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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
49-acre lake near Moundsville. The lake tops out around 13 ft. The depth chart comes from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Dunkard Fork Lake's chart carries 1.2 miles of bank. With a 1.7 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Call it 0.5 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Marshall County. Bear Rock Lakes sits 9 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 13 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 13 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 13 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 7 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
When the water first warms, bluegill slide up into 1 to 6 ft. By summer they slide out to 3 to 13 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 13 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
When the water first warms, channel catfish slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 4 to 13 ft game here, winter a 4 to 13 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 13 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) |
When the water first warms, muskellunge slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 13 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 13 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 7 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Keep a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Come spring, look for white bass & hybrids tight to the bank in 3 to 13 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 13 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 13 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 4 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
When the water first warms, largemouth bass slide up into 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 4 to 13 ft game here, winter a 4 to 13 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Dunkard Fork Lake also holds crappie (4 to 13 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Dunkard Fork Lake carries 5 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 13 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for West Virginia waters are set by the West Virginia DNR — and special regulations can apply to Dunkard Fork Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official West Virginia fishing regulations →
Dunkard Fork Lake is about 13 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish, muskellunge, white bass & hybrids, largemouth bass, crappie on Dunkard Fork Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Dunkard Fork Lake is regulated by the West Virginia DNR. Check the official West Virginia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
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See how Dunkard Fork Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in West Virginia · best crappie lakes in West Virginia · best bluegill lakes in West Virginia · best channel catfish lakes in West Virginia
Browse all West Virginia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Lake maps. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.