Lake of Eden Fishing near Barboursville, West Virginia

• Overview

  Lake of Eden is a Cabell County water, West Virginia side. The surroundings are open valley. It covers about 2 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Ground here is low by West Virginia standards. You are 1.8 miles from Barboursville. Meads sits 24 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lake of Eden

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Reported across Cabell County: bluegill, blackside darter, golden redhorse and longear sunfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Lake of Eden decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 32°F to 75°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Anyone fishing Lake of Eden regularly works to that calendar. Rain lifts the level and moves fish about.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Melody T Lake is 1.4 miles off. Signs at Lake of Eden carry more weight than any list.