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CHARLESTON, WV — Gov. Jim
Justice announced today that beginning this week, in trout stockings
around the state, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has
implemented an improved stocking method.
DNR is stocking the same number of trout in the same number of locations,
but there’s one key difference. Rather than dumping the fish in at one
point, DNR staff and contractors are now spreading them out over longer
sections of stream.
“This is how our streams should be stocked, and this is how I want them
stocked,” Gov. Justice said. “It’s going to be a better fishing
experience and it’s going to help bring anglers to West Virginia from all
over the place.”
“We heard the governor’s directive loud and clear,” DNR Director Stephen
McDaniel said. “We are committed to giving anglers the best that West
Virginia can offer.”
DNR is partnering with the West Virginia Association of Rehabilitation
Facilities to have more people go along on stocking runs. The nonprofit organization has
offices throughout West Virginia, and has helped DNR previously with a
variety of maintenance work.
Jim Hedrick, DNR hatchery program manager, said that DNR stocks
approximately one million trout a year. That means stopping and releasing
fish about 15,000 times in more than 200 streams and lakes around the state.
Hedrick says one of the big things that brings anglers to West Virginia
is a continuous open season. That means when out-of-state anglers can’t
fish in their home states, they can come to the Mountain State to satisfy
their love of the sport. In addition, they can land some prize catches
here.
“With the governor’s plan, we now have one of the best stocking programs
in the nation,” Hedrick said. “We stock bigger fish than anybody.”
To catch trout in West Virginia, anglers must have a fishing license with
a current trout stamp.
All anglers age 15 and older are required to have a West Virginia fishing
license and a valid form of identification while fishing. A West Virginia
fishing license can be purchased at approximately 180 retail agents
around the state or online at wvfish.com. Additionally, all anglers
must follow West Virginia’s fishing regulations, which can be found
online at wvdnr.gov.
Video and photos of trout stocking can be downloaded here.
View DNR's interactive fishing map here.
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