Lake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
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40-acre reservoir near Elk Garden. The lake tops out around 65 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
New Creek Dam 14 maps at 40 acres behind 1.7 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 39% of this chart. The basin spans about 0.5 mi end to end and 0.2 mi across at its widest. It sits in Grant County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Mount Storm Lake, is 9 mi to the southwest.
Spring smallmouth bass on New Creek Dam 14 hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 16 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (36 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is an 8 to 25 ft game here, winter a 20 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 36 ft, good for winter. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (36 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Break off the point (36 ft) |
Spring bluegill on New Creek Dam 14 hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 25 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 4 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (64 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 40 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 36 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (36 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The chart marks 5 structure features on New Creek Dam 14; the deepest is Deep basin at about 64 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 New Creek Dam 14 specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official West Virginia fishing regulations →
New Creek Dam 14 is about 65 ft (20 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 smallmouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, rainbow trout on New Creek Dam 14.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For smallmouth 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 New Creek Dam 14 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.
Mount Storm Lake 9 mi · Jennings Randolph Lake 11 mi, MD/WV · South Branch Potomac 12 mi · Savage River Reservoir 18 mi, MD · Deep Creek Lake 19 mi, MD · Thomas Park Lake 21 mi · Pendleton Lake 22 mi · Parker Hollow Lake 24 mi · Fort Ashby Lake 24 mi · Kimsey Run Lake 27 mi · South Mill Creek Lake 29 mi · Rock Cliff Lake 30 mi
See how New Creek Dam 14 stacks up: best smallmouth 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.