Fishing like a Pro in the
Mountain Lakes Region
Andy Godwin—Fishing Pro
FLW Outdoors Stren Series

Sutton and Burnsville Lakes are both great for boating – whether you care to rent a pontoon boat, ride a paddleboat, add some challenge with a jet ski, a day of water skiing, or just bring your own. Swimming is also available at the lakes, though no lifeguards are posted. Visitors to the county may also enjoy history, arts & crafts, camping, dining, or just some plain old R&R. For the fishermen, with well over 100 miles of shoreline, the fishing doesn't get much better than Braxton County. But don’t take my word for it hear what fishing pro Andy Godwin has to say about fishing in the region.

Being a native of the Mountain Lakes Region of Central WV has allowed me to live out a fisherman’s dream of fishing some of the best waters on the east coast which provide excellent fishing for all ages. This is where I started as a young man and it continues to be the place I enjoy fishing as a seasoned professional. The lakes in this area are all unique and individual in their age, size and composition.

The Elk and Holly Rivers flow together to create the deep water, highland reservoir, 15 mile long Sutton Lake; abundant with large and small mouth bass as well as spotted bass. Just below the Sutton Dam, the Elk River becomes an oasis for trout fishing enthusiasts. As the Elk continues flowing southwest through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, it transforms into prime waters excellent for float fishing for trophy walleye, musky, and small mouth bass.

The Burnsville Lake, created from the flow of the Little Kanawha River as well as other drainages provides a lowland reservoir with flooded woodland and shallow cover, making it a key location for large and small mouth bass fishing as well as channel cat fishing. Numerous cat fishing films have been shot on the Burnsville Lake due to its excellent environment for channel catfish.

Visit the Mountain Lakes Region and create some great fishing memories of your own this year.

Follow Andy on the water this summer:
Kentucky Lake, Benton, KY—June 7-10
Mississippi River, Onalaska, WI—July 12-15
Fort Madison, IA August 9-12
Detroit River, Detroit, MI—September 6-9.