Fall offers some excellent fishing throughout southern West Virginia. Some excellent bass fishing is available at Plum Orchard Lake. Fall trout stocking is in full swing and anglers may want to try Glade Creek, Anthony Creek, or R.D. Bailey lake for some late season trout action. Fishing open water with minnows is good for hybrid striped bass, while nightcrawlers and chicken liver are good for catfish throughout the river. Fishing the tailwater areas of the locks and dams is great for catfish, smallmouth bass, sauger, saugeye and walleye.
Minnows are the best baits to use for smallmouth and walleye.
Catfish are being caught near the access area of Mink Shoals on nightcrawlers and chicken liver. This restriction is expected to be in place for some time. Fishing has been good for hybrid striped bass and anglers are fishing on the surface using agitator bobber rigs or large silver lures. Sauger and walleye catches are expected to improve with the cooling temperature. Elsewhere on the Ohio River, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing has improved and rubber worms, slowly fished crankbaits and large jig combos are producing.