CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Starting this week more than 60 bodies of water across West Virginia will be stocked exclusively with golden trout during the Division of Natural Resources regular trout stockings. It’s the eighty year for the event which is deemed “The Gold Rush” by the agency. It’s an annual event to spotlight trout fishing. The aim is to spark interest among children and families to give fishing a try.
Jim Hedrick is the Hatchery Programs Manager for the DNR and was one of those who came up with the idea. He said since the agency has run with the program it’s been an annual hit.
“We get people from out of state because they don’t have golden trout in their state, or at least they’re not stocking them at a very high rate. Then it gives our residents a better chance to catch a golden trout. I think overall, it just gives people a better chance to get out and enjoy the great outdoors in West Virginia,” said Hedrick during a recent interview for West Virginia Outdoors.
The fish are stocked in a large number of waters which are easily accessible to children and those who may not be as astute at navigating a high mountain, secluded trout stream.
“Of the 69 waters, 41 of them are lakes,” explained Hedrick. “We stock all of the State Park lakes just for families and kids. A lot of the State Parks have other accommodations like restrooms, or playgrounds if younger siblings get tired of fishing.”
The timing is often aimed at happening around the spring break for children. This year, Hedrick noted the rough winter and flood conditions in some parts of the state cost students a lot of weather days and spring break for some has been eclipsed by the bad weather.
The planning for the Gold Rush started well in advance of the two weeks of stocking. Hedrick said they don’t produce additional fish, they simply plan by producing more golden trout and fewer regular rainbow trout. It’s no additional strain on the hatchery and doesn’t impact the numbers or size of fish production during the year. However, it does take planning.
“It actually takes multiple years of planning. You have to plan years ahead in order to save enough young fish for them to become at least two years old to produce enough eggs that a year and a half later we have enough golden trout to do this,” he added.
The Gold Rush runs from April 1-April 12. The DNR will stock 69 waters, but Hedrick noted the fishing will last well beyond those two weeks.
“When these golden trout are stocked a lot of them don’t bite right away. Especially when you put them in lakes where you can see them, golden trout persist for a long time. Plus they can be a little more finicky,” he said.