Largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and these days thanks to state stockings in February and March, West Virginia trout.
“And those trout are beautiful, too, and they’re good eating,” said Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard. “I’ve taken many a trout from Bear Rock, mostly when I would come up here with my dad when he was still alive.
“If there is someone in Ohio County who has never gone fishing, I recommend it because it’s very peaceful, and you usually have great conversations between catching the fish,” he said. “For some people in Ohio County, it may take a little time to get out here, but it’s worth it. That’s why we protect this area with our patrols.”
Many more in the local area likely can tell similar stories when it comes to the Bear Rocks Lakes Wildlife Management Area, a 16-acre patch of land that includes four lakes that were manmade in 1949. Bear Lake does have a boat ramp for crafts with electric motors only, and there are picnic and restroom areas for visitors, as well.
“It’s a beautiful area for the residents of Ohio County, and we are lucky to have the lakes and the creeks that we have,” Howard said. “I encourage everyone to come out here during one of the nice days that we have in this area in the month of March. It’s really not uncommon for the temperatures to be in the high 60s or low 70s, and that’s perfect fishing weather.
“If someone is out here at night, though, our deputies are going to look into it, especially if what they are see something that’s in violation of a gaming law,” he continued. “We just want to make sure there’s no illegal activity taking place. Night fishing is OK, but the rules have to be followed.”
Rules Are Rules
There’s no camping, and swimming also is prohibited. Don’t dare use live minnows as bait, and now a path surrounds most of the 7.5-acre Bear Lake, but the slanted terrain can be tricky every day of the year.
There are several signs, too, that inform visitors that alcohol is a no-no, and such activity could be the biggest problem experienced by law enforcement by law enforcement.
“There is the violation involved with fishing without a license, but we also have had some issues with people having parties out here at Bear Rock, and that’s a problem because no one is permitted to have alcohol on this property,” Howard explained. “When people have had those parties, not only is the alcohol an issue, but so is littering and that just makes no sense to me. We’re lucky enough to have a place like this, and instead of taking care of it, they throw their bottles and their cans all over the place. That’s a real problem, unfortunately.
“The people who really love it out here are the ones who usually clean up those messes, and we do appreciate that, but it’s really not fair to them, either,” the sheriff insisted. “It’s not just beer bottles and cans, though. We have seen pretty much everything from fast food bags to people’s clothing. It’s amazing to me what people will throw away.”
According to daily reports distributed by the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, citations and warnings have been issued for illegal camping, littering, and soliciting prostitution.
“If one of our deputies finds someone sleeping in a car in the middle of the night, he most likely is going to tap on the window and ask you to leave because it closes at dusk each day,” Howard said. “It’s a recreational facility that is managed by the state, but the sheriff’s department patrols it most of the time. If they see something , they are going to check on it; trust me.
“At this time of year, there are a lot of people trout fishing because this is the time when the state stocks Bear Rock and other creeks in the area,” he said. “Bear Rock Lake has been closed to the public in the past because it’s been grown over with algae because of the heat. But at this time of year, anyone who likes to fish doesn’t have to worry about that, and they can take the trout home for dinner, too, because it’s 100 percent safe.”
