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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
22-acre reservoir near Fort Ashby. The lake tops out around 36 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Shoreline on the chart totals 1.2 miles. An index of 2.2 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 56% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 0.4 mi end to end. The water lies in Mineral County. For a second option, Rocky Gap Lake lies 16 mi northeast.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 17 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (17 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: channel catfish in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 25 ft, wintering in 11 to 36 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 35 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | |
| Winter | 11 to 36 ft | midday | Deep basin (35 ft) |
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 25 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 17 ft, rated prime for fall bluegill. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (17 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Break off the point (17 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 36 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 17 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 36 ft | dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The chart marks 4 structure features on Fort Ashby Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 35 ft.
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 Fort Ashby Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official West Virginia fishing regulations →
Fort Ashby Lake is about 36 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, rainbow trout on Fort Ashby Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For largemouth bass, 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 Fort Ashby 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.
Rocky Gap Lake 16 mi, MD · Savage River Reservoir 18 mi, MD · Jennings Randolph Lake 19 mi, MD/WV · New Creek Dam 14 24 mi · South Branch Potomac 25 mi · Deep Creek Lake 28 mi, MD · Warden Lake 28 mi · Parker Hollow Lake 32 mi · Mount Storm Lake 33 mi · Sleepy Creek Lake 34 mi · Youghiogheny River Lake 35 mi, MD/PA · Kimsey Run Lake 38 mi
See how Fort Ashby Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in West Virginia · best bluegill lakes in West Virginia · best channel catfish lakes in West Virginia · best rainbow trout lakes in West Virginia
Browse all West Virginia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.