Across and Down

Across and Down

Parmachene Belle, Queen of the Waters, Royal Coachman, Silver Doctor; if you know what I’m talking about, I bet you had one of those sheepskin fly books. Oh, that musty smell. Those were the staple of many anglers. They were quite nice when new but soon became quite ugly from rusted hooks and poorly dyed feathers. Do you remember that sickening feeling when you first opened one after a long winter and moths flew out? Those were simple times; soon things got complicated. Most no longer carry any of the classic wet flies. They aren’t the in thing now.

Do you want to catch more fish this spring? Of course you do. First, learn to tie a blood knot and make up a couple of leaders with one or two droppers. I can’t help you there. You can easily find instructions. I’m going to help with the catching fish part. Tie on two or three wet flies to your brand new leader and head to your favorite stream. Approach the section you intend to fish at the top end of the run. Stay back and do not create a shadow on the water. Make a short cast to the opposite bank and let your flies swing downstream and across the run to your side of the stream. Pull out 6 inches of fly line and repeat your cast. Keep feeding out line 6 inches at a time and casting across and down; until you get the amount of line you are comfortable casting. Now, you don’t have to worry about fiddling with line anymore. Just fish.

Take a half of a step and cast across and down. You get the point now. Take another half step and repeat until you reach the end of the run. Shazam; you have just put your flies in front of every single fish in that section of water. Didn’t take long to thoroughly fish it, either. Nothing has to be as complicated as many want you to believe. Keep it simple and be successful.

Many of the old time wet flies were pretty gaudy and they caught fish way back when and they will still catch fish today. Good luck finding some that aren’t tied in Malaysia or some other trout heaven. I’m sure you can come up with some through a diligent search. I found out long ago that if a fly contains peacock herl; it will catch fish. My wet fly box pretty much is filled with Picket Pins in various sizes. That is all I need. Remember, keep it simple. I have had very good success with that one fly. It can imitate a minnow, crayfish, emerging caddis fly, drowned caddis fly or even a caddis fly returning to the water to lay eggs. What more could you ask for? It has peacock herl, too!!

The old lowly wet fly added protein to many ramp and potato streamside campfire meals of yesteryear. There is no reason that they cannot do so today. Yes, things got complicated. You can prevent that and keep it simple across and down. Fishing is supposed to be fun and not a chore. Don’t be afraid to add some split-shot to your Royal Coachman’s, either. Just fish.

(c) 2016 High Virginia Outdoors Photo (c)2015 High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved

This is my April 2016 article for Two-lane Livin

West Virginia trout stocking the week of March 14-18, 2016

Devil Run

West Virginia trout stocking the week of March 14-18, 2016

ELKINS, W.Va. – The following waters were stocked the week of March 14-18, 2016

Anthony Creek Back Fork of Elk River Barboursville Lake Bear Rocks Lake Big Clear Creek Blackwater River Brandywine Lake Brushy Fork Lake Bullskin Run Burnsville Tailwaters Cacapon Park Lake Camp Creek Cherry River Clear Fork of Guyandotte River Clover Run Cranberry River Desert Fork Dillons Run Dunkard Fork Lake East Fork Greenbrier River East River Edwards Run Pond Elk River Evitts Run Fort Ashby Reservoir Gandy Creek Glade Creek of Mann Glade Creek of New River Glady Fork Handley Pond (Children & Class Q) Hopkins Fork Horseshoe Run Huey Lake

Kimsey Run Lake Knapps Creek Laurel Fork (Randolph) Little Clear Creek Little Kanawha Headwaters Little River East Fork Greenbrier River Little River West Fork Greenbrier River Lost River Mash Fork Mash Fork of Camp Creek (Children and Class Q) Meadow Creek of New River (Summers) Middle Creek (Berkeley) Mill Creek (Berkeley) Mill Creek of South Branch (Hampshire) New Creek North Fork Cherry North Fork of Anthony North Fork of Lunice North Fork of Patterson Creek North Fork of South Branch North River Opequon Creek Paint Creek Panther Creek Paw Paw Creek Pinnacle Creek Pond Fork Raleigh County Airport Pond (Children & Class Q) R. D. Bailey Tailwaters Red Creek Right Fork of Little Kanawha Headwaters

Rocky Marsh Run Rollins Lake Second Creek (C&R) Seneca Lake Shavers Fork (Bemis) Shavers Fork (lower section) Shavers Fork (upper section) South Branch (Franklin) South Branch (Smoke Hole) South Fork Cherry South Fork Cranberry River South Mill Creek Lake Spruce Knob Lake Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters Sugar Creek Summersville Tailwaters Summit Lake Sutton Tailwaters Teter Creek Lake Thomas Park Lake Tilhance Creek Trout Run Tuscarora Creek Waites Run Warden Lake Watoga Lake West Fork Greenbrier River Wheeling Creek Whiteday Creek Williams River

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 29 – March 4, 2016

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 29 – March 4, 2016

ELKINS, W.Va. – The following waters were stocked the week of Feb. 29 – March 4, 2016:

Anthony Creek Baker Lake (Children and Class Q) Bear Rocks Lake Big Clear Creek Blackwater River Boley Lake Brandywine Lake Brushy Fork Lake Buffalo Creek (Clay) Bullskin Run Burnsville Tailwaters Cacapon Park Lake Camp Creek Cherry River Clear Fork of Guyandotte River Clear Fork of Guyandotte River (delayed harvest) Coonskin Park Lake (Children and Class Q) Cranberry River East Fork Greenbrier River East River Elk River Evitts Run Gandy Creek Glade Creek of Mann Glady fork Hills Creek Horseshoe Run Kanawha State Forest Pond (Children and Class Q)

Kimsey Run Lake Knapps Creek Krodel Lake Larenim Park Lake Laurel Fork (Randolph) Little Clear Creek Little River East Fork Greenbrier River Little River West Fork Greenbrier River Logan County Pond (Children and Class Q) Lost River Mash Fork Mash Fork of Camp Creek (Children and Class Q) Middle Creek (Berkeley) Middle Fork River Miletree Lake Mill Creek (Berkeley) Mill Creek Reservoir Miller Pond (Children and Class Q) Moores Run New Creek North Fork of Cherry River North Fork of Lunice North Fork of Patterson Creek North Fork South Branch North River Opequon Creek Paint Creek Paint Creek (C&R) Paw Paw Creek

Pinnacle Creek (upper and lower sections) Pond Fork Poorhouse Pond R. D. Bailey Tailwaters Red Creek Rocky Marsh Run Shavers Fork (Bemis) Shavers Fork (C&R) Shavers Fork (lower section) South Branch (Smoke Hole) South Fork of Cherry River South Mill Creek Lake Spruce Knob Lake Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters Summersville Tailwaters Summit Lake Sutton Tailwaters Teter Creek Lake Tilhance Creek Trout Run Tuckahoe Lake Tuscarora CreekTygart Tailwaters Tygart Valley River Headwaters Waites Run Wallback Lake Warden Lake Watoga Lake West Fork Greenbrier River Wheeling Creek Whiteday Creek Williams River

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 22-26, 2016

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 22-26, 2016

ELKINS, W.Va. – The following waters were stocked the week of Feb. 22-26, 2016

Back Fork of Elk River Blackwater River      Boley Lake Brandywine Lake Brushy Fork Lake Buffalo Fork Creek Chief Logan Pond Clear Fork of Tug Cranberry River Deer Creek (Pocahontas) Desert Fork Dunloup Creek East Fork Greenbrier River Elk River

Gandy Creek Glade Creek of New River Greenbrier River Hopkins Fork Horse Creek Lake Jimmy Lewis Lake Kings Creek Laurel Fork (Randolph) Laurel Fork Lake Little River East Fork Greenbrier River Newburg Lake North Fork South Branch Pipestem Lake

Rhine Creek Right Fork of Little Kanawha Headwaters Rockhouse Lake Rollins Lake South Branch (C&R) South Branch (Smoke Hole) Spruce Knob Lake Spruce Laurel Fork Sugar Creek Summit Lake Tomlinson Run Tomlinson Run Lake Williams River

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 15-19, 2016

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 15-19, 2016

ELKINS, W.Va. – The following waters were stocked the week of Feb. 15-19, 2016:

Anthony Creek Beech Fork Tailwaters Berwind Lake Big Sandy Creek Buckhannon River Buffalo Creek (Logan) Bullskin Run Burnsville Tailwaters Cacapon Park Lake Coopers Rock Lake Dry Fork (McDowell) East Lynn Tailwaters Evitts Run Fall Run French Creek Pond

Glady Fork Jennings Randolph Tailwaters Knapps Creek Laurel Fork of Holly River Left Fork of Holly River Left Fork of Right Fork of Buckhannon River Little Kanawha Headwaters Lost River Marsh Fork Mason Lake Middle Creek (Berkeley) Mill Creek (Berkeley) Moores Run New Creek

North Fork of Patterson Creek Opequon Creek Right Fork of Buckhannon River Rocky Marsh Run Shavers Fork (Bemis) Shavers Fork (lower section) South Branch (Franklin) Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters Sutton Tailwaters Trout Run Waites Run Warden Lake Watoga Lake Wayne Dam West Fork of Twelvepole

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 8-12, 2016

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 8-12, 2016

ELKINS, W.Va. – The following waters were stocked the week of Feb. 8-12, 2016:

Buffalo Creek (Brooke) Castlemans Run Lake Curtisville Lake Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker) Dunkard Fork Lake Glady Fork Indian Creek Indian Rock Lake

Laurel Creek of Cherry River Laurel Creek of New River (Fayette) Middle Wheeling Creek Lake Mill Creek of New River (Fayette) Mountwood Park Lake North Fork of Cherry River

Potts Creek Rich Creek Right Fork of Middle Fork South Branch (Franklin) South Fork of Cherry River Spruce Knob Lake Wallback Lake Williams River

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 1-5, 2016

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Feb. 1-5, 2016

ELKINS, W.Va. – The following waters were stocked the week of Feb. 1-5, 2016:

Anawalt Lake Anthony Creek Barboursville Lake Bear Rocks Lake Big Clear Creek Buffalo Creek (Clay) Bullskin Run Cacapon Park Lake Camp Creek Cherry River Clear Fork of Guyandotte River Clover Run Conaway Run Lake Dillons Run Dog Run Lake East River Edwards Run Pond Elk River Evitts Run Fitzpatrick Lake Fort Ashby Reservoir Glade Creek of Mann Hills Creek Horseshoe Run Kimsey Run Lake Knapps Creek

Little Beavers Lake Little Clear Creek Lost River Mash Fork Meadow Creek of Anthony Creek Meadow Creek of New River (Summers) Middle Creek (Berkeley) Middle Fork River Mill Creek (Berkeley) Mill Creek of South Branch (Hampshire) Mill Creek Reservoir New Creek New Creek Dam No. 14 North Fork Fishing Creek North Fork of Anthony Creek North Fork of Lunice North Fork of Patterson Creek North Fork South Branch North River Opequon Creek Paint Creek Panther Creek Paw Paw Creek Pinnacle Creek (lower section)

Pond Fork Poorhouse Pond R.D. Bailey Tailwaters Red Creek Rocky Marsh Run Shavers Fork (Bemis) Shavers Fork (lower section) Shavers Fork C&R (Stuarts Park Recreation Area) South Branch (Smoke Hole) South Fork Fishing Creek South Mill Creek Lake Summersville Tailwaters Summit Lake Teter Creek Lake Thomas Park Lake Tilhance Creek Trout Run Tuckahoe Lake Tuscarora Creek Tygart Lake Tailwaters Tygart Valley River Headwaters Waites Run Watoga Lake Wheeling Creek Whiteday Creek

WV Trout Stockings Jan. 11-15, 2016

Middle Fork (c) High Virginia Images

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Jan. 11-15, 2016

ELKINS, W.Va. – The following waters were stocked the week of Jan. 11-15, 2016

Chief Cornstalk Lake Middle Wheeling Creek (C&R)

Rollins Lake South Branch (Franklin)

Tomlinson Run Lake Turkey Run Lake

West Virginia Trout Stockings- January 2016

West Virginia trout stocking the week of Jan. 4-8, 2016

ELKINS, W.Va. – The following waters were stocked the week of Jan. 4-8, 2016:

Anthony Creek                     Blackwater River Bullskin Run Cacapon Park Lake Cedar Creek Lake Chief Logan Lake Cranberry River Curtisville Lake East Fork Greenbrier River Elk River Evitts Run Fitzpatrick Lake Gandy Creek Glady Fork Huey Lake James P. Bailey Lake Knapps Creek

Krodel Lake Larenim Park Lake Laurel Fork (Randolph) Laurel Fork Lake Lick Creek Pond Little Beaver Lake Little River East Fork Greenbrier River Little River West Fork Greenbrier River Lost River Middle Creek (Berkeley) Miletree Lake Mill Creek (Berkeley) Mountwood Park Lake New Creek North Fork of Patterson Creek North Fork of South Branch (C&R) North Fork South Branch

Opequon Creek Pennsboro Reservoir Rocky Marsh Run Shavers Fork (Bemis section) Shavers Fork (lower section) Shavers Fork (upper section) Shavers Fork C&R (Stuarts Park Recreation Area) South Branch (Smoke Hole) Spruce Knob Lake Summit Lake Tracy Lake Trout Run Waites Run Watoga Lake Wayne Dam West Fork Greenbrier River Williams River

WV Trout Stocking Changes

West Virginia's trout stocking begins Jan. 4; WVDNR announces changes for 2016

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The 2016 trout stocking season that begins Monday, Jan. 4, will see several changes, according to Bret Preston, assistant chief for the Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section.
Seven streams and one pond have been removed from the 2016 trout stocking schedule. These streams are either too small, have very limited angler access, few stocking locations, poor trout habitat, or a combination of these characteristics.
These streams include Deer Creek in Nicholas County, Long Marsh Run in Jefferson County, Lower Cove Run in Hardy County, Mill Run of Back Creek in Berkeley County, both the North and South forks of Fishing Creek in Wetzel County, and South Fork of Potts Creek in Monroe County. The smaller of the two Larenim Park lakes was removed from the stocking list due to the lack of adequate vehicle access.
Buffalo Creek in Clay County has been added to the stocking schedule. Remediation from historical mining activities, habitat improvement, and acquisition of public access made it a great candidate for put-and-take trout stocking. DNR personnel will stock Buffalo Creek in a 3.75-mile section in the Swandale Road area on a monthly stocking schedule.
The 2016 fishing regulations brochure, available at license agents, WVDNR offices and online at www.wvdnr.gov, lists which waters will receive one stocking during January. The stocking schedule is dependent upon weather and road conditions.
DNR Wildlife Resources personnel will start stocking at a high rate to promote trout distribution during periods of good stream flow. Reducing the number of trout in the hatcheries early in the year helps promote trout growth and provides larger fish for anglers throughout the entire spring stocking season, which concludes May 31.
Anglers can call the Fishing Hotline at 304-558-3399 or visit the website at www.wvdnr.gov to find out which streams and lakes have been stocked each day. Anglers also are reminded that new fishing licenses are required for 2016 and may be purchased at a license agent or online at www.wvfish.com.    
Anglers are also encouraged to check out DNR's online interactive map at www.mapwv.gov/huntfish. The map indicates which streams and lakes are stocked, the stream section that is stocked, special fishing regulation areas, and driving directions to stocked waters.

DNR

First Trip

I finally made myself go this morning. I knew the waters would be high and swift; so I went to the most un-swift place I know of. I headed to my all-time favorite spot on the Right Fork of Middle Fork. Things were going fine on the way there. A couple of grouse were in the road and I was able to get a nice photo of a Common Merganser pair. Alas. I got to the place I intended to fish; I've fished there since the 70's. Well, guess what. It is in the active process of being made into a major clear-cut.

I headed back downstream to a section of log jams that are always good. There was just too much water. i couldn't get in to the location. If you stayed in the water more than about ten minutes, your legs went numb and you had a hard time walking. Not a good situation. Therefore I had to go to Plan C. I finally found a place where I could stand which was about 2 square feet in size. From that spot I had to cast straight downstream (never good) so you can already tell how difficult it would be to actually hook a fish. I did manage to catch 3, lose 3 and miss 2 from that one spot. I did catch another one further downstream. All and all it wasn't a bad 2 hours. But, it should have been better. Definitely much better than the first 3 times out last year. I do believe that it was the first time I have ever been there in the spring when I did not hear a single turkey gobbling. I guess it is a challenge to find a tree big enough to roost in. I did hear 2 different grouse drumming, they were the first I've heard this year.

(c)2015 High Virginia Outdoors Photo (c) High Virginia Images ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Whitmer Wal-Mart

Gandy Creek (4/2/15)

I did my obligatory drive up Gandy this morning. It was a fairly nice ride until I crossed Lower Two Springs; then it all changed. There was a vehicle in every single wide spot; three if they would almost fit. What a scene it was; unbelievable. It was around 10 am when I got there and they had apparently just stocked. I didn't look; because as I stated earlier, there was nowhere left to park. I only drove as far as Bee Run trail, I didn't need to see anymore. I just rode up the side road there and took the dogs for a walk in the woods.

We returned to the truck at about 12:30 and the mob had partially dissipated by then. We drove downstream and parked at the first free parking spot that we could find. We only messed around the water for about fifteen minutes; at times we could actually see the water; between dust clouds. One would probably be wise to bring along a respirator if they were planning to stay very long. There seemed to be a perpetual cloud of dust caused by the traffic flying up and down the road.


There was a time when I loved to fish this stream; but that was long ago. I used to hit it pretty hard; 2 or 3 evenings a week, from the time I was done with turkey hunting until the stream was pretty much dried up for the summer. I can remember days when the Grannom Caddis hatch was so thick that you had to scrape them off your arms. The river would magically come alive; trout boiled everywhere. I do believe the last time I fished Gandy Creek was probably June of 1985. From what I saw today; I believe I can hold off another thirty years.

I find it hard to believe that anyone could enjoy participating in that mess. To top it off; I never saw one person with a fish!!

(c) 2015 High Virginia Outdoors Photo (c) 2015 High Virginia Images ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Lower Than Low

Lower Shavers Fork

We Need Rain, Period. I have never seen the water level as low as it is now at Bowden. This first photo was taken on October 5 from the bridge above the Bowden Hatchery; yes this is the spot where everyone fishes. There is only a small trickle flowing over the little dam. Yes, the place where everyone fishes and can't normally get their Powerbait down to the bottom where the fish are.

This is the critical time for Brook Trout spawning and I do believe it is going to be though this year. I'm sure they are trapped in many spots. There is a little rain in the forecast for this week. I hope something happens this time; unlike that big rain event we were supposed to get on Friday.

Shavers Fork Streamflow

STRUGGLES

WV Brook Trout

Its tough out there in the real world and getting tougher everyday. Nobody will deny that this is a hard place to make a living. Living is a lot different than existing.

Before I go any farther; all of these photos were taken on October 2, 2014 in the upper-Roaring Creek watershed on the Rich Mountain Battlefield property in Randolph County, WV.

The first photo is one of two brook trout present at the culvert in photo number 2. I could see 2 brook trout, about 6 creek chubs and a few black-nosed dace present. This is the smallest of the 2 trout.

Photo 2

I know that this culvert isn't much of an obstacle and it is more so due to the drought that we are in. The rains we are going to get on Friday should make it passable for the spawning trout. but, still it is an obstacle. It does, however produce some current and mixing of oxygen in the water. The fish were all nosed up to it, before I spooked them.

The next photo, #3 is another culvert farther upstream. There were 2 small trout present there, also. They were probably 5 inches long and darted underneath the mini-waterfall.

Photo #3

If these fish could ever get upstream through this culvert, well they wouldn't have much to look forward to, as shown in Photo #4.

Photo #4

Who was it that once said that life is hard; harder if you're stupid? Yep, the poor little brook trout has a tough existence and it is made tougher by idiots. Think About It.

The trout in this watershed really do have a hard time existing, but exist they do. Many of the headwater tributaries are isolated due to acid-mine drainage. Somehow, the trout continue to survive. They don't flourish but they do manage to hold on; about like the rest of us around here.

(c) 2014 High Virginia Outdoors Photos (c) 2014 High Virginia Images ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Summersville Lake Tailwater Trout Stocking

SUMMERSVILLE, West Virginia – The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR), in cooperation with the West Virginia Professional Outfitters Association (WVPRO), will stock 750 pounds of rainbow trout in the Summersville Dam tailwater of the Gauley River during the week of Aug. 25, 2014. The goal of the stocking is to enhance late summer trout fishing opportunities in the Gauley River, according to DNR Director Frank Jezioro.
            The program is supported by rafting fees to compensate for additional days of whitewater rafting flows on the Gauley River and reduced fishing opportunities during these high flows released from Summersville Dam

**DNR**

A Coffin Fly Evening

Caylor Custom Coffin Flies

I love to fly fish and more-so love to fish the Green Drakes. i made the realization this week that I hadn't had the experience since June 3, 2009. That isn't a good feeling once it sinks in. It kind of makes one sad. I f one has to live and work in West Virginia; it should be guaranteed that you should have the time to enjoy the wonders of the state. Time to go and gas money seem to effect everything these days. It isn't good. I know that the Green Drakes should be hatching between Memorial Day and the 10th of June. Well, I apparently missed it or it hasn't started yet.

When you hit the spinner fall, it is a sight to be seen and it will stick in your memories for the rest of your life. Thousands of big mayflies laying eggs and then dying tend to bring every fish in the stream to the surface to feed. I thought I had made the hit; but it didn't happen. There was a March Brown hatch at 6:30 and a few Green Drakes were mixed in. The March Browns were dragging their nymphical shucks on their legs as they hatched and flew into the trees. I thought that was odd; since I had never seen this happen before. After a little hindsight; I guess the water was a little cold. I have never seen any March Browns of any numbers when I was Green Drake fishing.

I fished until 8:00 and had only caught 2 Smallmouths. One group of Green Drake spinners flew upstream and I thought the magic was about to happen. It didn't. There were only 50-75 drakes. Not the thousands I was hoping for.None the less it was on. The trout started rising; not many but here and there. I had my Coffin Fly already on and was actually ready. I managed to catch my limit in the fleeting light; but it wasn't easy. Number 5 was a Golden Rainbow and it flopped off when I got it to the bank. I was trying to grab it and stepped on my fly. I tried to fish the fly; but of course it would no longer float. It took me about 10 minutes to get the leader through the eye of the next fly. It isn't good getting old; but I did manage to catch a 16 inch rainbow for fish number 6 in the black dark. This was on Thursday June 5th.

I took a friend on Saturday June 7th; knowing that several trout were at that location and hoping that the Green Drakes would cooperate. I timed it so we would be at the good place at 8 pm. I got that sick feeling in my stomach when I walked down there and the entire bottom of the stream was covered with corn and fish heads, Gotta love West Virginia trout fishing !!

Horseshoe Run-Tucker County, WV

Horseshoe Run (c)2012 HVI

Horseshoe Run is a small trout stream in Tucker County, WV. This stream is stocked with trout on a Bi-Weekly schedule by the WVDNR. It receives trout once in February and every other week from March to the end of May. This scenic little stream is best fished early in the season; while it has ample water flow. It dries up fairly quickly. There are several feeder streams entering the main stream that help keep the water temperatures down. Horseshoe Run is stocked from the bridge above the community of Shaffer at access points downstream to below the mouth of Mike Run. About 6 miles of stream falls in the stocked section and landownership is both National Forest and private land. County Route 5 follows the stream, Landowners rights always need to be respected by anglers; less and less areas are stocked; due to blatant disregard of others.

Hendrickson Dun (c)2012 HVI

I have not fished this stream any later than mid-April. There is a pretty nice population of Hendricksons that hatch early in April and the most activity of feeding fish seemed to be sub-surface. There are a few campsites available at Horseshoe Run Recreation Area. This area is just upstream from the YMCA Camp Horseshoe.

Horseshoe Run would be a good destination for a peaceful spring outing. You will not see many people unless you are there within a couple of days after the fish truck has been there. Just head for the town of Leadmine, you can't miss it.

Horseshoe Run Trout (c) 2012 HVI

(c) 2014 High Virginia Outdoors All Photos (c) High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved

Gauley River Trout

Summersville Lake tailwater trout stocking

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. – The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources in cooperation with the West Virginia Professional Outfitters Association (WVPRO) stocked 1,500 pounds of rainbow trout in the Summersville Dam tailwater of the Gauley River on June 5. 
The goal of the stocking is to enhance trout fishing opportunities in the Gauley River, especially in the remote canyon section of the Gauley River, according to DNR Director Frank Jezioro. The trout stockings were conducted by helicopter and should provide good fishing in the summer and fall, Jezioro said.
The program is supported by rafting fees to compensate for additional days of whitewater rafting flows on the Gauley River and reduced fishing opportunities during these high flows released from Summersville Dam.

**DNR**

First Trout 2013

(c)2013 HVI

Well, I finally did it. I made myself go fishing for the first time since June 2, 2012. Every time I have had a little time in 2013; the water has been frozen or flooded. I rode over to the Middle Fork this morning and arrived on the stream at 6:40. I was back in the truck at 7:12. I believe that I made a grand total of 11 casts. It was a pleasant morning, my waders had no holes and the Barn Swallows were quite entertaining. Maybe I'll make myself go again. I hope the rain we are supposed to get today turns out to be the Mushroom Rain.

Middle Fork (c)2013 HVI

Fifty-two Degrees

Hendrickson (c) 2012 HVI

It will happen; at some point this spring, the water temperature will reach 52. When this happens, trout will begin looking up. The first major mayfly hatch will be getting into action. Hendrickson nymphs (Ephemerella subvaria) will begin to emerge. The sky will be full of swarms of this mayfly over the riffles of your favorite trout stream. Birds and fish will get their fill. In 2012; there was a great hatch on the lower Shavers Fork on April 3. The date of emergence this year will be anyone's guess. There is a lot of warming up and allot of snow melt that needs to happen; before the Hendrickson hatch; this year. I'm betting that it will not happen until mid-April. Only your trusty stream thermometer will know for sure. They were hatching on Horseshoe Run on April 2 last year, also.Whether you are a fly-fisher or not, you should make the effort to go and see a big mayfly hatch. You will never forget the experience. The best way to predict when it will happen on your favorite section of water is to keep checking the water temperature. One day, when the magic number is reached in late-morning; the show will start. Try to be there.

(c) 2012 HVI

Posted by High Virginia Outdoors Photos by High Virginia Images (c) 2013 All Rights Reserved