/If you are heading off this weekend to do a little trout fishing. There are a couple places to go trout fishing nearby Summersville .If you want a wilderness setting to get away by yourself or a family vacation,you don’t have to travel far. Trout fishing can be done year round,due to the temperature of local streams and the release of water at Summersville Dam . “In the spring and early fall are the best time to go trout, but I have caught several fish on Williams River in the dead of winter. I have never been one to chase a stock truck.To me that’s not fishing.It’s like shooting fish in a barrel. Honestly what is the point.I would rather head up to The Cranberry Back Country and ride my mountain bike for 5 or 6 miles then start fishing. You can try fishing at the base of Summersville Dam.It is only a stock program and as a lot fishing pressure.If you travel downstream past where most people are just to lazy to walk.You can increase your odds dramatically.The only thing I dont like about fishing is.The water is traveling so fast you need to use extra weights to keep it down.This in turn hangs you up on the rock below.
There are two catch-and-release and fly-fishing-only areas.One is in Cranberry Back Country , it’s about an hour drive from Summersville to Richwood.The other is in Webster Springs.It will take you about 2 hours to reach that one.The Cranberry Back Country is by far the place to go Trout fishing.Whether you want to fly fish or cast.I have never been disappointed on any trip. Around 8 or 9 miles up the road.(P.S. you have to park and walk,bike or horse) there is a fly fishing only stream that branches off to the left.If you take a casting rod.Hide it somewhere,they are not permitted past the sign.
My favorite trout streams include the Cranberry River near Richwood, River, Williams river headwaters,Elk River above Webster Springs, Back Fork of Elk River,River.Summit lake also near Richwood has always been good to me.
I would advise you if you are not going to be camping.Stay in a hotel in Summersville .Just trust me on this one.Okay.
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I lived in Summersville for about 2 years in the early 80′s. That was a very good time of my life and the people were wonderful, both professional and just friends. I loved fishing in the lake both on the litte boat I had and taking my little Yorkie out to one of the streams feeding off the lake. She (Pebbles) would run down the hill and she stopped before she landed in the stream. I would catch a lot of “Red Eyes” there and although they were small, they were good to eat. I was able to fish with one of the marina co-owners and we caught some good sized bass.
I would never have left there if I had not gotten a promotion in my job, which required me to move to Fairmont WV. I would like to visit Summersville again.