Fishing at Hulls Lake, Preston County, West Virginia

• Overview

  Hulls Lake sits in Preston County, out in West Virginia. Height above sea level is 2,566 feet. The water covers some 148 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 2.5 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Nothing else we list in Preston County covers more water. Start from Terra Alta, 3 miles down the road. The big place round here is Pittsburgh, 72 miles distant. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Hulls Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Records held for Preston County cover bluegill, white sucker, brook trout, greenside darter and pumpkinseed. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Hulls Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 26°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. It holds true on Hulls Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Terra Alta Lake sits 1.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Hulls Lake if anything is unclear.