WINFIELD, W.Va. — Anglers hoping for some spring fishing below the Winfield Lock and Dam in Putnam County are going to be disappointed this year. The fishing area has been shutdown due to maintenance work on the hydro power station.
Officials say over the course of the next few weeks construction crews will be installing pilings down to the bedrock in hopes of stopping seepage downstream of the dam.
Appalachian Power has closed the parking lot and the entire fishing area for the work which was originally due to begin at the end of March. Weather and river conditions caused some delays. The project has also been slowed by moving of other utilities.
A source familiar with the project says the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are anxious to cure the seep to prevent erosion of the bank downstream.
The timing of the project couldn’t be worse for anglers. The popular spot is often an attractive spot, particularly in the spring, for all species of fish which are naturally stacked in when the dam breaks their upstream run.