It may be bitterly cold and stream banks may be shrouded with ice and snow, but the DNR’s put and take trout stockings for the spring of 2008 are underway. The trucks started rolling the first of January and will continue with the regularly scheduled stockings all the way until the end of May.
"This is the winter portion of our spring season," said DNR trout program leader Mike Shingleton. "The only waters we’re stocking are the weekly waters, the bi-annual waters, and the monthly that begin in January and end in April."
That list encompasses just over 50 impoundments and streams all across West Virginia. The winter temperatures are conducive to allowing stockings in the western lowlands of the state and across the southern coalfields. Normally, by the time spring arrives those waters are too warm to support trout.
The DNR also puts fish into the regular angling haunts of the state like Williams River and Shaver’s Fork. It’s not uncommon to find trout still there from the last stockings during the fall. Shingleton says the high mountain water temperatures are often at a level that will sustain trout year-round, but there are a number of other factors that also play into the chances of a trout to survive a full year and they aren’t just heat.
"Water quality and pH has to be suitable, but usually when we stock in October that isn’t a problem,” said Shingleton.
What does bring that problem to the forefront is a warm spell in the middle of winter. Melting snow in the high mountains of West Virginia can elevate acid levels in streams well beyond what trout can endure. Acid rain and snow are common problems in the West Virginia high country. Although water flush with snowmelt looks very fishable, looks can be deceiving.
"Our rain and snow pH is about four, these trout are coming out of waters that are a high six or seven and they’re stocked in waters that are above six, but very often it will drop below that,” Shingleton said.
Such sudden changes in environment won’t necessarily kill those fish, but it will have a dramatic impact on their activity and can turn off or on the fish bite in a matter of minutes.
Another intangible in West Virginia trout fishing is the fishing pressure. There are many who think the only time to catch trout is moments after the DNR has tossed them into the water. While trout may readily bite in that time period, they quickly acclimate to their new environment and aren’t as easily fooled. Fishing pressure on non-stocking days and after the stocking schedule ends is normally way down. That lack of pressure also keeps good numbers of fish on hand for those willing to work for a limit.