Elk Fork Lake

Jackson County, West Virginia

Elk Fork Lake is a 209 acre lake in Jackson County, less than 10 minutes from Ripley off US 33 and Gay Road. It is known for largemouth bass and channel catfish around plenty of leftover timber.

Air temp Loading current temperature…

Outline: U.S. Geological Survey, National Hydrography Dataset.

Current air temperature at Elk Fork Lake (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area209 acres

Max depth—

Shoreline—

Boat motors10 hp

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Largemouth Bass●●●●○

Timber and submerged wood hold fish

Channel Catfish●●●○○

Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.

Crappie●●●○○

Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.

Boat launches

2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Elk Fork Lake boat rampRamp
Public ramp on the WMA. Boats are limited to 10 hp.Directions ↗
More public accessPublic
See the WV DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.

Species	Min size	Daily limit
Largemouth Bass Only one of the six may be over 16 inches	See West Virginia rules book ↗	6 black bass combined
Smallmouth Bass Only one of the six may be over 16 inches	See West Virginia rules book ↗	6 black bass combined
Spotted Bass Only one of the six may be over 16 inches	See West Virginia rules book ↗	6 black bass combined

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at West Virginia Division of Natural Resources ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Vance's General Store, Bait and TackleNearby
3104 Charleston Rd, Ripley, WV 25271304-377-2409 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Elk Fork Lake ↗

Local tips

Fish around the timber and submerged wood left from when the lake was filled.
Night fishing is allowed year round.
Summer weekends get crowded, so try a weekday.

View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.

More West Virginia lakes

Bluestone Lake Little Blue Run Lake Tygart Lake Cheat Lake Sutton Lake Mount Storm Lake East Lynn Lake Burnsville Lake All West Virginia lakes →

Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.