Fishing Plum Orchard Lake in Fayette County, West Virginia

• Overview

  Look for Plum Orchard Lake in the Fayette County part of West Virginia. Elevation runs to 1,752 feet. Roughly 174 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 4.3 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Supplies mean a trip to Oak Hill, 4.2 miles off. Mount Hope is 4.6 miles and Bradley 5.7 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Plum Orchard Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish documented in Fayette County include bluegill and channel catfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Plum Orchard Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 31°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Expect Plum Orchard Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This sits inside Plum Orchard Wildlife Management Area, so read the reserve notices first. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Little Beaver Lake is 15 miles distant. Signs at Plum Orchard Lake carry more weight than any list.