Make no mistake, this lake can be tough to fish. The water stays clear, cold and deep. Trout are abundant, so muskies don't have to feed that often. You have to be at the right place at the right time, and the best way to do that is by trolling.

Many anglers rely on trolling to catch muskies from Stonecoal. This technique has been especially effective when anglers troll along dropoffs and cove mouths. The more water trolling anglers cover, the more likely they are to encounter a muskie or two.

Most of the cove mouths act like funnels channeling baitfish into warm, shallow areas. That's kind of like ringing a dinner bell for muskies, and it doesn't take them long to find where the best tables lie.

A few anglers still fish with live bait on Stonecoal Lake. Frowned upon by many serious muskie anglers, this old technique continues to maintain a following on Stonecoal. Large chubs or suckers remain favorite choices for anglers who use live bait. The best way to keep from killing a muskie when using live bait is to employ quick strike rigs or circle hooks. These devices help prevent deep hooking that can lead to mortality.

Stonecoal Lake has two launch ramps, one at each end of the impoundment. The upper launch ramp is somewhat undeveloped as it features a concrete pad with a small dock and parking for about 10 vehicles. To find the upper ramp, turn off U.S. Route 33 about one-half mile west of Buckhannon onto Brushy Fork Road (county Route (CR) 7) and follow signs to the lake.

The West End access site near the dam offers a double concrete ramp and courtesy dock as well as a paved parking lot capable of handling over 30 vehicles. To access the West End ramp, turn off U.S. Route 33 about two miles east of Interstate 79 onto Georgetown Road (CR 15). Don't forget that Stonecoal has a 10-horsepower limit for all watercraft used on the lake. Boats may have larger motors, but motors larger than 10 horsepower may not be started on the lake.

STONEWALL JACKSON LAKE
Few anglers know this lake as well as Ken and Shelia McCord, a husband and wife duo who love to muskie fish. Stonewall Jackson is their home lake, and I don't know anyone who has caught more 40-inch class muskies from this lake than the McCords.

Their secret to catching big muskies on Stonewall: Cover plenty of water by trolling. I'm certainly not a world expert on trolling, but one day last summer I hooked up with Jim Moore, president of the West Virginia Chapter of Muskies Inc., and the McCords for a day of trolling on Stonewall Jackson Lake. It was a learning experience to say the least.

I was amazed at the methodical pattern employed by the trollers. First, they'll cover the different water depths with a multitude of lures with different actions and colors. We all know how finicky muskies can be. At times, a certain wobble or flash of color can trigger vicious strikes, while at other times, the lack of such preferences can turn off curious fish just as quickly.