Photo By Ron Sinfelt

The fog swirled above the still waters and encircled our boat as a gentle breeze drifted by. The bustling river life had yet to awaken, and I was soaking up the serene vibes when a distinct tap on my line signaled the presence of a walleye. With a tight line and bent rod, I peered intently into the water to catch a glimpse of what might be a mighty 4-pounder or a 10-inch “cigar” walleye. With fishing for walleyes, you never know.

Although I had hoped this walleye would be an early spring lunker, the chunky 18-incher turned out to be a welcome addition to the stringer where it joined three others that were all destined for the dinner table.

West Virginia features a variety of walleye waters, including some fine river fishing. However, new developments in Mountain State walleye management, including an intensified stocking program and expanding walleye stockings into previously non-stocked rivers, should add a whole new wave of angling excitement.

Fishermen are aware that some West Virginia rivers have self-sustaining walleye fisheries like the Elk River, but most are dependent on supplemental stockings from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) hatcheries. The DNR stocks about 300,000 walleye fingerlings in state waterways annually, and production during the last two years has exceeded expectations. In 2006 alone, over 380,000 walleyes were stocked in West Virginia waters.

While many walleyes are stocked into impoundments, some are carefully delivered to large rivers within our state, such as the Kanawha and Ohio rivers.

During the past two years, a new strain of walleye, deemed the New River strain, was discovered. This genetically superior river strain has been targeted for hatchery production by the DNR, and New River strain walleyes are slated to be stocked into many of the Mountain State’s large rivers.

The new hatchery at Apple Grove, in Mason County, has expanded the fish-rearing capacity for the DNR, and such expansion should allow for an increase in walleye production. This will ultimately benefit Mountain State anglers.

KANAWHA RIVER
Big and wide and second only to the mighty Ohio in size, the Kanawha River is a pretty good walleye fishery. The Kanawha River has traditionally received token attention from Mountain State anglers, but over the last five years or so, fishing pressure has increased noticeably. Anglers have probably figured out that many areas of the Kanawha are capable of producing quality walleyes.

Documented catches from the past have demonstrated that the Kanawha can produce trophy walleyes, but clearly this river’s strength lies in numbers rather than its trophy potential. Typical walleyes from the river run between 10 to 20 inches, although that size varies with year-class strength.

Walleye stocking has become an important feature in many West Virginia rivers, and the Kanawha is no exception. Each year, the Kanawha is slated to receive stockings of fingerling walleyes; the river received over 31,000 walleye fingerlings in both 2005 and 2006. Numbers like these should really get anglers excited about the future of walleye fishing in the Kanawha River.