While anglers fishing O’Brien will find good numbers of bass in the lake, this water’s best attribute would have to be its trophy potential. Bass up to 7 pounds are caught from the lake on a regular basis, and there is the distinct possibility of boating multiple 5-pounders during the spring. The bass population is mainly largemouths, so anglers should plan their techniques accordingly.

O’Brien is not the most pristine looking lake in the Mountain State, as its water is often muddy. However, stained water doesn’t prevent anglers from catching lunker largemouths from this lake with regularity, particularly in the spring.

Prime times to fish O’Brien Lake are typically spring and early summer like most West Virginia impoundments. However, some local anglers have discovered a midsummer bite along the deeper standing timber. Such a big fish bite might very well warrant a trip to this lake, as bass fishing on other impoundments is probably tapering off.

Anglers must be aware that O’Brien Lake is governed by a 10- horsepower motor limit on boats using the lake. Yet another limiting factor, most bass boats could only use their trolling motors on the lake.

O’Brien Lake isn’t the easiest to locate. Anglers coming to the lake should come along Interstate 77 and turn off onto county Route (CR) 25 north. After traveling on CR 25, turn onto CR 36, which eventually becomes CR 34/5. This road goes by the concrete launching ramp at O’Brien Lake.