Probably not covering anything you don’t already know, but see yesterday’s Blue Ridge Leader & Loudoun Today article about brook trout in Virginia if you’re bored today.
Fishing News
153 posts
So you’ve never heard of the Chetco and haven’t fished there either? I know, but it’s another one of those potential FUBAR things about which you may regret not taking action.
The Wild and Scenic Chetco River in Oregon is renowned for its world-class salmon and steelhead runs, and crystal clear water. However, it is still vulnerable to mining thanks to the General Mining Law. A law from 1872 that gives mining precedence over all other uses for the river!
The good news is that the U.S. Forest Service is urging the Interior Department to protect about 17 miles of the river by withdrawing it from mining for the next five years to give Congress time to pass more lasting protection via the Chetco River Protection Act.
Take action – contact Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior to help protect the Chetco. A sample letter to submit:
I support protection of the Wild and Scenic Chetco River from mining. With its crystal clear water, big salmon, wild backcountry, and fabulous camp spots, the Wild and Scenic Chetco River is a great American outdoor treasure. It’s also the beloved backyard river of local communities that benefit economically from its world-class salmon and steelhead fishery and the pure drinking water it provides.
The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest recently released its environmental assessment (EA) for a 5-year mineral withdrawal in aid of legislation (the Chetco River Protection Act). The EA makes clear that suction dredge mining along the river threatens the outstandingly remarkable values for which the area was designated. It emphasizes that these values are important economic drivers for local communities and that these values can only be fully protected through a mineral withdrawal.
American Rivers listed the Chetco River as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® in 2010. It is time to ensure that this river no longer warrants this concerning distinction.
Please approve the immediate withdrawal of the Chetco River from mining for the next five years, in order to allow Congress time to pass permanent protections for the river. Thank you for considering my views.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s trout stocking info site is a great way to search for where they plan to stock fish in the near future. You can search by county, see the dates, types of fish and the hatcheries used to source each stocking. This is very detailed. I know here in Virginia we “chase” this info on the VDGIF stocking website
after the stockings have occurred, and what the PFBC has done is much more useful for planning. I’ve updated the Brook Trout Fishing Guide resources page with this link.
What, a new post???!!! I know, it’s been a while…
Good article on the Trout Unlimited blog about protecting brook trout in the Appalachians. Good news and bad news about the future of the only native trout in the eastern U.S.
Related article about Thorn Creek that is also interesting.
From the Field: Linking land and water in brook trout conservation from Chesapeake Bay Program on Vimeo.
Big news. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is now (finally) making permits for Buffalo Creek, the Upper South River and Mossy Creek available ONLINE! No more sending away by snail mail to apply for these permits.
Virginia trout stocking info for the past week is below my minor rant here…
Gotta say that I really appreciate what the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries does. We have a lot of great fishing opportunities in this state, many in remote areas and most maintained in a very natural, often primitive condition, which makes a great fishing experience in my opinion. However, their counterparts at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation could take some tips from the VDGIF. I experienced the downside of their efforts to “upgrade” certain places last night, namely the pond at Sky Meadows State Park in Paris.
I arrived at the site about an hour and a half before sunset and noticed the improvements such as monofilament disposal tubes, nice benches and signage. I got to the parking area and saw one of the upgrades that was a surprise — a new $3 parking fee ($4 on weekends). I’m not opposed to paying for the privilege of fishing and I support fishing efforts in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and other states by paying for annual licenses, access fees, buying tackle locally, etc. I paid the new parking fee and got to fishing, casting a blue size six Shenandoah popper on my five weight. Got two small largemouths and one bluegill in the wind and light rain, not nearly what I was hoping for but a good time nonetheless. The final park “upgrade “I experienced was the park police in their brand new pickup truck pulling into the driveway and barking on the bullhorn, “THE PARK IS NOW CLOSED.” It closes at dusk and since it was exactly sunset I guess they were technically correct. I spent many great evenings there in the past, but not sure I’ll be going back there very often now. A bummer since it’s a nice spot, but I don’t need a chaperone barking on a bullhorn at the end of a peaceful evening of fishing, and paying $3 to fish for an hour and a half just isn’t worth it.
Anyway, here are the stocked trout streams this week:
- Amherst Co.
- Pedlar River (Lower) (05/21)
- Augusta Co.
- Braley Pond (05/22)
- Elkhorn Lake (05/24)
- Hearthstone Lake (05/22)
- Bath Co.
- Jackson River (Rte.623) (05/24)
- Botetourt Co.
- Jennings Creek (05/22)
- Craig Co.
- Potts Creek (05/24)
- Floyd Co.
- Burkes Fork (05/24)
- Giles Co.
- Wolf Creek (5/18 Evening)
- Grayson Co.
- Big Wilson Creek (05/23)
- Madison Co.
- Hughes River (05/24)
- Robinson River (05/22)
- Rose River (05/24)
- Page Co.
- Hawksbill Creek (05/23)
- Roanoke Co.
- Roanoke River (City) (05/23)
- Smyth Co.
- South Fork Holston River (Lower) (05/19)
- South Fork Holston River (Buller Dam) (05/23)
- Tazewell Co.
- Lincolnshire Lake (05/22)
- Little Tumbling Creek (05/24)
- Washington Co.
- Big Tumbling Creek (05/24)
- Whitetop (Upper) (05/22)
- Whitetop (Lower) (05/22)
- Wythe Co.
- Rural Retreat Lake Pond (05/18 Evening)
- Cripple Creek (Ravens) (05/23)
Compared to Maryland, West Virginia has done a good bit of trout stocking this past week…
May 24, 2012
- Back Fork of Elk River
- Clear Fork of Guyandotte River
- Desert Fork
- East Fork Greenbrier River
- Glade Creek of New River
- Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
- Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
- Lost River
- Marsh Fork
- New Creek
- North Fork of Patterson Creek
- Pinnacle Creek (lower section)
- Right Fork of Middle Fork River
- Shavers Fork (upper section)
- Sugar Creek
- Trout Run
- Waites Run
- West Fork Greenbrier River
May 23, 2012
- Big Clear Creek
- Brandywine Lake
- Brushy Fork Lake
- Bullskin Run
- Cranberry River
- Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker)
- Evitts Run
- Gandy Creek
- Laurel Fork (Randolph)
- Middle Creek
- Middle Fork River
- Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
- North Fork of South Branch
- Paint Creek
- Pond Fork
- South Branch (Smoke Hole)
- South Fork of Cranberry River
May 22, 2012
- Boley Lake
- Buffalo Creek (Brooke)
- Cacapon Park Lake
- Castleman Run Lake
- Dillons Run
- Edwards Run
- Fort Ashby Reservoir
- Glade Creek of Mann
- Glady Fork
- Kimsey Run Lake
- Middle Wheeling Lake
- North River
- Opequon Creek
- R.D. Bailey Tailwaters
- Rocky Marsh Run
- Shavers Fork (Bemis)
- Shavers Fork (lower section)
- South Branch (Franklin)
- Spruce Knob Lake
- Teter Creek Lake
- Tygart Headwaters
- Williams River
May 21, 2012
- Anthony Creek
- Big Sandy Creek
- Buckhannon River
- Burnsville Tailwaters
- Coopers Rock Lake
- Knapps Creek
- Left Fork of Right Fork of Buckhannon River
- North Fork of Cherry
- South Fork of Cherry
- Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters
- Summit Lake
- Sutton Tailwaters
- Watoga Lake
May 18, 2012
- Buffalo Fork Lake
- Clear Fork of Tug
- Cranberry River (C&R)
- Cranberry River (Children & Class Q) Woodbine section
- Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker)
- Glady Fork
- Indian Creek
- Kings Creek
- Left Fork of Buckhannon River (rail stocking)
- Rich Creek (Monroe)
- Seneca Lake
- Shavers Fork (Bemis)
- Shavers Fork (lower section)
- Shavers Fork (upper section)
- South Branch (Smoke Hole)
- Summit Lake
- Tomlinson Run
- Tygart Tailwaters
- Watoga Lake
May 17, 2012
- Big Clear Creek
- Brandywine Lake
- Brushy Fork Lake
- Buckhannon River (rail stocking)
- Buffalo Creek (Brooke)
- Castleman Run Lake
- Hills Creek
- Kimsey Run Lake
- Little Clear Creek
- Little Kanawha Headwaters
- Lost River
- Lower Cove Run
- Middle Wheeling Lake
- North Fork of South Branch
- North River
- Potts Creek
- Right Fork of Little Kanawha Headwaters
- South Fork of Potts Creek
- Teter Creek Lake
- Trout Run
- Waites Run
Small number of trout streams stocked in Maryland this past week…
| County | Location | Date | Map |
| Garrett | Youghiogheny River – Oakland (960 BN) | May 23 | GO > |
| Washington | Licking Creek (200 RB/GN) | May 22 | GO > |
| Garrett | Savage River Reservoir (960 RB/GN) | May 22 | GO > |
| Allegany | Wills Creek (1445 RB/GN) | May 22 | GO > |
| Allegany | Evitts Creek (1445 RB/GN) | May 22 | GO > |
| Allegany | Fifteen Mile Creek (1095 BN) | May 21 | GO > |
A fair number of streams were stocked with trout in Virginia this past week. This includes some good ones — the Jackson, Back Creek, Big Stoney Creek, North River, South River, the South Branch of the Potomac, plus everyone’s favorite stream to love and hate at the same time, Passage Creek (just stocked yesterday).
- Albemarle Co.
- Mint Springs Lake (Upper) (5/17)
- Mint Springs Lake (Middle) (05/17)
- Amherst Co.
- Davis Mill Creek (05/12)
- Pedlar River (Upper) (05/12)
- Augusta Co.
- North River (Upper) (05/15)
- South River (Ridgeview Park) (05/16)
- Bath Co.
- Back Creek (05/15)
- Jackson River (Hidden Valley) (05/17)
- Bland Co.
- Laurel Fork Creek (05/11 Evening)
- Buchanan Co.
- Dismal River (05/11 Evening)
- Carroll Co.
- Crooked Creek (05/17)
- Little Reed Island Creek (05/17)
- Floyd Co.
- Little Indian Creek (05/14)
- Little River (05/11 Evening)
- West Fork little River (05/14)
- Giles Co.
- Big Stoney Creek (05/16)
- Grayson Co.
- Elk Creek (05/12)
- Fox Creek (05/17)
- Hales Lake (05/16)
- Helton Lake (05/17)
- Middle Fox Creek(05/17)
- Henry Co.
- Smith River (Dam) (05/14)
- Highland Co.
- South Branch Potomac River (05/15)
- Patrick Co.
- Rockcastle Creek (05/15)
- Roanoke Co.
- Tinker Creek (05/15)
- Glade Creek (05/15)
- Roanoke River (Salem) (05/16)
- Rockingham Co.
- Silver Lake (05/14)
- South River (Grottoes) (05/16)
- Scott Co.
- Bark Camp Lake (05/15)
- Shenandoah Co.
- Passage Creek (05/17)
- Washington Co.
- Straight Branch (05/14)
- Wise Co.
- Clear Creek (05/16)
- Middle Fork Powell River (05/16)
West Virginia trout stocking info from the past week, as of this morning…
May 17, 2012
- Big Clear Creek
- Brandywine Lake
- Brushy Fork Lake
- Buckhannon River (rail stocking)
- Buffalo Creek (Brooke)
- Castleman Run Lake
- Hills Creek
- Kimsey Run Lake
- Little Clear Creek
- Little Kanawha Headwaters
- Lost River
- Lower Cove Run
- Middle Wheeling Lake
- North Fork of South Branch
- North River
- Potts Creek
- Right Fork of Little Kanawha Headwaters
- South Fork of Potts Creek
- Teter Creek Lake
- Trout Run
- Waites Run
May 16, 2012
- Anthony Creek
- Beech Fork Tailwaters
- Deer Creek (Pocahontas)
- East Lynn Tailwaters
- Fall Run
- French Creek Pond
- Greenbrier River
- Jennings Randolph Tailwaters
- Knapps Creek
- Laurel Fork of Holly River
- Left Fork of Holly River
- Meadow Creek of New River
- Middle Creek
- Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
- Mill Run of Back Creek
- Milligan Creek
- New Creek
- North Fork of Lunice
- North Fork of Patterson Creek
- Tilhance Creek
- Tuscarora Creek
- West Fork Twelvepole
May 15, 2012
- Bear Rocks Lake
- Blackwater River
- Bullskin Run
- Burnsville Tailwaters
- Cacapon Park Lake
- Cranberry River
- Deer Creek (Nicholas)
- Elk River
- Evitts Run
- Jimmy Lewis Lake
- Laurel Creek of Cherry River
- Opequon Creek
- Pipestem Lake
- Rocky Marsh Run
- South Branch (Franklin)
- South Mill Creek Lake
- Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters
- Sutton Tailwaters
- Wallback Lake
- Wheeling Creek
May 14, 2012
- Anawalt Lake
- Dillons Run
- East Fork Greenbrier River
- Edwards Run
- Fort Ashby Reservoir
- Gandy Creek
- Horse Creek Lake
- Horseshoe Run
- Laurel Fork (Randolph)
- Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
- Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
- Mill Creek of South Branch
- Red Creek
- Spruce Knob Lake
- Tuckahoe Lake
- Tygart Headwaters
- West Fork Greenbrier River
- Williams River
May 11, 2012
- Berwind Lake
- Big Sandy Creek
- Buckhannon River
- Cacapon Park Lake
- Coopers Rock Lake
- Dry Fork (McDowell)
- Dunloup Creek
- Elk River
- Glade Creek of Mann
- Glade Creek of New River
- Left Fork of Right Fork of Buckhannon River
- Middle Creek
- Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
- New Creek
- North Fork of Cherry River
- North Fork of Lunice
- North Fork of Patterson Creek
- Opequon Creek
- Paint Creek
- Poorhouse Pond
- Right Fork of Buckhannon River
- South Branch (Franklin)
- Watoga Lake