The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will start its 2018 trout stocking season January 2, though two stocking locales will be added to the schedule and one will be removed, according to Paul Johansen, chief of the division's wildlife resources section.
The 2018 stocking schedule contains several changes, Johansen said. The Greenbrier River in Pocahontas County, at Marlinton, and Howards Creek in Greenbrier County, at White Sulphur Springs, have been added to this year’s stocking schedule.
Division personnel will stock these two waters once a month January through April.
Dunkard Fork Lake in Marshall County has been removed from the 2018 stocking schedule due to large amounts of debris on the shoreline and boat ramp, he said.
“Debris not only makes shoreline fishing difficult, but also prevents stocking trucks from safely accessing the water to stock trout,” Johansen said.
“Dunkard Fork Lake will continue to receive warmwater fish stockings as needed."
The North and South forks of Fishing Creek in Wetzel County will also be stocked once a month, February through May. These streams were inadvertently omitted from the 2018 fishing regulations.
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 2018 fishing licenses are required to fish beginning Jan. 1, 2018. They may be purchased at any license agent or at www.wvhunt.com.
