No place on the river is more popular among walleye enthusiasts than the locks, and for good reason; fish stack up heavily in the tailraces. The Marmet, Winfield and London locks are prime localities to encounter significant walleye action.

Certainly, the locks offer a tempting package for walleyes, including the right temperature and flow, along with plenty of forage. Walleyes will migrate to the dams where they find comfy conditions, and thus take up residence. This makes anglers happy, as these walleye-enriched environments can serve up superb fishing.

Angling for these biggest members of the perch family can be exceptional from January through April below the Kanawha River locks. Minnow-tipped jigs, 3-inch twistertails and husky jerkbaits are popular baits that continue to rate as the river’s top walleye lures. White, black and chartreuse colors seem to perform well, but usually it’s lure weight that determines success. Anglers must fish lures that run at the proper depth where walleyes are holding in order for successful fishing to take place.

During most flows, anglers will find the best fishing close to the dam. Walleyes concentrate along the swift water coming through the lock gates, thus providing a clear target for anglers.

Access to the Winfield lock is via U.S. Route 35, while the London and Marmet locks are along U.S. Route 60.

ELK RIVER
The Elk is an old favorite among Mountain State walleye anglers. Historically, the river has been an important walleye fishery for West Virginia. In fact, this river was one of the first West Virginia rivers to feature a thriving walleye fishery.

The thing that sets the Elk River apart from other West Virginia walleye rivers is that the Elk has maintained a self-sustaining population of marble-eyes for many years without the aid of supplemental stockings.

But keep in mind, the main draw on the Elk is the size of the fish rather than numbers, so the river’s walleye anglers are more focused on size. State records and large walleyes have been the norm on this perennial trophy producer. Each year, the Elk River turns out several walleyes weighing in the double digits, including the new state record just a few years ago.

The Elk has always been a tough place to learn where the walleye hotspots are, as local anglers seem very tight-lipped. However, biology provides clues for locating early-season walleyes.

As walleyes move up the river, the mouths of large tributaries serve as inviting harbors. These tributary junctions always seem to be hotspots for early-season walleyes. Spawning habitat is considerably better upstream in the tributaries, and so are the dinner specials. Most tributaries are loaded with potential food at that time of year. Also, tributaries serve as great places for walleyes to escape the relentless current of the Elk.

Despite receiving significant fishing pressure, the mouths of Elk River tributaries still rank among the Mountain State’s most consistent trophy walleye locations. Strange Creek, Birch River, Duck Creek, Sycamore Creek and Buffalo Creek all flow into the Elk and provide potential hotspots for early-season walleye action.