West Virginia biologists do listen to the sportsmen and women of this state. Proof of that is found in the fact that Shingleton wants to spread the word about a relatively new stocking regimen.

“During the past several stocking seasons, hatchery personnel have increased the number of Thursday and Friday trout stockings,” he said. “This has been popular with many anglers who fish on weekends.”

Indeed, retired individuals who have the time to go after trout can do so during the week and expect solid chances at success. And working men and women, given the fact that the stocking takes place right before the weekend, have a fine opportunity to catch trout that have escaped the initial fishing pressure on those Thursdays and Fridays.

It is simply nonsense to claim that trout stocked are all caught in the first day or two after their release or even in the first week or weeks -- my mid- June visit to Dry Fork proves that.

“Trout tagging studies conducted during the past two stocking seasons show that stocked trout are not caught out of a body of water within a couple days of being stocked,” confirmed Shingleton. “Tag returns indicate approximately 50 percent of trout are still available for anglers seven days after a stocking. These results are very similar to those found during tagging studies performed in the mid-1970s.”

CATCH-AND-RELEASE DESTINATIONS
Let’s now take a look at the various categories of trout streams that West Virginians have to choose from. Certainly one of the most well received categories is the catch-and-release one. For this classification, some of the regulations include that fishing is permitted only during daylight hours; only artificial flies and lures may be used; multiple hook lures must be barbless; single hook lures may be barbed; all trout caught must be returned to the water at once, and no trout may be in an angler’s possession while he is fishing in these designated waters. For complete information, check the DNR’s Web site at www.wvdnr.gov or read the West Virginia 2008 Fishing Regulations Summary. The stocking schedule for these streams varies.

According to Shingleton, here is a list of some of our state’s most popular catch-and-release trout waters.

“The Blackwater River catch-and- release area is a popular and difficult to access area to fish,” he replied. “Other popular catch-and-release areas are the two on the Elk River, plus the Cranberry, Williams, North Fork of the South Branch and South Branch of the Potomac.”

The Blackwater in Tucker County contains a 3.5-mile section from the county Route (CR) 29/1 bridge in Blackwater Falls State Park downstream to the mouth of North Fork. As Shingleton notes, the river is difficult to reach since it lies deep within a gorge. He also notes that the Blackwater, upstream of Davis, is likewise arduous to access but is under the “W” classification. That means it is stocked once in January, twice in February and weekly from March though May. Some of those trout, no doubt, filter into the catch-and-release area. The put-and-take section is in the Camp 70 area.

As Shingleton said earlier, the Elk River boasts two catch-and-release sections. The major one is the two-mile section in Randolph County from the Elk Springs Campground downstream to Rose Run Bridge. Access is via CR 49 off state Route (SR) 15, about four miles west of Valley Head.