Nevertheless, there are also some great opportunities for catch-and-release area anglers, too. You can surely practice catch-and-release at any waterway, but it’s required at 16 varying streams or segments thereof within the larger statewide listing. They are well marked in the field. Fair warning: You are as likely to be checked by a conservation officer at a special regulations trout zone as anywhere in West Virginia. So, be sure to follow the rules.

In addition to the 16 catch-and-release areas that allow either artificial lures or flies, there are six others that are limited to fly-fishing only. Lest we forget, there are another 10 waters, mostly small ponds that are reserved for children and handicapped anglers from March through May. Children 10 years old or younger and those possessing a Class Q fishing permit may participate.

On June 1 of each year, these waters are open to the general public, since they usually harbor warmwater species like bass and bluegills as well. And as with many of the non-year-round trout or put-and-take waters, the trout may not be able to survive the summer’s high water temperatures. Therefore, for a vast majority of these streams, you don’t have to feel guilty about keeping a few fish.

This is particularly true of the more southern or lower elevation streams within West Virginia. Of course, there are exceptions. Underground mining sometimes creates cooler waters on select streams.

McDowell County’s Elkhorn Creek in the far southern segment is perhaps the best example of such a water. Not only are brown and rainbow trout living there, they are reproducing.

Some of the astounding citation- class trout caught from this creek will knock your socks off. A few people may be upset at me for having revealed that, but just as for that daily stocking report, there is a laid-back nature to the trout fishing. In fact, at a recent Saturday trip to Elkhorn, we never encountered another angler!

As if all that wasn’t enough, the DNR stocks the creeks and also provides surplus fingerlings to Trout Unlimited (TU) local chapters and sportsmen’s groups for potential trout waters statewide. Call your local DNR office for more information.

In relief of acid rain, TU was also instrumental in the similar restoration of Red Run in Tucker County a few years back, which was a quick and tremendous success. Red Run is presently one of those fly-fishing-only trout streams. It features a native brook trout fishery. As the TU slogan goes, “bring back the brook” is exemplified by just such stream restorations. There is still great hope for a coal impact-related mitigation-restoration of the 14 miles of Red Creek heading up in the Dolly Sods of Tucker County. This stretch of stream is presently impaired by acid rain.

Power plant modifications are gradually progressing with the hopes of greatly relieving the acid deposition situation once and for all to the great benefit of many a trout fishery. And don’t forget the tremendous restorations made through liming sand or rotating drum limestone pulverization treatments at big-name trout fisheries the likes of the Blackwater and Cranberry rivers and Shavers Fork.