Cheat Lake, West Virginia Fishing

Location and Fishing Information: Cheat Lake is one of the largest lakes in West Virginia, spanning 1,730 acres. It is 13 miles long and serves as a reservoir of the Cheat River. It is located with Monongalia County. It is located several miles northeast of Morgantown, WV. The location makes Cheat Lake an excellent fishing spot for students attending West Virginia University, as well as nearby Fairmont State University and Pierpont Technical and Community College. It is also located in proximity to Cooper’s Rock State Forest.

An interesting fact is that this body of water was actually once known as Lake Lynn, but the name was changed in 1976. As of this writing, the lake is owned and operated by Allegheny Energy.

Fishing at Cheat Lake has been affected considerably by acid mine drainage spilling in from the river. Despite this fact, however, nearly fifty species of fish still populate its waters. It actually remains one of West Virginia’s top largemouth bass fishing lakes.

Popular Fishing Species List:

According to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Cheat Lake still contains numerous species of popular fish despite the accumulation of acid mine drainage. As one of the larger lakes in the state, it is still able to produce solid fishing throughout the year. So, what type of fish are in Cheat Lake? There are roughly four dozen species that can be found here. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, channel catfish, northern pike, and sunfish.

Along with fellow Mountain State lakes like Burnsville, Bluestone, R.D. Bailey, East Lynn, and Stonewall Jackson, Cheat Lake is considered one of the best largemouth bass fishing lakes in West Virginia.

Cheat Lake, WV Fishing Videos

Bass Fishing on Cheat Lake

Perch Fishing on Cheat Lake

Marinas on this Lake

Cheat Lake has two major marinas, as well as various boat and kayak launch ramps. The marinas on Cheat Lake include:

Sunset Beach Marina: Public marina and boat launch

Address:

Sunset Beach Rd

Morgantown, WV 26508

Phone: (304) 594-0050

Website: N/A

Cheat Lake Marina

Address:

69 Mont Chateau Road
Cheat Lake, West Virginia 26508

Phone: (304) 282-7040

Website

Premier Angler aims to provide general information about some of the top fishing destinations across the country. To ensure up-to-date accuracy, make sure to check with your state’s natural resources department and your local marinas before hitting the water.