STONEWALL JACKSON LAKE
No water in West Virginia can match Stonewall Jackson when it comes to producing trophy muskies. Every year, multiple catches of fish exceeding the magical 50-inch mark are being documented.

At 2,650 acres, Stonewall Jackson Lake remains a tremendous fishery for several fish species. However, muskies are the water's largest inhabitants.

Trophy muskies live among the abundant stands of timber and the lake's countless creek channels. Narrow coves and main-lake points also form prime muskie hangouts. Additionally, riprap shorelines, culvert openings, sandy flats and even clumps of vegetation can hold muskies at any time.

Nearly 1,238 advanced fingerling muskies were stocked into Stonewall Jackson during 2008, and significant survival of these hearty young fish has been confirmed.

Forage quantities in Stonewall Jackson Lake seem to be a mounting concern, but since muskies sit at the top of the food chain, so far forage limitations haven't restricted muskie growth.

Many muskies can be found along shorelines or coves where thick cover makes trolling impossible, and quite frankly, muskies can turn up anywhere on the lake. Many Stonewall Jackson muskie anglers opt to cast among the timber with a variety of plugs, jerkbaits and even topwater lures. It's not surprising that large muskies come from areas packed with standing timber, such as Little Skin Creek, Wolf Fork and Jacksonville.

One proven tactic for catching trophy muskies on Stonewall is to cover lots of water by trolling. Efficient trollers cover different water depths with a multitude of lures searching for the correct depth. Selecting the best bait from a tackle box full of lures with different actions and colors is a mind-boggling task, but one in which the best anglers excel.

Trolling anglers will typically work a variety of lake structures such as points, islands and cove mouths when searching for a muskie "pattern."

Surprisingly, summer months are a great time to troll on Stonewall Jackson. Many of the lake's largest muskies tend to be caught during the summer months. Keep in mind that the lake stratifies between 10 and 15 feet during the warm months. It will be important for trollers to fish above the thermocline where the lake's oxygenated water sits.

Anglers can launch from any of the lake's five launch ramps. Georgetown, Vandalia Bay and Glady Fork are all located on the Skin Creek arm of the lake. From Interstate 79, take exit 96 to get to the Skin Creek arm of the lake. Roanoke and Jacksonville are located on the West Fork arm of the lake and can be found by taking exit 91 from Interstate 79.

LITTLE KANAWHA RIVER
The Little Kanawha is one of West Virginia's premier muskie streams, which runs from the central portion of the state all the way to the western border before joining the Ohio River.

Since muskie fishing became established in the Mountain State, the Little Kanawha has been one of the state's best muskie rivers. Amazingly, the river has been self-sustaining throughout its history and still doesn't receive any stockings.

As a natural muskie stream, anglers can expect a range of muskie sizes and a 48-inch fish could turn up just as easily as a 28-inch specimen. The Little "K," as some in the angling community know it, continues to be one of the Mountain State's most consistent muskie-producing destinations.