Kevin Yokum.

APRIL
Shavers Fork
Trout
The Shavers Fork of the Cheat River is loaded with trout every week from March through May. In addition, 46 miles of the river upstream of Bowden receive special railroad stockings, which create some of the best remote trout fishing opportunities anywhere in West Virginia.

The upper Shavers (upstream of the U.S. Route 33 bridge at Bowden) serves as an ideal destination for trout anglers looking to escape the crowds, and the area features a stunning wilderness landscape. Thick spruce forests tower over patches of dense rhododendron and mountain laurel. However, don’t be concerned about becoming lost because the rail grade parallels the river through the entire section.

A good portion of the upper Shavers lies within the Monongahela National Forest, so access points are available, but be ready to walk up and down the stream to find the best fishing.

The lower Shavers Fork (from the U.S. 33 bridge at Bowden to the Stuart Recreation Area) showcases multiple streamside accesses for folks who don’t want to travel very far to fish. This section of the river is also home to generous numbers of trophy-sized trout including rainbows, golden rainbows, browns and brookies.

Anglers will find some of the highest densities of trout anywhere in the state within this Randolph County stream. There are plenty of places to fish for them. However, note that the lower Shavers does experience intense fishing pressure at times, especially near roadside access points.

MAY
Burnsville Lake
Largemouths
As with most waters in West Virginia, the bass spawn peaks on Burnsville Lake during May. That means a whole lot of big bass will be moving into shallow water. Such a migration gives Mountain State anglers their best chance at catching a trophy bass, and few lakes hold larger bass than Burnsville. Anglers fishing during late April and early May will find bass carrying up to a 1/2-pound of eggs, which means females will be carrying their heaviest weights of the year before depositing their precious cargo.

Shallow-water fishing and bulky bass serve up the right ingredients for a memorable day on the water.

Burnsville Lake bass present anglers with a unique mix of both quantity and quality. Trophy specimens of largemouth and spotted bass inhabit the lake, but good numbers of smaller bass are also present. Burnsville maintains its ranking as one of the state’s leading producers of citation-size spotted bass.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Burnsville Lake produces trophy bass, because the lake contains a good bit of prime bass habitat. Anglers will find numerous areas of quality bass habitat, such as sloping points, rocky dropoffs and submerged timber. Knawl Creek, Little Knawl Creek and Big Run all contain excellent sections of submerged timber.

Why is timber so important in May? Bass love to spawn around submerged wood or root wads adjacent to the shore.

For up-to-date information on lake conditions, contact the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers’ recorded message at (304) 853-2398.

JUNE
Cranberry River
Trout
Pound for pound, the Cranberry River presents anglers with the most trout per acre of any public fishery in the Mountain State. Whether just receiving a fresh stocking or relying on holdover trout from last year, the Cranberry River is simply flush with trout.

For anglers looking to find quality fishing close to the road, the lower Cranberry (below Cranberry Backcountry lower gate) provides plenty of streamside access inside the boundaries of the Monongahela National Forest.

The remote 16-mile Cranberry Backcountry (no vehicle access) gives anglers a prime opportunity to experience trout fishing in the mountains like it was meant to be: tons of trout, gorgeous scenery and plenty of solitude. Mountain bikes have proved to be a popular mode of transportation for getting anglers in and out of the backcountry.

June also marks the transition when springtime anglers begin to lose interest in trout fishing, thus the crowds begin to disperse. Surprisingly, this period coincides with some of the river’s best hatches, so flyfishermen take note.

Catch-and-release areas on the lower Cranberry and in the backcountry welcome those who are interested in special regulations, and a fly-fishing-only section on Dogway Fork (within the Cranberry Backcountry) offers flyfishermen a unique experience to catch wild trout.

Whether you’re looking for big trout, plenty of trout or wild trout, the Cranberry will fulfill your expectations.