Good Things From Virginia

Mountain Fork and Little Stony Creek Trout Streams Restored to Fishable Populations... VDGIF Regional Aquatic Resources Manager, Bill Kittrell, reports that there are two new special regulation trout fisheries in far southwest Virginia available for anglers this year. Mountain Fork and Little Stony Creek, both within the boundaries of the Jefferson National Forest in parts of Wise and Scott Counties, support newly established trout fisheries maintained through fingerling stocking. Beginning in 2010, Department biologists partnered with members of the Little Stony Chapter of Trout Unlimited and began a brook trout fingerling stocking program on Mountain Fork and a brown trout fingerling stocking program on Little Stony with the goal of establishing natural reproducing, fishable populations. Results have been successful with the establishment of multiple trout year classes. It is hoped that natural reproduction will eventually sustain the populations. Both streams are accessible by foot trail and are regulated as catch and release trout streams. They should provide excellent recreational opportunities for anglers. A Virginia resident (or non-resident) fishing license and a National Forest Stamp are required to fish in these streams. Read more about this restoration program in a feature article by Katie Dunn, Staff Writer in the December 2, 2014 edition of the Coalfield Progress newspaper, "Trout restocking shows promise ."