WVDNR announces changes for 2016
The 2016 trout stocking season that begins Monday, Jan. 4, will see several changes, according to Bret Preston, assistant chief for the Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section.
Seven streams and one pond have been removed from the 2016 trout stocking schedule. These streams are either too small, have very limited angler access, few stocking locations, poor trout habitat, or a combination of these characteristics.
These streams include Deer Creek in Nicholas County, Long Marsh Run in Jefferson County, Lower Cove Run in Hardy County, Mill Run of Back Creek in Berkeley County, both the North and South forks of Fishing Creek in Wetzel County, and South Fork of Potts Creek in Monroe County. The smaller of the two Larenim Park lakes was removed from the stocking list due to the lack of adequate vehicle access.
Buffalo Creek in Clay County has been added to the stocking schedule. Remediation from historical mining activities, habitat improvement, and acquisition of public access made it a great candidate for put-and-take trout stocking. DNR personnel will stock Buffalo Creek in a 3.75-mile section in the Swandale Road area on a monthly stocking schedule.
The 2016 fishing regulations brochure, available at license agents, WVDNR offices and online at www.wvdnr.gov, lists which waters will receive one stocking during January. The stocking schedule is dependent upon weather and road conditions.
DNR Wildlife Resources personnel will start stocking at a high rate to promote trout distribution during periods of good stream flow. Reducing the number of trout in the hatcheries early in the year helps promote trout growth and provides larger fish for anglers throughout the entire spring stocking season, which concludes May 31.
Anglers can call the Fishing Hotline at 304-558-3399 or visit the website at www.wvdnr.gov to find out which streams and lakes have been stocked each day. Anglers also are reminded that new fishing licenses are required for 2016 and may be purchased at a license agent or online at www.wvfish.com.
Anglers are also encouraged to check out DNR’s online interactive map at www.mapwv.gov/huntfish. The map indicates which streams and lakes are stocked, the stream section that is stocked, special fishing regulation areas, and driving directions to stocked waters.
