Stonewall Jackson Lake

An Assortment Of Fishing Experiences Await

By Ralph Scherder

Like any good fisherman, Chris Catlin has his secrets.

Getting him to divulge those secrets often involves some sort of torture. Oh sure, he’ll tell you all about the five- or six-pound bass he caught on his last trip to Stonewall Jackson Lake.

Maybe he’ll even show you pictures. He just won’t tell you how he caught them, or where.

In recent years, Stonewall Jackson Lake has received increased attention by fishermen not only throughout the state, but across the country as well. That’s because the lake has slowly grown into one of the premiere fishing spots in the east. For folks like Chris, who have been fishing Stonewall Jackson Lake since its creation in the mid-1980s, the change is a little hard to bear.

“It used to be that I could go out to the lake and not see another soul,” Chris says. “That’s not the case anymore. Now I can hardly find a place to park. Especially on weekends.”

How does a lake go from being relatively unknown to providing top-notch fishing?

“Catch and release,” Chris says. “Since the beginning you’ve had to release all species of black bass you catch. That includes largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass.” All other species can be kept, if desired, which is great considering that Stonewall Jackson Lake is also well-known for catfish and crappie.

Chris first introduced me to the glories of Stonewall through bass fishing. On my first trip, I watched Chris catch and release 15 largemouth in three hours, and two of the bass measured over 20 inches.

The bulk of my return trips, however, have been to pursue catfish and crappies. It’s not uncommon to catch 20-30 catfish per night and as many crappie as you care to fillet. While Chris tosses plastics and lures for bass, I sling a nightcrawler and catch fish all day.

Getting to know Stonewall can take some time. Created by the damming of the West Fork River, Stonewall is the second largest lake in West Virginia, covering more than 2,600 acres. The good news is that just about anywhere you try is likely to produce good fishing. Of course, some spots are better than others.

One cold, overcast day this spring Chris and I were bored and decided to take a drive around Stonewall to see if anyone was out fishing. As it turned out, nobody was on the water, but I got an excellent lesson about the lake.

We drove many of the roads bordering the lake and Chris pointed out where to fish and why.

“If you want to catch bucket loads of crappie, fish the standing timber,” Chris said.

I gazed across the lake. Everywhere I looked I saw standing timber, which is something that makes Stonewall Jackson Lake unique. When the Army Corps of Engineers flooded the area they left numerous patches of standing timber. No other lake I’ve fished really compares to Stonewall in appearance. It reminds me of somewhere you’d fish in the deep south, in Mississippi or Florida.

“Which ones?” I asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “They all have crappie nearby. I usually hop from one to the other, fishing along the fringes, until I find where they’re all ganged up.”

Fishing those fringes can be tricky. In my limited vocabulary, standing timber is synonymous with Snag City.

“Most times fish will be suspended about halfway down,” Chris said, “in 10 feet of water. Use a lead jig and minnow and try not to let it touch the bottom, or else you’ll be tying on new hooks all day.”

We kept driving. A short distance later, Chris pointed to a culvert back in a little inlet. “I caught a 23-inch largemouth right there last year,” he said.

The spot didn’t look all that special. To me it was no different than any other inlet. To Chris it was a hot spot. Fishing Stonewall Jackson Lake, Chris said, is similar to fishing a river or stream. Fish gather where water runs into the lake.

“Also look for sandbars,” he said. “In the winter and middle of summer, drive around and locate sandbars or old roads. In the spring and early summer, when water levels raise, those sandbars and roads will be under a foot or two of water.”

And they become fish magnets. In the spring, the shallow structures warm up first and fish like to suspend off them. Sandbars, roads, stumps, and what is called “riff raff” are all prime locations to find big bass. Riff raff is nothing more than rocks placed along the lake shores by the West Virginia DNR to provide fish habitat. The rocks attract baitfish, which in turn attracts bass.

Catching the bass, however, is another matter. Because the lake is fished heavily, you must constantly change tactics to find what works. In general, from late February through April, spinnerbaits and jig and pig work well. To experience tremendous fishing, wait for the first three days of consistent spring weather.

“The weather doesn’t have to be ideal, but it does have to be consistent,” Chris said. “If you can get three sunny days in a row, that’s the time to hit the lake.”

The three-day rule also applies to the Fall.

During the summer, plastics are the bait of choice. Again, it’s a matter of switching colors to find which ones work on any particular day. To increase your chances at hooking a trophy bass, fish later in the evenings and at night when the big boys move into the shallow water to feed.

And if excellent fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish isn’t enough, venture to the lake’s tailwaters, which gets stocked bi-weekly with trout all spring. Many of the trout stocked in the tailwaters are breeder fish over 20 inches and are a thrill to catch.

Stonewall Jackson Lake is very easy to find. Follow Interstate 79 to the Roanoke Exit, Route 19 south. Along Route 19 you’ll see signs for public access. The lake has four main boat launches: Roanoke, Vandalia, Little Skin Creek (Georgetown), and Jacksonville.

To avoid the crowds, fish through the week. During weekends, you’re likely to contend not only with other fishermen, but with recreational boaters too. A couple years ago, a resort was built on the lake, in the park area, and offers boat and jet ski rentals.

Stonewall Jackson Lake Resort also offers cabin rentals, fine dining, and a world-class golf course. No hunting is permitted in the park and herds of deer pour out of the woods and onto the golf course all spring and summer, providing many opportunities to get an up close and personal view of wildlife.