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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
44-acre lake near Wardensville. The lake tops out around 19 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
On the chart, Warden Lake draws 44 acres inside 1.5 miles of shoreline. Index 1.6 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 81% of this chart. End to end it runs roughly 0.7 mi, about 0.2 mi across. You'll find it in Hardy County. For a second option, Parker Hollow Lake lies 13 mi southwest.
Spring puts largemouth bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 19 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 19 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for winter largemouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | midday | Break off the point (18 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 19 ft before dropping to 6 to 19 ft for winter. Winter smallmouth bass concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 18 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (3 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | midday | Break off the point (18 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season yellow perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 6 to 19 ft game here, winter a 6 to 19 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 19 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft | dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Start shallow in spring: bluegill sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 4 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 19 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 19 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 (18 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 19 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 19 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 19 ft, rated prime for winter channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 6 to 19 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (19 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 19 ft | dusk | Deep basin (19 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 19 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 5 to 19 ft covers summer, 4 to 19 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 19 ft | dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Warden Lake also holds northern pike (6 to 19 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 4 structure features on Warden Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 19 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Warden Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official West Virginia fishing regulations →
Warden Lake is about 19 ft (6 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, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, northern pike on Warden Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
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 Warden 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.
Parker Hollow Lake 13 mi · Rock Cliff Lake 14 mi · Kimsey Run Lake 17 mi · South Branch Potomac 19 mi · Lake Frederick 24 mi, VA · Fort Ashby Lake 28 mi · New Creek Dam 14 30 mi · Shenandoah River 30 mi, VA · Jennings Randolph Lake 35 mi, MD/WV · Sleepy Creek Lake 35 mi · Mount Storm Lake 36 mi · South Mill Creek Lake 36 mi
See how Warden Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in West Virginia · best smallmouth bass lakes in West Virginia · best bluegill lakes in West Virginia · best channel catfish lakes in West Virginia
More water nearby: Hardy County fishing maps (5 charts). 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.