It’s a fishing day

Summersville Lake fishing conditions · West Virginia

Tomorrow, 2 pm–5 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 86.

Log a trip here
Right now: 80 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.

  1. 804 pm
  2. 76
  3. 68
  4. 667 pm
  5. 61
  6. 61
  7. 6110 pm
  8. 65
  9. 65Sun
  10. 611 am
  11. 61
  12. 66
  13. 664 am
  14. 66
  15. 70
  16. 707 am
  17. 66
  18. 76
  19. 7610 am
  20. 80
  21. 82
  22. 781 pm
  23. 86
  24. 86
  25. 864 pm
  26. 80
  27. 76
  28. 667 pm
  29. 61
  30. 61
  31. 6110 pm
  32. 65
  33. 65Mon
  34. 651 am
  35. 66
  36. 66
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
7 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:18 pm

Sky
Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
47°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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

Walleye

Sander vitreus

86GoTomorrow, 2 pm–5 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. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–5 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. 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

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–5 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. 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: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–5 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. 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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–5 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. 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

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–5 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. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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
  • Barometer30.10 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:18 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:57 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:50 pm–4:50 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:20 pm–12:20 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 · 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.

Nearby

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

New River (Thurmond Gorge)22 mi · West VirginiaBest tomorrow 9 am–7 pm
100Go

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.