"The Summersville tailrace has the potential to be the best tailrace trout fishery in the state. The Gauley below the dam reminds me of those Western trout streams where people spend thousands of dollars to go on guided trips. Another thing I like about the Gauley is that it is floatable for much of the year, although float-fishermen should be aware that there are numerous major and potentially dangerous rapids," he said.

"The habitat below the dam is absolutely phenomenal. Huge boulders lie in the river, and there is a lot of broken water in the form of rapids and riffles. I think a real key to the trout fishery is that Summersville is one of the deepest lakes on the East Coast. The lake is a bottom release one, so the water that comes out is very cold and clear, unlike a warm-water lake, which releases water from its surface. Under those conditions, trout usually only do well in the spring. At Summersville, you can catch trout year 'round."

Ellis says that a major reason why Summersville Lake was created was to provide clear, cool water to the Kanawha downstream. (The New and Gauley, of course, unite to form the Kanawha.) Toward that end, the Corps of Engineers releases massive amounts of water every September. An interesting consequence of the release was the creation of "Gauley Season," a time when white-water enthusiasts come from across the country to raft the river. Obviously, this time period is not a good one to float-fish the Gauley. Not only is the river often very crowded with boats, but the high-water conditions also make fishing almost impossible and potentially quite dangerous.

Mike Shingleton says the DNR annually stocks about 2,900 pounds of trout in the Summersville tailrace. Access exists below the dam on river right. Some anglers will walk along the shoreline below the dam, but doing so is very difficult, as massive boulders line the banks, which are heavily forested. The best way to sample the fishery is to employ a professional rafter and go on a daylong excursion.

The DNR stocks the Summersville tailrace from the dam downstream for two miles. Releases occur once in February, once every two weeks from March through May and twice in October. Mostly rainbows are released, but some browns are also in the mix. White-water rafting companies stock the river twice annually by helicopter. Generally, anglers can expect to catch trout from below the dam downstream to where the Meadow River enters the Gauley. Summersville lies in Nicholas County about 70 miles east of Charleston.

STONEWALL JACKSON TAILRACE
The West Fork River below Stonewall Jackson Lake offers very different habitat from the streams below Jennings Randolph and Summersville lakes.

"We have a unique water supply situation on the West Fork below Stonewall Jackson. Long before Stonewall was constructed, a dam near Weston existed about 1 3/4 miles downstream from the current Stonewall Jackson Dam. So the tailrace below Stonewall is all flat water. In essence, you have one dam creating backwater up to another dam. The only similar situation we have in West Virginia is the tailrace below Burnsville," biologist Mike Shingleton said.

"So when anglers are after trout below Stonewall, they are basically fishing a big pond or a small impoundment. They may catch trout, but they also could catch muskies, bluegills and largemouth bass. The trout fishery is really only a spring one. During the summer months, anglers will find it very difficult to catch trout."

Interestingly, continues Shingleton, the West Fork River received trout this past summer from the federal hatchery in White Sulfur Springs. These were overgrown brood fish. Like the fish that are normally stocked in the West Fork, these trout were mostly rainbows. The biologist added that trout enthusiasts cannot count on the West Fork receiving trout from the White Sulfur Springs hatchery. Annually, the DNR places 2,600 pounds of fish in the river. Releases occur in a 1.5-mile section, from the dam downstream to near the Department of Highway's garage on county Route 30. Those stockings occur once in February and once every two weeks from March through May.

Although the West Fork's trout fishery is much more limited than that on the Jennings Randolph and Summersville tailraces, anglers will find that access is definitely good. Shingleton describes the access as "tremendous" and said that a trail runs along much of the river's right bank. Some of the best access is right below the dam, and a paved section exists for handicapped anglers.

Pat Docherty describes the West Fork, below Stonewall Jackson, as being a very narrow stream. The dam features multiple intake and discharge capabilities so that water enters the river from throughout the lake's water column. This allows the Corps to mix and match the water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels.