Fishing Q&A

Tygart Lake W.Va Bass fishing?

I was wondering if any one would happen to know any tips for fishing Tygart Lake in W.Va what lures, depths any help is appreciated thanks. no he's not my dad but I like to catch the one that takes the bait but i really like smallmouth but i like to catch largemouth to. Thanks Bill

Public Comments

1. Son-- I have read your profile page,and I have never fished W.VA.- but I do have something to say- First you probably already know more about fishing than 98% of the people that will offer an answer to your question,(but I have noticed that all fish think alike)-- I would also like to say the world, or at least America needs a bunch more young people exactly like you-- I'm not offering this for a thumbs up or a best answer I just wanted you to know how I felt.....
2. that is so cool- is that really your dad? omg, and bass master what is your fave kind bass to catch?
3. i've never fished this lake you're asking about but i have ideas you can check to locate bass. A bass is a bass is a bass. This time of the year "winter" fish are going to be close to main lake points and in major creek channels. First try to locate bait fish if you find bait fish then bass are close by. I'll spoon, drop shot plastics in creek channels and work a jig and trailer, tube or drop shot on points. With the water temps around 50 degs and with the days becoming longer the water starts to warm up as the days warm up. I like to fish with the sun on my back, on points both main lake and secondary points close to major spawning coves. I'll work the sides of the points and the tops of the points. Rocks and wood will hold the heat better then mud and sandy banks. I like to key on larger rock with wood and deeper water. In california where i live i will fish water as deep as 70 feet deep. I like to pull up to a point cast towards the shore with my boat in about 30 to 40 feet deep and work a jig and craw trailer back to the boat very slowly. I will then cast out deep to about 70 feet with my boat still in 30 to 40 feet deep and work my jig up hill again very slowly. Once I catch a fish I try to repeat that same presentation. If a jig is not working I'll use a tube bait or a plastic worm. I'll toss the tube bait on a dart head and the plastic worm on a drop shot rig. I'll fish wind blown banks in the afternoon looking for active fish shallow with a spinnerbait or crank bait along a mud line if the sun and wind has been beating on the bank all day long. If it has been overcast or raining I'll keep fishing deep but still try shallow throughout the day checking for active shallow fish. Remember to key on points close to spawning coves because the bass will be moving to these locations as the days become longer and the days becoming warmer. Once the water temps start moving up close to 60 degs I start moving to the backs of spawning coves looking for active bass along the shore line. Remeber to keep the sun on your back because these banks will warm up faster and the active fish will be close by. If there is some stained water but not too muddy the fish will be real shallow. I will target these fish with rip baits or plastic jerk baits. If you get followers coming up to your bait but not commiting slow down and toss a carolina rigged plastics or jigs around these areas. I have noticed that the small points in these coves the bass will use these to move in and out on and spawn in the cuts between the points. After the spawn you will find the fish moving back onto the secondary points and main lake points again. Just about the exact locations they were before the spawn but not as deep. The larger bass will suspend more at this time so again some lures that suspend like a rip bait, crank bait or spinner bait will catch these fish. Lately the swim baits have been catching very large bass but at times they will only produce a few fish where smaller baits will catch more numbers like a jig or plastic or hard baits. When ever i go to a new lake or a lake that i've fished hundreds of times I always attack the lakes the same way to locate bass. I will give each point or area about twenty minutes without a bite then move on to another spot. If I catch a fish on a point or area then the fish stop bitting I'll leave and come back later. You will find that the fish start bitting again once you return to that same spot throughout the day. Even if a point or area didn't produce the first time and it looks good and has all the right structure on it I'll still try that area again just in case the fish were not in their feeding mode. It's close to March and the water temps are starting to warm up as the days are getting longer the bass are only thinking about one thing "spawning". Target spawning cove main lake points and secondary points (other points just inside of a cove) until the water warms up around 60 deg then move to the back of the coves. Fish with the sun on your back because these banks warm up faster and will hold bass. I hope this helps tight lines John
4. you can catch some nice smallmouths there. your best bet would be to fish the shorelines and points . as far as depth look for them in the 5-15 foot range. for lures your three best options would be tube baits, 3-4 inch grubs, and deep diving crankbaits. here is a little tip try a white reef runner crankbait the bass love it and not many people throw one for bass. if you are going early when the water is colder i recommend the float -n-fly you will catch a lot and i can almost guarantee no one else is using it. hope this helps you out. good luck.