Tag: kayaks

Fishing Destination: Elk Fork Lake

Located in Jackson County, between Ripley and Spencer, you’ll find Elk Fork.

Don’t expect to go to camp up here but you can find a place to stay in Ripley and you’ll only be a short drive away from the lake.

This is more of a day/evening trip location- they do allow people to fish at night and they will enforce fishing license as well as boat licensing.

There is a ramp and the lake is peaceful, so it’s a good starter location when you’re learning to kayak.

All in all, I don’t like this location as much as Charles Fork but my husband does enjoy going occasionally with his dad or friends to spend the day fishing. The lake is big, so if you’re learning to kayak and trying to catch up to a troller motor, it will feel almost like you will be paddling all day.

I went out with my husband and father in law. They both had boats with troller motors and I was trying to meet them. By the time I caught up with them, I felt I had a decent grasp on how to paddle in general.

Camping Destination: Charles Fork Lake, Spencer, WV

Charles Fork Lake is a 70 acre lake with 21 miles of hiking trails where people fish, kayak and take other boats out. It’s a peaceful and relaxing area with a camping ground and bait shop located just above the lake.

You can choose between renting an electric campsite where you can plug phone chargers and other devices or a nonelectric if you’re camping more traditionally.

If you want to use the pavilleon for a birthday party, reunion or any other event, it is free- as long as there is an open picnic area. 

We went with the intent on going camping the weekend of our anniversary (3rd-the 5th of August) and picked the wrong time. It rained the first night, so we stayed in the Boggs Grandview Motel located just a few miles away from the lake.

The inn was a good experience, they had cable and friendly staff. It cost less to stay, than fancier motels and we didn’t need fancy accommodations since we were going to the lake the next day.

We happened to go during one of the major events, so it was too crowded for us to finish what we wanted to be a private celebration, but we have gone together on many day trips fishing and riding the boat. We’ve taken my kayak, it’s a great place for a beginner kayaker and every year they have the “Light up the Night” kayak event, usually around the first weekend in August.

If you ever want a place to really get away from it all, Charles Fork Lake has great fishing, boating and hiking options but be prepared to get away- many phone carriers don’t get reception.