North Bend Lake is a lake in Ritchie County, West Virginia.
North Bend Lake in Ritchie County is a small state-park fishery that WVDNR lists at about 305 acres. Largemouth bass, muskellunge, crappie, bluegill and catfish make up the main fishing opportunities.
WVDNR stocks muskellunge here annually, which is unusual for a lake this size. The reservoir's smaller scale also means anglers can fish points, coves and the main channel without spending the day running.
Large jerkbaits and swimbaits fit muskie fishing around points and creek mouths. Bass respond to spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft plastics around shallow cover and depth changes.
Crappie can be caught with small jigs and minnows around brush. Catfish respond to cut bait, worms and prepared bait.
North Bend's annual muskie stocking makes it unusual among West Virginia's smaller public lakes. Because the water is compact, I would spend more time making good casts across points and creek mouths and less time running, especially when targeting a fish that may require hours between bites.
Pick one arm and fish it from the bank toward the channel. Because the lake is compact, I would spend more time working a good area than looking for a completely different one.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.
Source dates describe the evidence, not a live catch forecast. Check the managing authority before planning access or keeping fish.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.