Like Shingleton, Docherty emphasizes that the Stonewall Jackson tailrace is not a year-round trout fishery. He says that anglers should concentrate their efforts from February through early June. Very little carryover of trout exists, as the fishery is mostly put and take.

TYGART TAILRACE
Docherty says that the Tygart tailrace offers trout fishing from below the dam downstream to the U.S. Route 50 bridge in Fetterman, south of Grafton, a distance of approximately three miles. The best angling takes place in the first mile of the Tygart River below the dam. Rainbows are the primary species, although browns are occasionally caught and even a few golden rainbow trout make their way to anglers' creels.

"I would describe the trout fishery as decent, but in no way can it compare to the tailrace fishing on the Gauley and North Branch of the Potomac," he said. "People can fish on the Tygart from either side of the river below the dam. Some people like to wade-fish, but they should be very careful and leave the water when the sirens go off. When the sirens sound, lights also flash and a public service announcement comes on."

The Tygart River does contain some major rapids below the dam, but those rapids do not occur until the river arrives at Valley Falls State Park, which is well below the stocked trout waters. The "trout portion" of the tailrace offers little more than pools and riffles.

One of the things I liked best about fishing below Tygart Lake is that I could park my vehicle at the Grafton City Park immediately below the dam on river right. Parents with young children may well enjoy this situation, as the tykes can angle for trout for a while and then avail themselves of the park's facilities.

Joe Skeen adds that yellow perch also thrive below the dam, as well as some sizeable bluegills and some smallmouth bass and walleyes. Skeen agrees with Docherty that the tailrace is not a good summertime trout fishery, emphasizing that he has enjoyed his best success from December through April. Skeen further states that the late fall/early winter period is the best time to catch big trout from the tailrace.

Docherty informs that no significant hatches take place on the Tygart tailrace, and that minnows and crayfish are the predominant prey of trout here. For that reason, he likes to employ Clouser minnows, Woolly Buggers and crayfish patterns when he breaks out the long rod. Similarly, Skeen maintains that his most productive lures are in-line spinners and small crayfish-imitating crankbaits.

Mike Shingleton said that the Tygart tailrace, which lies in Taylor County, annually receives about 3,500 pounds of trout. The stockings take place immediately below the dam and occur once each month from February through May and twice in October.

HOW-TO TIPS
Chris Ellis said that he prefers to fish the Mountain State's tailrace fisheries with a fly rod. In February and March, the Fayette County resident employs nymphs, such as size 8 through 12 Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears and Princes. If the trout seem fairly aggressive, as for example after a few days of slightly rising water and air temperatures, he will strip size 6 and 8 streamers through likely lairs, such as current breaks, eddies and undercut banks.

Come April, Ellis continues with the above nymph patterns, but he relies more and more on streamers, particularly toward the latter part of the month, as the warmer temperatures of early spring positively influence trout behavior and aggressiveness. In May, he tries various stimulator patterns, that is, any meaty looking fly that doesn't look like anything in particular, but mimics a host of little beasties. Caddis patterns in sizes 8 and 10 are also good choices then.

Mike Shingleton favors spinning tackle. The biologist said that one of the favorite lures for West Virginia tailrace enthusiasts is an in-line spinner with some fly-like dressing covering the treble hook. Other anglers, this writer included, feel that the fly dressing impedes the action of spinners and prefer in-lines with bare hooks and silver or gold blades. Of course, untold numbers of trout have been caught with both types of spinners.

Ellis prefers to ply tailrace fisheries when the water is clear and low, or when water levels are at least at moderate or normal levels. Moderate flows are also the time when these streams are best floated. But my favorite time -- and the period when I have enjoyed my best success -- is when the tailraces are running high and are moderately discolored. To be specific, I like the water to have a grayish hue.

I feel that is the time when jumbo trout are most actively cruising about and are also most easily caught. That's when I will upsize my baits and use the same hardware I would for river smallmouths. Good lure choices include 3-inch minnow plugs, 1/4-ounce crayfish crankbaits, and a real oddball choice -- 1/4-ounce Colorado spinnerbaits with single blades. I have caught trout up to 20 inches with these types of baits.

West Virginia features a diversity of tailrace trout fisheries. Jennings Randolph, Summersville, Stonewall Jackson and Tygart all have the potential to produce fish right now.

IF YOU GO
For daily stocking information, anglers can contact the DNR at (304) 558-3399 or visit its Web site at www.wvdnr.gov. Tygart Lake State Park makes for a convenient base for those fishing the Tygart tailrace. Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park can make the same claim for those visiting its tailrace, and Hawks Nest and Babcock state parks lie near Summersville. For all these parks, dial 800-CALL-WVA.