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Fishing Pendleton Lake: what the data says
8-acre lake near Davis. The lake tops out around 13 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Largemouth Bass fishing at Pendleton Lake
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 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 Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 3 to 13 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Bluegill fishing at Pendleton Lake
Start shallow in spring: bluegill sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 13 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 13 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Pendleton Lake
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 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 Deep basin: a deep basin around 4 ft that scores prime in winter. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 13 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 13 ft | midday |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Pendleton Lake
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 3 to 13 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 13 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 13 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 4 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 | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 3 to 13 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 4 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Pendleton Lake?
Pendleton Lake is about 13 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Pendleton Lake?
Anglers target largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout on Pendleton Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Pendleton Lake?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Pendleton Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
Mount Storm Lake · Teter Creek Lake · Spruce Knob Lake · Fairfax Ponds Lake · Tygart Lake · South Branch Potomac
See how Pendleton 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 every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.