The same regulations enforced on the Buckhannon River project water also apply to Middle Island Creek.

Also, like the Buckhannon, biologist Yokum said good muskie populations are present in much of Middle Island Creek's 50-some-mile length. Whereas Buckhannon features lots of sunken wood, muskie habitat on Middle Island Creek is more in the way of long, deep pools and eddies. Forage fish include suckers and chubs, soft-rayed fish that muskies prefer as a food source. This same type of forage exists in all of the waters that are featured here.

Public access sites on Middle Island Creek in Tyler County include Blue, Buffalo Run, Joseph's Mill, Jug, Pratt, Purgatory Run, Sellers Road and Tyler County Farm.

LITTLE KANAWHA RIVER
Numbers waters are great for the sheer action they provide, but all muskie anglers like the chance for a big fish on occasion. Not that a 30-inch legal fish isn't big. Just that the sheer strength of a 40-inch-plus muskellunge is something that needs to be enjoyed from time to time. Kevin Yokum said the Little Kanawha River contains a fairly high muskie population, while at the same time providing a better chance at a fish likely to test your tackle and fish-fighting skill.

"The Little Kanawha is a tremendously lengthy river," Yokum noted. "The muskie water runs from the tailwaters of Burnsville Dam the whole way to the Ohio River."

The Little Kanawha River can be characterized as having long pools. As Yokum noted, muskies are present in many miles of water. The river picks up size in Wirt County near Creston. From there it flows through Wirt, then Wood County, emptying in the Ohio at Parkersburg.

In Wirt County, access sites can be found at Creston, Palestine, Sanoma, Sportsman's Park, Spring Valley and Wells Lock. Wood County accesses include Corning Park and Leachtown.

The Little Kanawha -- between the Burnsville Dam tailwaters and Creston -- also flows through portions of Gilmer and Calhoun counties.

ELK RIVER
Taking the sport a step farther for the angler looking for a true trophy, a fish over 45 inches with the potential for the magical 50-inch mark being a possibility, Yokum said the Elk River just may be the place to go.

"You will need to put in your time and effort, though," Yokum said.

Like the Little Kanawha, the portion of the Elk River holding muskies is sizable, stretching from the Sutton Dam tailwaters to the area above its merger with the Kanawha River. The best muskie habitat is considered to be the river portion within Braxton and Clay counties. Muskies are not found above Sutton Dam, where the habitat is much different than that found downstream. Water quality is somewhat deteriorated in the lower portion of the river.

As with our previously mentioned waters, this section of the Elk contains the slow, deep pools conducive to stream-bred muskies. Plenty of wood is found in the form of submerged cover and shoreline laydowns.

Clay County access sites include Camp Associates sites No. 1 and No. 2, Duck, King Shoals, Mary Chilton Roadside Park, Procious and Queen Shoals. In Braxton County, small boats can be launched at Frametown Bridge and the Sutton Dam tailwaters.

HUGHES RIVER
Biologist Scott Morrison also recommended quality waters, such as Middle Island Creek. He also suggested anglers fish the Hughes River. It, along with the previously listed waters, should be prime for muskies this summer, the fishery fueled by fish from the 1999 year-class.

"The 1999 season was a dry, drought year," Morrison explained. "Those low-water conditions provided good spawning conditions for our native muskies. As a result, we had an extremely good year-class."

Morrison said the muskies of that 1999 spawn would be in the 32- to 36-inch range this summer.