Fish Stocking

Aquatic resource education and communication are critical components of the DNR’s fisheries management programs. DNR-sponsored youth and family-oriented fishing events are popular, especially during National Fishing and Boating Week and West Virginia’s Free Fishing Days in June. DNR staff work with other organizations and communities to develop fishing and education opportunities. The Governor’s Youth in the Outdoors and DNR’s Becoming an Outdoorswoman programs are successful in introducing new participants to fishing and educating anglers of the future.

DNR fisheries staff are continuously working to improve communication. New outreach efforts will help us to explain what we do as fisheries managers. We are also committed to strengthening partnerships with other state and federal agencies, and groups with sport fishing interests to cooperatively develop research, public access, and habitat enhancements.

Regulations represent one tool that fisheries managers utilize to provide sustainable recreational fishing opportunities and protect fishery resources. Generally, the purposes of recreational fishing regulations address one or more of three broad areas.

• First, a regulation may be intended to prevent over-harvest of a sport fish population, especially larger fish that many anglers value.
• Second, regulations like daily creel limits may be established to distribute harvest among anglers.
• Third, regulations may be required to protect a rare species or control harmful exotic species.

The DNR is careful to collect adequate biological information and to consider angler attitudes and preferences before recommending regulation changes. The agency’s management goal is to balance the obligation to protect sport fish populations and other aquatic resources while providing a diverse array of recreational fishing opportunities throughout the state.

Providing access to public waters is a primary objective of the DNR. More than 200 public access sites on streams, rivers, and lakes are now available to anglers. The DNR also partners with other agencies and local governments to construct boat access facilities and shoreline fishing trails. Access for physically challenged anglers is an important component of the access development program. The Physically Challenged Handicapped Advisory Board provides useful information to the DNR about locating and designing accessible sites.

The Division of Natural Resources seeks to provide a variety of angling opportunities to meet increasing demands on our recreational fisheries, while also conserving and protecting this vital resource. One way that the DNR addresses this need is through its fish hatchery programs. Many anglers are aware of the successful trout hatchery and stocking program that provides and enhances fishing in small impoundments and streams statewide. The state’s warmwater hatchery and stocking program, although a little less well known, is extremely significant to all West Virginia anglers.

West Virginia’s warmwater hatchery program has been instrumental in providing fishing opportunities to anglers for nearly 60 years. For most of that time, the Palestine Hatchery was the state’s primary facility dedicated to the production of warmwater species. Millions of walleye, musky, tiger musky, channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, saugeye, sunfish, and largemouth and smallmouth bass have been raised over the years at Palestine Hatchery, and stocked into streams and lakes across the state. Consequently, the Palestine Hatchery has been a key to most of West Virginia’s fishery management successes.

A recent addition to the hatchery program, the Apple Grove Hatchery in Mason County, will further enhance the DNR’s fish production capabilities providing increased angling opportunities to West Virginia’s anglers. This new facility has 34 ponds totaling 43 acres and a 5-acre water supply reservoir that nearly doubles the DNR’s fish production capabilities. A modern, 9,300 square-foot hatchery building will further improve fish production efforts enhancing the DNR’s ability to spawn, rear, and ultimately stock fish into West Virginia’s waters. Musky, tiger musky, walleye, channel catfish, and other species will be raised at Apple Grove Hatchery.

The Apple Grove and Palestine hatcheries are vital to the DNR’s ability to provide fish for recreational angling and restoration efforts throughout West Virginia. These facilities in conjunction with modern and science-based fishery management efforts conducted by the DNR’s staff fishery biologists will be key to enhancing the state’s recreational fisheries for the enjoyment of all.

Current warmwater fisheries survey projects on lakes and rivers focus on three basic areas:

1. Population structure and angler harvest;
2. Movement within rivers and streams;
3. The effectiveness of stocking.

Black bass, walleye, channel catfish, and muskellunge are the species targeted in these assessments. The West Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation and Muskies Inc. provide assistance with some projects. Trout research conducted by WVU and funded by the DNR includes habitat evaluation and restoration projects on Shavers Fork and other native brook trout streams.

A number of projects have been initiated to improve habitat in West Virginia waters. Long-standing projects such as placing recycled Christmas trees in reservoirs and adding limestone sand to streams for water quality improvement continue. New efforts include working with the West Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation to establish vegetation in reservoirs, and the development of bass spawning habitat structures for the Ohio River.