An angler holds a pair of West Virginia walleyes that were boated on a trip to Summersville Lake.

While West Virginia isn't thought of as a top walleye-fishing destination, it boasts several impoundments that harbor fine populations of marble-eyes. Perhaps the best of the lot is Summersville Lake, about a four-hour drive south of the Butler area.

Like most West Virginia reservoirs, Summersville is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project that experiences a dramatic fall drawdown, an action that allows for huge flood capacity the following winter and spring.

The drawdown also significantly shrinks the acreage, making walleyes easier to locate. Not exactly like shooting fish in a barrel, but you get the idea.

Formed by an impoundment on the Gauley River, the Summersville walleye fishery is maintained by natural production. While the lake can produce some better-than-average size walleyes, most of the keeper fish will be in the 18- to 22-inch range.

At summer pool, Summersville Lake covers 2,790 surface acres and settles in at an elevation of just over 1,650 feet. By the time the drawdown is complete, the lake elevation will have dropped 75 feet to 1,575 feet above sea level.

Typically, heavy discharges take place on extended weekends — Fridays through Mondays — during September and October. The flows are impressive enough to fuel a whitewater rafting business.

Summersville Lake lies in a rocky, almost gorgelike valley, winding its way up the former Gauley River basin. It's traversed by both the Route 19 and Route 39 bridges. By the time the lake has drained down to winter pool, the upriver bridge that carries Route 39 crosses only the freshly exposed Gauley River.

As Summersville goes through its annual downsizing, walleyes will be forced to migrate downstream to remain in impounded waters. Also, the warmer water tends to be found in a reservoir's deeper areas during the fall, another factor that will help concentrate walleyes in near-dam areas. Baitfish species are inclined to follow the warmest water, and walleyes will be close by.

A top tactic throughout the fall, particularly late in the season once the lake has reached its lowest level, is to fish blade baits like Reef Runner's Cicada along drop-off areas. Use a sonar unit to locate schools of baitfish and walleyes. Live minnows fished on a slip-sinker rig also account for their share strikes.

Boat access ramps on Summersville Lake include Battle Run, Salmon Run and Long Point. Winter landings, ones that provide access during the lowest drawdown ebb, include Salmon Run, as well as one at the Corps of Engineers Dam Site Picnic Area.

Public camping facilities are available at the Battle Run Recreation Area. The campground, which features 117 sites, remains open after Labor Day on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact the campground before any fall trip to be sure of its status if you plan to camp. Visit www.recreation.gov to do so.

Privately owned Mountain Lake Campground provides additional camping options, as well as cabins located near the lake.

An undated message on lake conditions can be heard by calling 304-872-5809.

West Virginia is economically friendly to out-of-state anglers who need to buy licenses. A seasonal non-resident license is available for $37; one-day non-resident licenses are $3. Licenses are available at www.wvfish.com.

In addition to the fine walleye fishing provided by Summersville Lake, more adventurous types might be interested in incorporating a whitewater rafting trip on the Gauley River below the dam.

My wife, some friends and I went on a float trip several years ago. Rafting trips are conducted by several outfitters during autumn weekends. The scenery and ride are awesome.

An Internet search will provide names of rafting companies.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.