DNR Tags Crappie and Stocks Catfish

The West Virginia DNR wants you to take a closer look at that crappie you catch at Stonewall Jackson Lake.  The agency recently tagged 700 crappie in the lake with special tags aimed at researching the movement and catch rates of the fish.

Each tag is green in color and located just above the dorsal fin.  Anglers need to clip the tag and send it or at least the number to the DNR.     Biologists also need to know when you caught the fish and whether it was kept or released back into the water.  

Tags can be sent to WVDNR, 2311 Ohio Ave, Parkersburg, WV 26101, e-mailed to fishtags@wvdnr.gov or by calling (304) 420-4550. A small reward is provided for returned tags.

Additionally, the DNR has announced the stocking of 55-hundred catfish across 22-lakes in West Virginia.  The fish range in size from three-quarters of a pound to two pounds.  They were reared either at the Apple Grove Hatchery or purchased from a private vendor. 

"These stockings will provide good fishing, especially during the summer when folks are looking for family-oriented recreation close to home,” said DNR Director Frank Jezioro.

It’s the third year for such stockings ahead of the summer.  Studies on previous stockings reveal a high number of those fish are caught throughout the summer months in West Virginia. 

Below are the waters stocked with the catfish:

 Anawalt Lake (McDowell Co.), Barboursville Lake (Cabell Co.), Cacapon State Park Lake (Morgan Co.), Cedar Creek State Park Lake (Gilmer Co.), Chief Logan State Park Lake (Logan Co.), Conaway Run Lake (Tyler Co.), Coopers Rock Lake (Monongalia Co.), French Creek Pond (Upshur Co.), Handley Pond (Pocahontas Co.), Hurricane Lake (Putnam Co.), Krodel Lake (Mason Co.), Laurel Lake (Mingo Co.), Little Beaver State Park Lake (Raleigh Co.), North Bend State Park Pond (Ritchie Co.), Pendleton Lake at Blackwater Falls State Park (Tucker Co.), Pipestem State Park Lake (Summers Co.), Tomlinson Run Lake (Hancock Co.), and Watoga State Park Lake (Pocahontas Co.).

Also, the DNR reports tagged catfish were stocked in Berwind Lake (McDowell Co.), Parker Hollow Lake (Hardy Co.), and Wallback Lake (Clay Co.).  Any tags recovered by angler need to be sent to the above address along with the catch information.