By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Virginia Division of Natural Resources has announced an effort to help improve how we manage and stock trout in West Virginia.
During the fall trout stocking season, the Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) will begin tagging fall hatchery-reared trout with special green tags to help the WVDNR study how these fish move over time and whether they are being caught by anglers.
As part of the effort, WVDNR hatchery staff will attach a green tag to the dorsal fins of 3,500 trout. The tags will have a unique number blue tags into waters that are stocked to study how fish move.
Anglers are asked to look for these green tag and report it using the contact information that is printed on the tags. It can be submitted by email to dnrtags@wv.gov or by calling the phone number, 304-924-6211. Anglers who report a tagged trout will receive a gift card up to $100.
“Fall stockings are underway and have already been a big success,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “Anglers who report their tagged fish not only help us improve how we manage and stock trout, but they also get a chance to win a gift card, which makes it an exciting reward for everyone involved.”
The WVDNR asks anglers to provide the following information when reporting a tagged trout:
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The tag number
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The waterbody where the fish was caught
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Whether the fish was harvested or released
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The date the fish was caught
All anglers must possess a valid West Virginia fishing license and a trout stamp, except for youth under the age of 15, who are not required to have a trout stamp. Fishing licenses can be purchased at wvdnr.gov. Anglers who report a tagged fish can upgrade their annual license with a collectible license card.
