia

Tonight 3 am to Monday 4 amWalleye

The bite peaks at 80.

Right now: 75 for walleye, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, 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.

754 pm
63
61
617 pm
76
76
6310 pm
72
80Sun
761 am
68
76
764 am
76
80
807 am
76
76
7610 am
80
80
761 pm
76
76
764 pm
80
76
767 pm
76
76
7610 pm
80
80Mon
801 am
76
76

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

Water: No reading
Wind: 5 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Cloudy
Air: 45°F
Barometer: Rising
Moon: 5% 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.

Walleye

Sander vitreus

80Worth the tripTonight 3 am to Monday 4 am

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. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

8 a day

Release 20–30".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Walleye from 20 to 30" must be released; 8 a day with only 1 over 30".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Summersville Lake, Cheat Lake and the Cheat River

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

68MarginalTonight 3 am to Monday 4 am

Water

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

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalTonight 3 am to Monday 4 am

Water

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

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalTonight 3 am to Monday 4 am

Water

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

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalTonight 3 am to Monday 4 am

Water

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

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. West Virginia: nongame fish not listed in the regulations, carp included, have no daily creel or possession limit, except on the few waters where every nongame fish is protected.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · West Virginia

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer29.99 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today5:11 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:55 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

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 · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A 13-mile run-of-river reservoir on the Cheat River near Morgantown, recovered from historic acid mine drainage into a productive walleye, bass, and crappie fishery. Walleye and smallmouth hold on the points and channel edges; largemouth and crappie fill the coves. Public ramps serve the lake from the Cheat Lake area.

Walleye from 20 to 30" must be released; 8 a day, only 1 over 30". Yellow perch 15 a day. Water quality has rebounded dramatically since the 1990s — the fishery is now a regional draw.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesWest Virginia
WhereMonongalia County · 39.7100, -79.8500

Nearby

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

Youghiogheny River — Friendsville23 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am

90Go

Broadford Lake Park33 mi · MarylandBest tonight 6 pm to tomorrow 10 pm

68Marginal

Deep Creek Lake33 mi · MarylandBest tonight 11 pm to tonight 4 am

86Go

Laurel Hill State Park38 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until tomorrow 10 pm

68Marginal

Savage River Reservoir40 mi · MarylandBest tonight 12 am–8 am

92Go

Questions people ask

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

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Cheat Lake?

Cheat Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, 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 Cheat 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 Cheat 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 Cheat Lake have?

Cheat 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". Yellow perch 15 a day. Water quality has rebounded dramatically since the 1990s — the fishery is now a regional draw.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cheat Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Cheat 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 Cheat Lake tidal water?

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