TYGART LAKE
Now that we've sampled a little lake fishing for largemouths, as well as a couple big rivers for jumbo bronzebacks, let's jump on I-79 and travel south a bit. Don't get the rig rolling too fast, though, as we'll be taking the Grafton exit, state Route 310. Just south of Grafton is Tygart Lake, where we'll be launching our boat in hopes of tangling with a few of the lake's smallmouth bass.

Tygart Lake is a 1,750-acre, federally owned flood-control water. As such, it is subject to dramatic and often rapid fluctuations in water levels. This instability does not lend itself to predicable fishing. However, the lake does contain a population of smallmouth bass, including quality-sized fish.

This Taylor County water stretches for about seven-plus miles and attains depths of over 100 feet. As was noted, it experiences a significant fall drawdown. The timing of drawdown is dependent on the weather of the year. The lake is located in a steep-sided valley. Cover is at a premium, though work has been done in recent years to introduce woody cover such as brushpiles. Most of the brushpiles consist of Christmas trees lashed together and anchored with cinder blocks. The felling of shoreline trees has also created laydowns. The rocky shorelines of Tygart Lake provide good smallmouth bass habitat.

Three boat launches are located on Tygart Lake including the Grafton City Park access, Pleasant Creek Wildlife Management Area and Tygart Lake State Park. No horsepower restrictions are in place, though no-wake zones have been established. Recreational boat traffic can be heavy during summer weekends. For daily lake and recreation information, call (304) 265-5953.

STONEWALL JACKSON LAKE
Stonewall Jackson Lake, 2,650 acres, is relatively young by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers standards. It represents one of the best all-around fishing lakes in the state. Largemouth bass are one of the featured items on the bill of fare, and will have us jumping off I-79 at either exit 96 or 91, both of which lead to various access areas. The lake is located just east of the interstate.

Formed some 15 years ago, prior to being filled, Stonewall Jackson Lake did not receive the hatchet job typical of many flood-control projects. Instead, a significant level of standing timber was left in place, particularly in bays and coves located off the major lake basins.

The main arm of Stonewall Jackson stretches uplake to the town of Walkersville, a distance of about 10 miles. The Skin Creek and Little Skin Creek arms form two other long, narrow arms. The average depth of the lake is about 19 feet and the maximum depth is about 82 feet. While no horsepower limitations are in place, many no-wake zones are. Recreational usage on this lake is less than that present on many other state reservoirs.

Five excellent access areas are dotted around the Stonewall Jackson lakeshore. From Exit 96 off Interstate 79, ramps can be found at Glady Fork, Vandalia Bay and Georgetown. From Exit 91, one can launch at Jacksonville and Stonewall Jackson State Park.

For daily lake and recreation information, call (304) 269-7463.

BURNSVILLE LAKE
Our continuing search for quality bass fishing finds us heading south on I-79 again, this time taking Exit 79 at Burnsville. Burnsville Lake's 968 acres will provide us with an added benefit: spotted bass. Though the lake holds largemouth and smallmouth bass, too, spotted bass are the major player in this Braxton County Corps of Engineers lake. The biggest bass of the lake tend to be largemouths.

Burnsville Lake coves have an average depth of 15 to 20 feet. Some standing timber is present, and man-made fish attractors, such as brushpiles and triangle pallets, have been added.

Two launch areas can be found along the lake at Riffle Run and Bulltown. There are no horsepower restrictions, though no-wake zones are present.

Additional information on this impoundment of the Little Kanawha River can be obtained by calling (304) 853-2371.