With spring’s first tint of gold, the trout stocking program gets in full swing.
Area streams soon will receive stockings of trout, even as the thoughts of many outdoorsmen already are turning forward to soft April breezes.
In reality, only few will want to take up their fishing gear and head out to streams in search of a prize rainbow or brown trout.
That’s odd, in a way, because some of the finest fishing that the Mountain State has to offer is just around the bend, particularly on those warm springtime days, when the hills are aglow with a kaleidoscope of colorful buds and blooms.
Often, during the opening of the spring gobbler season, beginning on April 17 and continuing through May 21st (youthgobbler season is set for April 16 and 17), a small number of anglers have the streams virtually all to themselves as they flick their fly rods in pursuit of big brood trout.
If you haven’t tried early spring angling, maybe it’s time you did.
Here are some reasons why.
With the warmer air currents in motion, the water temperatures rise in both rivers and creeks. This change in temperature often signals an optimum feeding climate for trout at an ideal 52- to 64-degree range during much of the daylight hours.
Consequently, you’re apt to find trout actively busy in finding food at a time when the water levels are on their way back up again after chilly January and February months have packed up their bags and moved on to warmer pastures.
For the trout fisherman who is willing to spend half of his day hunting and the other half pursuing his finny prey, springpresents an ideal opportunity for a complete outdoor experience—including turkeys, trout, and wild mushrooms.
It’s a time when the trout usually are at their feistiest.
And they aren’t as selective in feeding as they will be a few weeks later, when they are inundated with concentrations of mayfly, stonefly, and caddis emergences.
A fly fisherman can lean on surface patterns like the juicy terrestrial imitations of grasshoppers and beetles, or dive under the surface with hefty nymphs, streamers, and wooly buggers.
Now, the table is set for some super flyrod angling.
According to Mark Scott, assistant–chief fisheries biologist with the DNR in Charleston, several local streams that fish well in spring (and where stocking takes place at about the time the spring gobbler hunting season gets underway) include:
Anthony Creek and Big Clear Creek in Greenbrier County; Glade Creek of New River in Raleigh County; Pinnacle Creek and R.D. Bailey Lake (tailwaters) in Wyoming County; Summersville Lake (tailwaters) in Nicholas County; and Summit Lake in Greenbrier County.
A large percentage of the trout stocked are brood-size fish.
All three species of trout, including brook, brown and rainbow, are among the fish stocked in area waters.
Scott also said that the spring stocking program presents an opportunity for anglers to enjoy the emerging bountiful foliage.
Since a large percentage of brood trout are being stocked, the stocking will provide an opportunity for anglers to qualify for trophy fish citations on the various trout species, such as brook trout, 1 ½ pounds or greater; brown trout, 4 pounds or greater; rainbow trout, 4 pounds or greater, and golden trout, 4 pounds or greater.
The Trophy Fish Citation Program was initiated to recognize outstanding fishing achievements and to provide the Fisheries Management Section with useful data.
Persons interested in registering their trophy fish catches may obtain applications from any license agent or from the DNR’sWildlife Resources office in Beckley.
Scott said people fishing for trout are reminded that a trout fishing stamp (Class O) is required in addition to the resident or non-resident fishing licenses.
“This is a beautiful time to be out of doors in the state,” Scott said. “It offers our residents an additional opportunity to enjoy both fishing and hunting during one of the most spectacular times of the year.”
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Top o’ the morning!