Calling expert and manufacturer David Hale of Knight and Hale Game Calls shot this tom in Marathon County. Photo by Greg Keefer.

During my three-day sojourn in Tucker County this past June, my wife, Elaine, and I had enjoyed a variety of activities. We had spent several days at Blackwater Falls State Park, dined at local restaurants, and I had spent considerable time outdoors fishing, canoeing and hiking.

However, on that third day, I still had about four hours available before my spouse and I had to depart for home. Therefore, I was able to join Rob Gilligan, superintendent of Blackwater Falls State Park, his son, John, and Stanley Beafore, assistant superintendent of nearby Canaan Valley Resort State Park, on the Dry Fork, a put-and-take trout stream.

Jokingly, Rob Gilligan, whom I had fished the Dry Fork with before, called Beafore the “legend of the Dry Fork,” and shortly after we arrived that morning, I understood that the jest had its basis in fact. For not long after we began fishing, Stanley landed a nice-sized rainbow that fell for a night crawler drifted through a deep pool. And at the next stop, the assistant superintendent employed the same tactic to fool a fine brown.

That quality early summer outing spoke volumes about the quality and breadth of trout fishing in West Virginia. We anglers have a wealth of options to choose from whether they are catch-and-release trout streams, fly-fishing-only waters, put-and-take streams, and even lakes and ponds stocked with trout.

Mike Shingleton, who oversees the coldwater fisheries program for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR), offered some insight on what fishing will be like this year. One of the first things trout fanciers always want to know is what is the latest on the stocking situation, especially with the long-lasting drought that took place in 2007.

“Our 10-year average is 750,000 pounds,” Shingleton said. “This past year’s poundage stocked was a little over 700,000 pounds; it was lower than the average due to major construction at one of the hatcheries. We hope to be near our average this year.

“However, we are in a drought situation now with no relief in sight, and production is likely to be affected due to crowded conditions. After all, we cannot transfer trout to other hatcheries when we need to. The crowded conditions will result in slower growth and smaller trout.”

At press time, Shingleton said he knew of no new regulations for 2008 and there are no new classifications (such as catch-and-release or fly-fishing only) being discussed for upcoming years. Another major topic of interest is the long-lasting problem of impaired streams.

“Many streams face the same problems they always have, such as acid precipitation, siltation, low and warm flows,” continued the biologist. “I am sure readers are aware of the proposed sewage plant in the Slatyfork section of the Elk River. That is ongoing and no final plan has yet been made.

“The DNR continues to treat low pH streams with limestone sand. The DNR, along with the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection), currently treat about 300 miles of streams, 80 percent of which benefits native brook trout.”

The Slatyfork is one of the most cherished trout streams in the Mountain State and one that I have relished fly-fishing. The 4.6-mile section in Pocahontas County is catch-and-release from the junction of Big Spring and Old Field forks downstream to the mouth of Dry Branch, including Props Run and Big Run.