Virginia Stocked Trout Management Plan

VIRGINIA

STOCKED TROUT

MANAGEMENT PLAN

(2016-2025)

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Trout fishing provides significant opportunities for outdoor recreation in Virginia. About

one out of every seven hours spent fishing by Virginians is spent in pursuit of trout. Only

Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass receive more attention from anglers. Due to Virginia’s

warm climate, trout thrive year around only in higher-elevation mountain streams and in cold

river tailwaters below a few large dams, such as the Jackson River and the Smith River.

Consequently, 80% of trout fishing in Virginia depends upon the more than one million

catchable-size trout stocked annually by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

(VDGIF). Approximately 100,000 anglers fish for these stocked trout in Virginia each year in

more than 180 streams and lakes stocked by VDGIF.

Due to the importance of trout fishing in Virginia, and the significant investment required

to operate and maintain hatcheries to produce catchable-sized trout (generally greater than seven

inches, but frequently 10-12 inches), VDGIF developed the Virginia Stocked Trout Management

Plan (hereafter referred to as the “Plan”) to ensure effective and efficient management of trout

fisheries over the next 10 years. Following a process similar to those used to develop statewide

management plans for white-tailed deer, black bear, and wild turkey, the Virginia Stocked Trout

Management Plan is designed to embody the interests of all Virginians who care about trout

fishing (stakeholders). The planning process focused on balancing stakeholder values and sound

biological information provided by VDGIF to produce a plan that is technically sound and

publicly supported. The Plan includes values and goals identified by stakeholders to determine

what Virginians want the stocked trout program to achieve and objectives and strategies,

primarily developed by VDGIF technical staff, to describe how the goals and objectives can be

achieved.

A stakeholder advisory committee, composed of 11 individuals representing the diverse

interests of Virginians in management of stocked trout, worked closely with VDGIF and Virginia

Tech personnel to develop the Plan. A technical committee that included VDGIF fisheries

biologists, hatchery personnel and conservation police officers provided the technical aspects of

the Plan. Virginia Tech personnel facilitated meetings of the stakeholder advisory and technical

committees, and helped with editing and formatting the Plan.

The Plan contains two major sections: the technical section and the goals, objectives and

strategies for management of stocked trout. The technical section describes the history of trout

management in Virginia, how VDGIF approaches management of stocked trout, including

production, facilities, species produced, and challenges faced in raising trout. The second

section of the Plan lists the values and goals for management of stocked trout within five major

issue areas (what stakeholders want to achieve and why) and the objectives and strategies for

management of stocked trout (specific accomplishments that will allow VDGIF to measure

success in achieving goals and how to approach achieving goals and objectives). The Plan is

designed to provide a blueprint for future direction of stocked trout management rather than

specific details of day-to-day operations.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

The issue areas and associated goal statements are as follows:

- Announcement of stockings. Goal: Announce stockings using a variety of strategies

(including prior announcement, post-stocking announcement, or no announcement) to

provide equitable access to the resource and to address the diverse preferences of trout

anglers. In addition to existing Heritage Day events, some stockings will be announced

in advance to allow anglers to plan fishing trips to coincide with known stockings. Other

stockings will be announced at the end of the day when stocking occurs to reduce

crowding and ensure the safety of anglers and VDGIF personnel involved with stocking.

- Angler recruitment and retention. Goal: Inform and educate existing and potential future

anglers, recruit younger and more diverse anglers, and retain those already engaged

through new promotion efforts.

- Funding and administration. Goal: Maintain a productive and adequately funded stocked

trout program, including investigation of alternative funding and resource mechanisms to

meet current and anticipated future demands. Maintain an open and transparent decision-

making process regarding stocked trout management.

- Ecosystem effects. Goal: Manage trout stocking to optimize recreational opportunities

while minimizing adverse impacts on aquatic and surrounding habitats, wild and native

trout and other aquatic species. Manage habitat in stocked trout waters and preserve the

aesthetics of the angling experience.

- Recreational opportunities. Goal: Provide a diversity of stocked trout fishing experiences

designed to meet diverse angler preferences, and increase participation. Improve access

to stocked trout waters for all anglers

VDGIF shared the Plan with the public by posting it on the VDGIF web page in July 2015.

Public comments were received online until September 15, 2015. Additional comments were

received via letter to Virginia Tech personnel. Finally, Virginia Tech and VDGIF held nine

public meetings across Virginia to present the Plan and receive comments. The VDGIF

Technical Committee reviewed all public comments and revised the plan accordingly. A

summary of the comments and VDGIF’s response are included in an appendix at the end of the

Plan.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... II

LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................ V

LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................ VI

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................1

iii

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

WHAT IS THE VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN? .........................................................1

HOW THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED? .....................................................................................................2

PLAN FORMAT ...................................................................................................................................3

INTERIM CHANGES TO THE PLAN ........................................................................................................3

GLOSSARY .........................................................................................................................................3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................4

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................5

MANAGEMENT ..................................................................................................................................5

HISTORY OF TROUT STOCKING IN VIRGINIA ........................................................................................5

TROUT FISHING SEASON ....................................................................................................................6

REGULATIONS ....................................................................................................................................7

LAW ENFORCEMENT ..........................................................................................................................7

TRENDS IN PARTICIPATION .................................................................................................................7

FUNDING ...........................................................................................................................................8

CATCHABLE TROUT (DESIGNATED STOCKED TROUT WATERS) .............................................................9

GENERAL PUT-AND-TAKE WATERS ......................................................................................................9

DELAYED HARVEST WATERS ............................................................................................................. 10

URBAN WATERS ............................................................................................................................... 10

FEE-FISHING AREAS .......................................................................................................................... 11

TROUT HERITAGE DAY ...................................................................................................................... 12

FINGERLING STOCKING .................................................................................................................... 12

KIDS FISHING EVENTS ....................................................................................................................... 13

HOW IS THE AMOUNT OF TROUT STOCKED DETERMINED? ............................................................... 13

HOW IS THE FREQUENCY OF STOCKING DETERMINED? ..................................................................... 15

HOW IS THE SPECIES OF TROUT STOCKED DETERMINED? .................................................................. 16

STERILE TROUT ................................................................................................................................ 16

HOW ARE TROUT STOCKINGS ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC? .............................................................. 17

WHAT WATERS ARE STOCKED, AND WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? ..................................................... 17

ADDING NEW WATERS TO THE CATCHABLE TROUT PROGRAM .......................................................... 17

ANGLER SURVEYS: 2013-2015 .......................................................................................................... 19

ANGLER CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................................................... 20

TYPES OF ANGLERS .......................................................................................................................... 21

YEAR-ROUND SEASON ...................................................................................................................... 22

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

STOCKING ANNOUNCEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 23

MOTIVATIONS TO FISH ..................................................................................................................... 24

SATISFACTION WITH FISHING ........................................................................................................... 24

HARVEST ORIENTATION ................................................................................................................... 25

CATCH RATES ................................................................................................................................... 26

DISTRIBUTION OF FISHING EFFORT ................................................................................................... 27

TRENDS IN PARTICIPATION ............................................................................................................... 28

HATCHERY PRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 29

GROWTH TO STOCKING SIZE ............................................................................................................ 31

BIOSECURITY ................................................................................................................................... 31

RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS) ................................................................................... 32

BROWN TROUT (SALMO TRUTTA) ..................................................................................................... 33

BROOK TROUT (SALVELINUS FONTINALIS) ........................................................................................ 34

TRIPLOID TROUT .............................................................................................................................. 35

VALUES, GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POTENTIAL STRATEGIES .............................................................. 36

STOCKING ANNOUNCEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 36

ANGLER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION .......................................................................................... 38

FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION ..................................................................................................... 41

ECOSYSTEM EFFECTS ........................................................................................................................ 43

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES....................................................................................................... 44

APPENDIX A. STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ....................................................... 46

APPENDIX B. VDGIF STOCKED TROUT TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ........................................ 46

APPENDIX C. SUMMARY OF PUBLIC COMMENTS .............................................................................. 47

APPENDIX D. PRIORITY RANKINGS OF THE VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN

OBJECTIVES BY THE STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC) AND THE VDGIF TECHNICAL

ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC). A RANK OF 1 MEANS MOST IMPORTANT, 2 MEANS NEXT MOST

IMPORTANT, ETC. SOME RANKS ARE TIED AND REPEATED. ............................................................... 77

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Trout license sales combined with Lifetime Fishing License Sales ............................... 8

Figure 2. Location of waters listed in the 2015 Catchable Trout Stocking Plan. .......................... 9

Figure 3. Location of Delayed Harvest, Fee Fishing, Urban, Trout Heritage, and Fingerling

Stocked waters. ...................................................................................................................... 13

Figure 4. Location of trout streams and lakes where creel surveys were conducted. .................. 20

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Figure 5. Support for year-round trout season from mail survey. ............................................... 22

Figure 6. Support for having an opening day and spring trout season from creel survey. .......... 23

Figure 7. Preferences for how trout stockings are announced. .................................................... 23

Figure 9. Angler satisfaction with fishing on day of interview. .................................................. 25

Figure 10. Angler satisfaction with stocked trout fishing during the last 12 months. ................. 25

Figure 11. Relative frequency of how often anglers harvest stocked trout. ................................ 26

Figure 12. The average number of trout caught per hour of fishing relative to the day of

stocking. The horizontal line represents the objective of one trout caught per hour of

fishing. ................................................................................................................................... 27

Figure 13. Distribution of time spent fishing relative to day of stocking. ................................... 27

Figure 14. Monthly averages of time spent fishing for stocked trout. ......................................... 28

Figure 15. Trout production facility locations and stocking areas. .............................................. 30

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Sites at which researchers interviewed anglers during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015

stocked-trout seasons. PNT denotes a Put-and-take fishery, while DH denotes a Delayed

Harvest fishery. ...................................................................................................................... 19

Table 2. Relative characteristics of Virginia's stocked trout anglers. .......................................... 21

Table 3. Hatchery comparison table: Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has

five coldwater Fish Culture Stations (FCS's) that vary in species reared, construction era,

and production technology. ................................................................................................... 29

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

INTRODUCTION

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) stocks more than 1

million catchable-size trout annually to support trout fisheries in more than 180 streams and

lakes. Approximately 100,000 anglers fish for these stocked trout in Virginia each year. Trout

anglers have a wide variety of motives for fishing, and their divergent values and opinions about

how stocked trout fisheries should be managed create complex challenges for VDGIF. The

Virginia Stocked Trout Management Plan is designed to inform interested individuals about the

Stocked Trout Program, including the resources and infrastructure needed to attain the goals,

objectives, and strategies for managing stocked trout fisheries described in the Plan.

Trout have always been a favorite of Virginia anglers. In 2011, approximately 14% of all

freshwater fishing effort in Virginia targeted trout (USFWS 2011). According to the agency’s

most recent statewide angler survey (2009), trout are the second most sought after group behind

black bass. Stocked trout provide recreational fishing opportunities in many areas of Virginia

where natural recreational fisheries are limited, and these fisheries make important economic

contributions to localities where they are created.

VDGIF, under the direction of a Governor-appointed Board of Directors, is charged

specifically by the General Assembly with management of the state’s freshwater fisheries

resources. The Code of Virginia expresses many legal mandates for the Board and VDGIF,

including management of wildlife species (§29.1-103), public education (§29.1-109), law

enforcement (§29.1-109), and regulations (§29.1-501). To help clarify and interpret the role of

VDGIF in managing wildlife in Virginia, the Board of Directors has adopted the following

Agency mission statement:

To manage Virginia’s wildlife and inland fish to maintain optimum populations of all

species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth; To provide opportunity for all to enjoy

wildlife, inland fish, boating and related outdoor recreation and to work diligently to

safeguard the rights of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest game as provided for in the

Constitution of Virginia; To promote safety for persons and property in connection with

boating, hunting, and fishing; To provide educational outreach programs and materials

that foster an awareness of and appreciation for Virginia’s fish and wildlife resources,

their habitats, and hunting, fishing, and boating opportunities.

What is the Virginia Stocked Trout Management Plan?

The Virginia Stocked Trout Management Plan is the first comprehensive plan developed

for stocked trout in Virginia. It summarizes the history of trout stocking and fishing in Virginia

and provides a blueprint for future management directions. The plan establishes a framework of

what needs to be done for stocked trout management, how it should be done, and when it should

be done through 2025. By clarifying management goals and objectives of VDGIF relating to

stocked trout, the Plan will help Board members, VDGIF administrators, VDGIF staff, and the

public to effectively address stocked trout management issues. As the basis for guiding stocked

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

trout management activities, decisions, and projects, the Plan will also serve to inform the

General Assembly and the public of what VDGIF hopes to accomplish. The Plan is a strategic

plan that is intended to provide overall directions, goals, and objectives for the stocked trout

program (e.g., to increase youth participation in stocked trout fishing). As such, it is not an

operational plan where specific details of potential strategies to carryout objectives are exactly

described (e.g., detailed descriptions of programs designed to increase youth participation).

Virginia is blessed with significant wild trout resources. There are over 2,300 miles of

coldwater streams harboring wild trout populations in the Commonwealth. The Virginia Stocked

Trout Management Plan specifically addresses the management of only hatchery-reared trout;

there are separate issues unique to wild trout management that do not pertain to stocking

hatchery–reared trout. VDGIF is committed to the protection and enhancement of wild trout

populations and plans to formalize management guidelines specifically for wild trout resources

in the near future.

How the Plan was Developed?

Following the philosophy that guided the development of Virginia’s Deer, Bear, and

Turkey Management Plans, the Virginia Stocked Trout Management Plan was developed to

represent the interests of all Virginians interested in stocked trout management. VDGIF

collaborated with Virginia Tech’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation to implement

the public and technical processes for plan development. During the planning process, public

stakeholders focused on the values that are important in establishing goals for management of

stocked trout, whereas fisheries management professionals focused on the technical aspects of

how to attain the goals of stocked trout management.

To identify important issues in stocked trout management, ten public meetings were

conducted throughout Virginia to begin the planning process. Approximately 150 Virginians

attended the public meetings from October 2013 through February 2014. The issues identified

by public meeting participants provided a starting point for Stakeholder Advisory Committee

(SAC) discussions.

The SAC, composed of 11 Virginia citizens representing the diverse interests in stocked

trout fishing (including key stakeholder groups, Appendix A), was tasked with identifying

important values related to stocked trout fishing and developing draft goals to address those

values. The SAC members represented various interests from across the western part of the

state, including public landowners, sporting interests, non-consumptive interests, and

conservationists. The SAC met four times between December 2014 and May 2015 to assist

VDGIF in developing the plan.

A Stocked Trout Technical Advisory Committee (Technical Committee), composed of

VDGIF biologists, hatchery staff, and conservation police officers with expertise in stocked trout

management, provided scientific information and technical feedback to the SAC (Appendix B).

Specifically, the Technical Committee drafted and presented the technical background

information on stocked trout production and management in Virginia, refined the values and

goals developed by the SAC, identified the objectives and potential strategies to achieve the

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

SAC’s draft goals, and drafted the final plan (e.g., writing, compiling technical sections with

SAC input).

Faculty and graduate students from Virginia Tech’s Department of Fish and Wildlife

Conservation provided the overall guidance and administrative support for the planning approach

and processes. Virginia Tech personnel facilitated planning meetings (e.g., public meetings,

meetings of the SAC and Technical Committee, regional public input) and also provided other

administrative and logistical support (e.g., drafted meeting notes, communication and mailings,

fiscal needs).

Plan Format

The Plan includes sections relating to the management of stocked trout, angler surveys

conducted by Virginia Tech from 2013–2015, and hatchery production of stocked trout in

Virginia. Within the context of VDGIF’s mission statement, the SAC described five major

issues related to management of stocked trout and developed goals for each. The major issue

areas included stocking announcements, recruitment and retention of trout anglers, funding and

administration for the stocked trout program, ecosystem effects of stocking trout, and

recreational opportunities. The Plan lists specific objectives designed to attain the goals, and

suggests strategies clarifying how each objective might be achieved.

Interim Changes to the Plan

The Plan is designed to provide guidance and priorities to help manage Virginia's stocked

trout program through 2025. Issues and public values related to stocked trout fishing should not

change dramatically over the 10-year period. However, a plan should be a dynamic and flexible

tool that remains responsive to changing social, environmental, technical, and administrative

conditions. To keep the Plan relevant and responsive to the programmatic goal directions

provided by the public, specific objectives and strategies may be added, deleted, or amended by

VDGIF as circumstances demand. As adaptive changes in management approaches (i.e.,

objectives) are necessary, VDGIF will submit interim updates to the SAC for review before

implementing changes; updated objectives will be provided as addenda to the Plan on VDGIF’s

website.

Glossary

• Catchable-Size Stocked Trout – Trout stocked by VDGIF that are greater than seven

inches in length.

• Designated Stocked Trout Water – Water body where catchable-size trout are stocked by

VDGIF, and a Virginia Trout License is required 1 October through 15 June.

• Native Trout – Brook Trout that are hatched and reared in a wild environment through

natural reproduction. Brook Trout are the only native trout to Virginia; therefore wild

Brook Trout is synonymous with native trout.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

• Put and Take – Trout management program where catchable-size trout can be harvested

immediately following stocking.

• Southern Appalachian Brook Trout – A specific strain of Brook Trout indigenous to

watersheds in southwestern Virginia exhibiting unique genetic characteristics.

• Sterile Trout – Trout that are unable to reproduce under any conditions. Triploids are an

example of sterile trout.

• Stocked Trout – Trout hatched from eggs and / or reared in captivity (hatchery or fish

culture station) and then released into a wild environment.

• Wild Trout – Trout that are hatched and reared in a wild environment through natural

reproduction. Wild trout in Virginia include naturally reproducing Brook, Brown, and

Rainbow Trout.

Acknowledgements

The thoughtful involvement of many Virginia stakeholders at public meetings and

through written comments was crucial to the successful representation of the stocked trout-

related interests and public values of all citizens. The major commitment of time and expense,

unselfish dedication, and enthusiasm provided by members of the SAC not only made a

substantial difference in the quality of the final plan, but also enriched the process throughout.

We greatly appreciate their effort and dedication. While also grasping technical realities of

stocked trout management, it was no small task to conscientiously struggle with balancing the

varied public desires.

The Technical Committee reviewed and summarized technical information about

Virginia’s stocked trout management program. Technical research and writing for the Plan

primarily was provided by Steve Reeser (VDGIF), Nate Wilke (VDGIF), Dr. Steve McMullin

(Virginia Tech), Vic DiCenzo (Virginia Tech), and Amanda Hyman (Virginia Tech).

We also greatly appreciate the planning-process support provided by Virginia Tech’s

Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Dr. Steve McMullin, Vic DiCenzo, and Amanda

Hyman all played key roles to ensure the successful and timely completion of the entire planning

effort. Through processes that integrated public values with professional technical knowledge,

Dr. McMullin’s vision has guided numerous VDGIF management planning efforts since 1999.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENT

There is no such person as an “average” stocked trout angler in Virginia. If you asked ten

different stocked trout anglers what they would like to see in VDGIF’s Stocked Trout Program,

you would most likely get a wide variety of answers. Stocking hatchery-reared trout into a

stream or small impoundment is completely artificial, and therefore can be manipulated in many

ways. Where and when trout are stocked, the size and number of fish stocked, and how and

when anglers are informed of trout stocking are management options that VDGIF utilizes in its

stocked trout program. VDGIF has been responsive to the requests of Virginia’s stocked trout

anglers. Over the past three decades, the Department has made changes to the general put-and-

take program and initiated several programs to meet the social and demographic needs of the

stocked trout angling community.

History of Trout Stocking in Virginia

By the early 20

century, stream and river ecosystems in the eastern U.S. had become

severely degraded. Extensive logging, mining, dam construction, and other human impacts

impaired water quality and stream bottom conditions to the point that trout could no longer

reproduce or even exist in many waters. Outstanding recreational fisheries declined or vanished.

Early pioneers in fish and wildlife conservation focused on stocking hatchery fish to rebuild wild

populations and in many cases to provide “instant” recreation. One of the most successfully

propagated fishes proved to be trout. Trout were raised to adult size on artificial feed more

easily than other species. Anglers embraced the concept of stocking fish of legal harvest size.

For these reasons, hatchery trout were stocked in coldwater streams to augment fisheries where

native trout populations had declined or disappeared entirely. They were also introduced to water

bodies where they had not previously existed, such as warmwater environments where they

could survive only during colder months.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

VDGIF first stocked hatchery rainbow and brook trout in Virginia streams in the late

1920s. Some of the first streams to be stocked were located in the newly formed Shenandoah

National Park. Initially, VDGIF operated two trout hatcheries: Marion Hatchery (Smyth

County) was VDGIF’s first trout hatchery opening in 1930, and Montebello Hatchery (Nelson

County) began operating in 1931. Coursey Springs Fish Culture Station in Bath County was

added to VDGIF’s hatchery system in 1964. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began operating

federal trout hatcheries at Paint Bank (Craig County) and Wytheville (Wythe County) in the

1960s. While under federal management, trout from these two facilities were stocked only in

waters located within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Both Paint Bank

and Wytheville hatcheries were acquired by VDGIF in the 1980s. At the request of anglers and

to provide more diverse fisheries, VDGIF began stocking Brown Trout in 1961.

In 1958, Virginia became one of the first states to require a separate license to fish for

stocked trout. The revenue from the trout license was dedicated solely toward production of

hatchery trout. Historically, trout were stocked only where the public had fishing access,

accessibility for stocking was adequate, and water quality and temperature were suitable for trout

throughout most of the year. A signed agreement between private landowners and VDGIF to

allow public access was required before trout were stocked in waters on private lands. Larger

impoundments were excluded from the program because VDGIF hatcheries could not produce

enough trout to sustain a desirable fishery. In the early years of the program, stocking focused

mostly on streams, with about 130-150 waters receiving trout. The number of waters stocked by

VDGIF peaked in the 1970s at close to 240, located across 40 counties primarily in the western

and southwestern portion of the Commonwealth.

A statewide inventory of coldwater streams was conducted by VDGIF in the late 1970s.

The purpose of this project was to identify and classify all wild trout populations. Many streams

being stocked with hatchery trout were found to harbor exceptional wild trout populations. For

this reason, stocking trout was discontinued in many streams in the early 1980s. More waters

were added when the Delayed Harvest and Urban Trout programs were introduced in the 1990s.

The number of waters stocked by the Department has ranged from 175-195 over the last three

decades.

Trout Fishing Season

Virginia’s trout season had an “Opening Day” from the 1930s until 1995. Opening Day

fluctuated between the last Saturday in March and the first Saturday in April with fishing

beginning at a designated time in the morning. Trout season ran from opening day to December

31 (the majority of stocked trout waters would not support trout from June-September due to

high water temperatures). Stocked trout waters were closed to fishing up to three months before

opening day, and trout were stocked during this “pre-season” period. Historically, most waters

received three stockings (one pre-season, and two in-season). Additional two-week, in-season

closures of stocked waters preceded post-opening day, in-season stockings. Different regions of

western Virginia were closed to trout fishing for in-season stockings at different times so that

some trout waters were always open to fishing. Select waters were stocked as late as June and

some waters received a single fall stocking in October. Statewide surveys of trout license buyers

in 1986 and 1993 indicated support for transitioning to a year-round trout season increased from

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

58% to 75%. Citing the support for a year-round season, opening day was discontinued in 1996.

Currently, trout stocking occurs from October 1 through May 31, and there is no closed season.

Regulations

In the early years of the program, daily creel limits were fairly liberal, allowing anglers to

harvest up to 12 trout. Over time, the creel limit was reduced incrementally to the current limit

of six trout per day. To provide equity and ensure a sporting ethic, anglers are only permitted to

fish with one rod and during daylight hours in stocked trout waters.

Law Enforcement

As the title of “Game Warden” evolved to “Conservation Police Officer (CPO),” so did

the diversity of the Stocked Trout Program. Prior to 1996 when trout were stocked prior to

opening day, CPOs spent day and night patrolling streams and lakes ensuring that poachers

would not steal the opportunity of the ethical fishermen who waited with family and friends for

this special day. This law enforcement effort was significant, as many of these waters were

stocked and then closed to angling for several weeks. During the “Opening Day” era, special

operations on trout streams were conducted by law enforcement officials, bringing CPOs from

eastern Virginia to the western counties. One significant hurdle for law enforcement came with

the Fair Labor Standards Act . This prevented CPOs from working extended hours that they were

not compensated for and made them unavailable except during approved overtime.

CPOs deal with traffic issues as some anglers followed the trout truck from hatcheries to

stocking locations. While the need to watch streams in the old pre-season period no longer

exists, CPOs currently assist with stocking events, provide traffic control, gather information for

biologists, and enforce laws and regulations. The most frequent violations on trout streams are

fishing after obtaining the daily limit, exceeding creel limits, snagging, littering, and fishing

without proper licenses. CPOs’ contact with anglers ensures they are properly licensed and obey

creel and size limits. These contacts vary from a thank you to a warning, summons, or arrest.

CPOs are the most noticeable field representatives for VDGIF and thus have extensive contact

with trout anglers. Anglers are quick to let the CPOs know how they feel about the quality of

VDGIF’s trout stocking program.

Trends in Participation

Prior to 1996, when “Opening Day” was preceded by a season closure and a large pre-

season stocking emphasis, large numbers of anglers fished for stocked trout. Conflicts between

anglers and landowners over the years led to a decline in private waters available for public-

stocked-trout fishing. In order to address issues related to large opening day crowds (e.g., litter,

traffic congestion), the trout program shifted to a year- round season with the hope of reducing

crowding on these waters and better utilizing limited hatchery space. Trout-angler surveys (2001

and 2008) conducted since the creation of the year-round season have found close to 80% of

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

trout anglers prefer not having an opening day and approximately 70% of surveyed anglers rate

the current program as Excellent/Good.

Sales of annual trout licenses declined from over 100,000 per year in the mid-1990s to

fewer than 60,000 in recent years. When lifetime fishing license sales are included, the total

number of licensed trout anglers appears to have remained relatively constant since the initial

peak of sales (Figure 1). However, DGIF has no way to determine how many lifetime license

holders continue to fish for stocked trout.

Figure 1. Trout license sales combined with Lifetime Fishing License Sales

Funding

Virginia’s regulations require anglers fishing for stocked trout in designated stocked trout

waters to purchase a trout license in addition to a regular freshwater fishing license. The intent

of the separate trout license was to financially support hatchery trout production (essentially

considered a “pay to participate” program). While all revenue from trout license sales goes

directly toward catchable trout production, these revenues alone do not support the entire

program. However, 64% of trout anglers surveyed in 2008 stated that they purchased a basic

freshwater fishing license primarily to fish for trout. If those additional basic freshwater fishing

license sales are added to trout license sales, the funds generated nearly meet the needs of the

hatchery system, which in 2014 amounted to approximately $2.4 million. This figure does not

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

General Trout License Cumulative Lifetime Trout License

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

include costs associated with VDGIF’s management staff or law enforcement activities

associated with the stocked trout program.

Catchable Trout (Designated Stocked Trout Waters)

The catchable trout-stocking program is the most popular component of VDGIF’s trout

program and accounts for approximately 80% of trout angling effort in Virginia. Roughly 1.2

million catchable trout (600,000 pounds) are stocked into 135 streams and 32 ponds and lakes

(204 different stream sections and impoundments) for the 100,000 anglers that pursue them

(Figure 2). “Designated Stocked Trout Waters” include waters stocked with catchable-size trout

and are listed by the agency Director in the Annual Trout Stocking Plan. Stocked catchable-size

trout support general Put-and-Take, Delayed Harvest, Urban, Fee Area, and Trout Heritage

fisheries. These waters are considered designated stocked trout waters, which only require a

trout license from October 1 through June 15. All catchable-size stocked trout are at least seven

inches in length when stocked. However, VDGIF attempts to produce fish with an average

length of 10 ½ inch (0.45 lb.) for stocking these waters..

Figure 2. Location of waters listed in the 2015 Catchable Trout Stocking Plan.

General Put-and-Take Waters

Put-and-take stocked trout fishing draws the most interest and attention from anglers

probably because of the availability of catchable-size trout, liberal gear restrictions, and ease of

capture. Eighty-nine percent of the waters stocked with catchable-size trout currently fall under

the put-and-take category.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Delayed Harvest Waters

The delayed harvest program was launched in 1989. The intent of this program is to

incorporate aspects of both catch-and-release and put-and-take trout fishing. Streams in this

program are generally large and provide good trout habitat. However, water temperature often

limits trout survival through the summer months. Catchable-size trout are stocked typically once

in fall, winter, and spring. From October 1 through the following May 31, only artificial lures

may be used, and all fish must be released unharmed. From June 1 through September 30,

general trout regulations are in effect, and trout may be harvested. A trout license is required to

fish these waters from October 1 through June 15. There are currently 14 streams in the delayed

harvest program (Figure 3).

Urban Waters

In 1993, VDGIF initiated its Urban Fishing Program at three ponds in urban and

suburban areas. These prototypes evolved into seven permanent sites across the Commonwealth

(Figure 3) over the following 15 years: Cook Lake (Alexandria), Locust Shade Park Lake (Prince

William), Dorey Park Lake (Henrico), Shield Lake (Richmond), Lake Biggins (Newport News),

Northwest River Park Lake (Chesapeake), and the newest, Old Cossey Pond (Fredericksburg).

Due to site logistics and issues, waters may be added or dropped from the program from time to

time. The sites share common components – they are small ponds managed by their localities

(Parks and Recreation Departments) and lie within the “urban crescent,” which extends south

from the Washington, DC metro area through Richmond then east to Virginia Beach.

The motivation for this program is to bring angling to densely populated areas, and give

urban residents an opportunity they may not otherwise have. Currently, all urban fishing

program sites are stocked with catchable Rainbow and Brown Trout five times per season

(November – April) at an annual rate of approximately 1,200 fish per acre. There were

originally ten trout stockings during the season (one stocking about every 2.5 weeks which was

determined to be the appropriate frequency as a compromise between attaining target catch rate

of one fish per hour and hatchery-hauling constraints). Considering available resources,

stockings were reduced years ago. Currently, there are five trout stockings per season (more fish

per stocking, but less frequent stocking events). Urban waters that can accommodate catfish are

also stocked with large Channel Catfish during warmer months when water temperatures are too

high for trout.

The Urban Trout Program generated heavy fishing participation, estimated at 12,500

angling hours per acre annually in the mid-2000s with 36 acres of water in the program.

Average catch rate was around 0.5 fish per hour, which, for these fisheries, is considered high

relative to national catch estimates due to intense fishing pressure. The Urban Trout Program

may serve to attract new anglers, as past surveys indicated 5% of users had fished for less than

one year, and 19% had fished for less than five years. Juvenile usage comprised 15-20% of the

total with a much of the remainder made up of senior citizens.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Fee-Fishing Areas

The fee fishing, or “pay-as-you-go” trout program, began in 1964 when the Clinch

Mountain Fee Fishing Area opened. Today, VDGIF manages three fee-fishing areas located in

western Virginia: Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek, and the Douthat Lake Fee Fishing Areas

(Figure 3). The primary goal of the fee-fishing program was to provide inexpensive trout fishing

opportunities for vacationers, both resident and non-resident. Today, these areas also provide

anglers an opportunity to experience a more traditional “opening day” as well as to fish for

frequently stocked trout throughout the season. During the fee season, anglers may fish one of

the fee areas with a basic freshwater fishing license and a daily fishing permit ($8), which is

required of all anglers over the age of 13. Children 12 and under may fish without a permit as

long as they are accompanied by a licensed adult, and the combined creel does not exceed that of

the adult (6 trout, 7” minimum length). Revenue generated from the daily permit sales are used

to offset the cost of trout production and stocking at the fee areas. Except for opening day at

these fee-fishing areas, which begins at 9:00 am on the first Saturday in April, fishing begins at

5:00 am and ends one hour after sunset. Fee areas are closed to fishing five days prior to

opening day. Outside of the fee season, these areas revert to designated stocked trout waters, and

a trout license is required instead of a daily permit. A daily permit is required to fish the Clinch

Mountain and Crooked Creek fee areas from the first Saturday in April through September 30.

Douthat Lake Fee Fishing Area requires a daily permit from the first Saturday in April through

June 15 and from September 15 through October 31.

Clinch Mountain Fee Fishing Area is located in southwestern Virginia about 7 miles west

of Saltville. The area consists of approximately 7 miles of Big Tumbling Creek and its two

major tributaries, Briar Cove Creek and Laurel Bed Creek. Trout are stocked four times a week

during the fee season. Outside of the fee season, the area is managed as designated stocked trout

waters to the gate at the foot of the mountain.

Crooked Creek Fee Fishing Area is located in Carroll County about 5 miles east of Galax.

This area consists of a 5-mile stocked section and a 2-mile section managed as a wild trout

fishery. Trout are stocked four times a week during the fee season.

Douthat Lake Fee Fishing Area is located in Bath County and lies within Douthat State

Park. This area includes Douthat State Park Lake (60 acres) and 4 miles of Wilson Creek. Trout

are stocked twice per week throughout the fee period. Outside of the fee season, the area is

managed as designated stocked trout waters.

Anglers who visited VDGIF’s fee areas purchased 17,379 permits in 2014. Participation

declined from the 1970s when 37,022 permits were sold at the Clinch Mountain Fee Fishing

Area alone in 1973. Part of the decline in permit sales can be attributed to the substantial

increase in trout fishing opportunities, which began in 1983 through the elimination of the May

closure and increased numbers of in-season trout stocking on general stocked waters.

Additionally, the cost of the daily permit increased from $1 to $8. Although the number of

annual permit sales declined, the program remains popular with anglers and provides a quality

experience for catchable stocked trout, particularly through the summer after stocking has ceased

on the general designated trout waters.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Trout Heritage Day

Heritage Day began in 2001, to provide a similar experience to opening day for anglers

who enjoyed the excitement and social aspect of the opening day of trout season. Select waters

are stocked prior to or on the first Saturday in April to create an announced stocking event.

These streams and impoundments are closed to fishing the Friday prior to the first Saturday in

April for stocking, and reopen to fishing the following day at 9:00 am. The stocking for Heritage

Day counts as one of the standard allocated stockings for that water. There were 20 Trout

Heritage waters in 2015 (Figure 3).

Fingerling Stocking

The fingerling-stocking program is designed to take advantage of the natural potential of

deep reservoirs, coldwater tailwaters, and spring-fed streams to produce quality trout fishing

opportunities where wild trout fisheries are not possible due to the lack of natural reproduction.

Because summer water temperatures are usually a limiting factor to trout survival, under this

program a stream or reservoir must provide suitable, year-round water temperatures, have good

habitat, and be productive enough to provide adequate food for good growth. VDGIF utilizes

Brook, Rainbow, and Brown Trout in the fingerling program. The species utilized depends upon

habitat conditions of the receiving water and specific management objectives. Suitable waters

are stocked once annually with fingerling or sub-catchable (smaller than the legal size limit of

7”) trout, and often length limits and angler gear restrictions are imposed to protect these sub-

legal size fish until they reach harvestable size. In areas receiving heavy fishing pressure, special

gear restrictions are often necessary to avoid high hooking mortality rates. These fish will often

be caught several times before they eventually reach harvestable size. The program can only be

successful if hooking mortality remains low. During this time, trout lose most of their hatchery

characteristics, both in appearance and behavior, and create a fishery that approaches a wild one

in terms of fishing experience. Some of Virginia’s most exciting trout fishing opportunities can

be found within the fingerling-stocking program. By stocking small fish once a year, a high-

quality fishery can be developed at a fraction of the cost of the more common put-and-take

program. During the 2013-14 stocking season VDGIF stocked approximately 305,000 fingerling

trout in different stream reaches and impoundments (Figure 3).

*Some stream sections that receive fingerling trout are located entirely on private lands, and

VDGIF manages these fisheries in cooperation with the private landowners using a permit

system. A free permit is required to fish these streams and can be obtained from VDGIF’s

website: https://www3.dgif.virginia.gov/troutpermits/. In 2014, approximately 5,600 permits

were issued for the three streams in this program (Mossy Creek, Buffalo Creek, and South

River).

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Figure 3. Location of Delayed Harvest, Fee Fishing, Urban, and Trout Heritage, and Fingerling

stocked waters.

Kids Fishing Events

VDGIF provides stocked trout for children-only fishing events. This program is

extremely popular, as thousands of children participate in these events. Events are held on both

streams and impoundments, and must occur on VDGIF-designated stocked trout waters during

the stocking season (October 1 – May 31). The stocking for the event counts as one of the

standard allocated stockings for that particular water. VDGIF only provides trout for one event

per water body per year. Waters scheduled for the event may be closed by the managing sponsor

or landowner for one day prior to the event. Events can only be for one day and must conclude

no later than 4:00 pm, at which time the designated stocked water opens to all licensed anglers.

VDGIF stocked trout for 29 children’s fishing events in 2015. Currently all children-only events

are held on weekend days.

How is the amount of trout stocked determined?

In the “Opening Day” era, trout stocking densities were determined primarily by fishing

pressure. Biologists and CPOs counted anglers on designated stocked trout waters on Opening

Day, and those numbers were used to generate the stocking allocation for those waters the

following year. Depending on the water being stocked, 3-4 trout were stocked per angler.

Currently, biologists use a formula where stream width, fishing pressure, physical habitat, food

availability, and stocking distribution are rated to determine the amount of trout to be stocked.

STREAMS: WEIGHTING FACTOR

A. Stream Width

15’ 1

15-30’ 2

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

30-50’ 3

50’+ 4

B. Fishing Pressure

Light 0

Moderate 1

Heavy 2

C. Physical Habitat

Poor/fair: (< 20% pools, shallow (<3’) 0

Limited cover, could have frequent low

Flow problems)

Good: (20-35% pools – some with good 1

Depth (>3’) and cover – good flow except

During severe drought)

Excellent: (>35% pools – most with good 2

Depth (>3’) and abundant overhead cover-

Very dependable flow)

D. Food Availability/Holdover potential

Poor: (very sterile, often acidic, little food, 0

instream cover very limited, water quality or

temperature problems)

Average: (adequate food, water quality and 1

cover for seasonal holdover)

Excellent: (abundance of food, good cover, 2

summer holdover potential – often spring-fed)

E. Distribution Potential

Limited: (few sites available (>1/4 mi between 0

stocking points)

Adequate: (stocking sites limited, but at 1

least 1 every ¼ mi)

Excellent: (can stock at almost any point) 2

How to determine number of fish stock per mile per stocking for streams: **

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

- add all weighting factors

- multiply weighting factor by 50 for total trout per mile

- multiply by total miles of available stream for per stocking allocation

- on approved urban streams, multiply weighting factor by 75***

IMPOUNDMENTS:

A. Size Standard Stocking Rate

< 5 acres 175/acre

6-10 acres 100/acre

10-25 acres 50/acre

> 25 acres 40/acre

B. Fishing Pressure Weighting Factor

Light 0.5

Moderate 0.75

Heavy 1.0

Multiply the fishing pressure factor by the recommended stocking rate to get number per

acre for each stocking.

Currently, VDGIF stocks trout by pounds rather than number. The amount of pounds is

converted from the number allocated for each site. Thus, the number of fish stocked may

fluctuate among stockings at each site based on the average size of individual fish.

How is the frequency of stocking determined?

General put-and-take stocked trout waters are classified as A, B, or C. This classification

determines how many times the water will be stocked and within what time period.

Category A: Waters have consistently suitable flow and temperature conditions for survival of

trout from October 1 through June 15. The waters provide good depth, cover and food for

survival of holdover-stocked trout. Streams where fall stocking is frequently delayed or canceled

due to low flow conditions generally are not considered Category A waters. Stocked eight times

between October 1 and May 30.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Category B: Waters have consistently suitable conditions for holding stocked trout from

November 1 through May 31. Waters generally provide good size, depth and cover to provide a

quality angling experience under normal flow conditions. Waters provide adequate conditions

for survival of stocked trout through the stocking season. Stocked five times between October 1

and May 15.

Category C: Generally very small streams or ponds that provide limited fishing opportunity and

are only suitable for holding trout during very good flow conditions. Most of these waters are

small, publicly owned streams that have been stocked historically and remain in the program.

Stocked three times between October 1 and April 30.

Delayed Harvest waters are stocked three times between October 1 and May 30.

Urban Trout Waters are stocked five times between November 1 and April 15.

How is the species of trout stocked determined?

Rainbow Trout:

- used in all lake and stream stockings, except where special conditions (see below) or

specific management plans warrant other species.

Brown Trout:

- used only in stream situations or in two-story reservoirs

- used only when physical habitat and food availability is adequate

- should not be stocked where they could establish a wild population within a native

trout drainage.

- will not be stocked where VDGIF aquatic biologists determine they would negatively

impact populations of threatened or endangered species.

Brook Trout:

- required where VDGIF stocks trout in areas with marginal native trout populations

- recommended in lakes that are fed by streams that contain native trout populations.

- recommended in streams with tributaries that contain native trout populations.

- may be substituted for Rainbow Trout in most other situations

Sterile Trout

Normal trout are “diploid”, meaning each individual fish has two pairs of chromosomes.

Triploid trout have three pairs of chromosomes and are essentially sterile (cannot reproduce).

How and where VDGIF produces triploid trout is discussed in the “Production” section of this

document.

Goal: to stock triploid trout in waters where the genetic purity of native trout is to be protected,

or where stocked trout natural reproduction is not desired.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Objectives: Annually produce adequate numbers of triploid Rainbow, Brook and Brown Trout

to meet the Department’s needs.

Use of Triploid Trout

Priority:

• Watersheds with known populations of pure Southern Appalachian Brook Trout

• Streams originating within the boundaries of Shenandoah National Park.

• Waters with native trout population present.*

• Fingerlings in the put-n-grow program (streams and reservoirs).

*Triploid Rainbow or Brown Trout can be stocked into waters designated to receive only brook

trout when diploid brook trout are not available.

When all triploid allocation requests have been filled, surplus triploid trout can be substituted for

diploid trout in any water where VDGIF is stocking trout.

How are trout stockings advertised to the public?

The majority of stockings on general put and take waters are announced each day at

approximately 4:00 pm on VDGIF’s website http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/stock/ and on

the Trout Stocking Line 434-525-FISH (3474). Waters stocked on Saturday may not be listed

until the following Monday.

Exceptions include: 1) waters in the Trout Heritage Program, which are pre-announced

to be stocked for the first Saturday in April, 2) waters stocked for children-only fishing events,

which are pre-announced, 3) The second and third stocking on Delayed Harvest waters, and on

select special regulation waters that receive catchable size trout, which are unannounced.

What waters are stocked, and where are they located?

An updated list of Designated Stocked Trout Waters is located in the Virginia Freshwater

Fishing and Watercraft Owner’s Guide and on VDGIF’s website. An interactive mapping

application for stocked trout waters, special regulation waters, and wild trout waters is available

by clicking on the link to stocked trout interactive map on VDGIF’s website:

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/trout/. Maps identifying locations of stocked trout waters

may also be published in the Department’s magazine Virginia Wildlife.

Adding New Waters to the Catchable Trout Program

Ideal candidate waters for the Catchable Trout Stocking Program would be considered

transition habitats between coldwater and warmwater communities. These waters, under natural

conditions, provide limited recreational fishing but can provide excellent trout fishing

opportunities on at least a seasonal basis. The following criteria should be used when adding

waters to this program:

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Habitat/Native Fauna:

• Streams should not currently support a significant wild trout fishery or the

potential for establishment of one. No Class I or Class II wild trout stream will be

considered for the program, and Class III and Class IV waters will only be

considered after careful evaluation of current angling potential and potential

impact of stocking on resident populations.

• If waters are within the known range of Southern Appalachian Brook Trout,

additional analysis of Brook Trout populations within the drainage may be

necessary. Only sterile (triploid) trout should be stocked in watersheds known to

contain Southern Appalachian Brook Trout.

• Waters to be considered should not support a significant warmwater population of

gamefish.

• If waters contain a federal or state listed threatened or endangered species, an

evaluation, in consultation with Bureau aquatic non-game biologists, must be

made to determine potential effects on the species or its habitat. If it is

determined that stocking may significantly affect that species, the water should

not be added to the program.

• Only waters that will rate at least a Category B Catchable Trout fishery should be

added. No lake over 20 acres in size should be considered for catchable trout

stocking and streams should be between 15 and 75 feet in width.

• Streams should have at least 20% pool habitat with average pool depths of 3 feet

or greater and should have adequate cover to retain trout in the stocked section.

• All waters should be capable of sustaining trout through June 30

and have

adequate water quality that will not stress trout or cause substantial disease or

mortality.

• Allocations for these waters must follow the approved trout stocking allocation

guidelines

Public Access:

• The area must be accessible to the general public without payment of a fee for

fishing. VDGIF will consider areas that charge a daily use fee to all users as long

as the fee is not designed for profit but is used for maintenance of the facilities

and area. The amount of the fee should be considered to determine if it is

reasonable and that anglers would be willing to pay in order to access the area.

• The area must have adequate parking to avoid causing unsafe traffic hazards and

must be open to anglers year-round.

• Streams should have a least one continuous mile of open water. VDGIF’s general

guideline for stocking streams is to not stock within 1/4 mile of posted property.

If public water or natural barriers to fish migration are located at either end of a

proposed section of water, the minimum length can be reduced accordingly.

Posting of a very short section of water or posting of one side of the stream does

not restrict consideration of a stream for the program as long as anglers can easily

access the remaining section of stream or the opposite bank.

• Staff shall get signed landowner authorization on all new waters. VDGIF has an

approved landowner public fishing agreement form available.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Geographic Factors:

• Generally, the catchable trout program will be limited to the traditional trout

counties lying west of U.S. Highway 29 and abutting the Blue Ridge, except for

the Urban Fishing Waters, and Delayed Harvest Waters, which are available

statewide.

• VDGIF’s goal is to retain, expand, and improve the program where possible.

Therefore, additions to the catchable trout stocking program will be considered

throughout the approved region without limiting numbers of waters by county or

region. However, VDGIF will give higher priority to areas that have limited trout

fishing opportunity and to areas that better serve high population densities.

Additions to the program should be used to substitute for removal of undesirable

waters where appropriate.

ANGLER SURVEYS: 2013-2015

In July 2013, VDGIF initiated a study with Virginia Tech’s Department of Fish and Wildlife

Conservation to evaluate the stocked trout program. This research was designed to address the

following questions:

1. How many stocked trout do anglers catch and harvest?

2. Are trout license sales declining, and if so, why?

3. What can be done to improve angler satisfaction with stocked trout fishing and

management in Virginia?

To address the first question, researchers conducted creel surveys on 17 stocked trout waters

across Virginia, interviewing anglers as they fished (Table 1 and Figure 4). These interviews

provided information on how long anglers fished, the number of trout caught and harvested, as

well as preferences and opinions regarding fishing for stocked trout. To address questions 2 and

3, researchers analyzed patterns in license sales and used two mail surveys to collect information

from stocked trout anglers. To address question 2, researchers surveyed 1,100 anglers who had

previously purchased trout licenses in 2012 and 2013 but did not purchase a trout license in

2014, asking questions about why they did not fish and if they planned to participate in the

future. To address the question 3, researchers sent a different survey to 5,400 licensed trout

anglers designed to better understand why anglers fish for stocked trout, what aspects of the

program they prefer, and what drives their satisfaction. These research efforts significantly

enhanced stakeholder input in development of the Plan.

Table 1. Sites where researchers interviewed anglers during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015

stocked-trout seasons. PNT denotes a Put-and-take fishery, while DH denotes a Delayed Harvest

fishery.

Site

County

Stocking

area (mi.

or acres)

Type

Fishery

Class

Trout Species

Stocked

Pandapas Pond

Montgomery

PNT

Rainbow

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Roanoke River

Roanoke

2.38

Rainbow & Brown

Big Stoney Creek

Giles

7.51

PNT

Rainbow

Whitetop Laurel Creek

Washington

5.61

PNT

Rainbow & Brown

Frying Pan Creek

Dickenson

4.95

PNT

Rainbow & Brown

Lincolnshire Lake

Tazewell

PNT

Rainbow & Brown

Locust Shade

Prince

William

PNT

Urban

Rainbow & Brown

Dorey Park Lake

Henrico

PNT

Urban

Rainbow & Brown

Lake Thompson

Fauquier

PNT

Rainbow, Brown, &

Brook

Mill Creek

Rockbridge

PNT

Rainbow, Brown, &

Brook

Rose River

Madison

2.91

PNT

Rainbow & Brook

South River

Waynesboro

City

1.33

Rainbow, Brook, &

Brown

South Fork Powell

Wise

2.36

PNT

Rainbow & Brown

Stock Creek

Scott

2.17

PNT

Rainbow

Liberty Lake

Bedford

1.8

PNT

Rainbow

North Creek

Botetourt

2.51

PNT

Rainbow and Brook

McFalls Creek

Botetourt

2.47

PNT

Rainbow

Figure 4. Location of trout streams and lakes where creel surveys were conducted.

Angler Characteristics

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Respondents to the on-site survey ranged in age from 18 to 91, with an average age of 48.

Males comprised 92% of the respondents and most were either employed (55%) or retired

(27%). The remainder of anglers were either students (6%), unemployed (4%), disabled (3%),

homemakers (1%), or did not respond (4%). Anglers fished for stocked trout in Virginia an

average of 25 days per year, traveling, on average, approximately 24 miles one-way per trip.

Over 57% of the anglers caught at least one fish, and averaged 1.2 trout per hour. Twenty-two

percent of anglers interviewed while fishing had a lifetime trout fishing license.

Respondents to the mail survey ranged in age from 18 to 90 and averaged 57, slightly

older than the average age of 48 from the 2008 VDGIF Trout Survey. Males comprised 91% of

the respondents and about equal numbers of them were employed (46%) or retired (47%). A

total of 45% of survey respondents had a lifetime trout fishing license and 37% bought their

general fishing license only to fish for stocked trout. Respondents fished for stocked trout about

12 days per year.

Types of Anglers

We identified different types of anglers during creel surveys as well as in the mail survey

(Table 2). Anglers differed in several ways, including the type of tackle they fish with, how often

they harvest stocked trout, how much money they spend pursuing stocked trout, how often they

fish, and how important stocked trout are to their lifestyle (e.g., fishing-related vacations and

magazine subscriptions). Segmenting anglers based on these attributes provides a useful way for

managers to develop strategies that satisfy the various groups of anglers that exist in Virginia.

Table 2. Relative characteristics of Virginia's stocked trout anglers.

Types of Anglers

Occasional

Generalist

Traditionalist

Specialist

Type of tackle

used

Bait

Bait, lures, and

flies

Bait

Flies

Harvest

frequency

Nearly Always

Sometimes

Often

Rarely

Investment in

equipment

Low

Moderate

Low

High

Membership in

organizations

Occasionally

Yes

Trout fishing

frequency

Low

High

Moderate

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Year-round Season

Since 1996, VDGIF has maintained a year-round trout season with stockings occurring

from October through May. This year-round season eliminated the opening day of trout season

for stocked fish, which generally occurred on the first Saturday in April. Virginia’s trout anglers

overwhelmingly support the year-round season (Figure 5; 1,707 responses from the mail survey

and 1, 937 responses from the on-site survey).

Figure 5. Support for year-round trout season from mail survey.

An alternative way of looking at angler preference for the year-round season versus

having a defined opening day was asked during the creel surveys. Anglers strongly opposed

VDGIF returning to having a spring stocked trout season that included an opening day (Figure

6).

Strongly

Oppose

Moderately

Oppose

Slightly

Oppose

Neutral Slightly

Support

Moderately

Support

Strongly

Support

Percent of Responses

To what extent do you support or oppose regulations that

allow year-round trout fishing?

Strongly

Oppose

Moderately

Oppose

Slightly

Oppose

Neutral Slightly

Support

Moderately

Support

Strongly

Support

Percent of Respondents

To what level do you support or oppose having a defined

opening day in March or April, with stockings only from

March through May?

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Figure 6. Support for having an opening day and spring trout season from creel survey.

Stocking Announcements

Virginia’s stocked trout anglers differ greatly in how they prefer stockings to be

announced. Nearly equal proportions prefer the three possible announcement types (announced

prior to stocking, announced at 4 PM the day of stocking, and stockings not announced at all;

Figure 7).

Figure 7. Preferences for how trout stockings are announced.

Anglers often desire to catch more and larger trout. However, hatcheries cannot satisfy

these competing goals simultaneously. The production of more trout will mean that the average

size is smaller. Conversely, to produce larger-than-average trout, fewer trout will be produced.

When asked to select which they would prefer, slightly more Virginia trout anglers favored

VDGIF stocking fewer, but larger trout. However, a portion of anglers (37%) preferred stocking

of more trout, even if those trout were smaller (Figure 8).

Prior

Announcement

44%

Announced at 4 PM

on Stocking Day

(current system)

26%

Not Announced at

All

30%

What is your preference regarding how

stockings are announced?

Oppose

45%

Neutral

18%

Support

37%

I would prefer to see more trout

stocked even if they were smaller

Oppose

30%

Neutral

23%

Support

47%

I would prefer to see larger trout

stocked even if that means fewer

trout per stocking

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Motivations to Fish

Motivations represent outcomes anglers desire from their fishing experiences. Anglers

fish for a variety of reasons including opportunity for relaxation, joy of catching fish, and to get

away from the daily routine. Conversely, catching fish to eat, catching trophy fish, and to be

alone were less important reasons why anglers fish for stocked trout. Generally, respondents

from the mail survey found natural settings (non-catch attributes) of trout fishing to be more

important than actually catching fish. Anglers interviewed while fishing differed slightly from

mail survey respondents. The top response to the question, “What are the three most important

reasons for your decision to fish here today?” was, “To relax and/or to be outside,” the next two

most common responses were catch-related: “I know it was stocked recently,” and “To catch fish

for food.”

Satisfaction with Fishing

While motivations represent the desired outcomes of fishing, satisfaction relates to the

perceived fulfillment of those outcomes. Overall, Virginia’s stocked trout anglers were satisfied

with the variety of trout fishing programs managed by VDGIF: catchable stocked trout waters,

delayed harvest, urban waters, Heritage Day, and fee fishing areas.

Just as motivations differed between catch and non-catch attributes, so did satisfaction.

Satisfaction for non-catch aspects of fishing (e.g. being outdoors, relaxing experience, being in a

natural setting) scored significantly higher than the number and size of trout caught. Overall

however, respondents from on-site surveys were highly satisfied with their fishing experience

that day (Figure 9) and with the management of the program in the last 12 months (Figure 10).

Figure 8. Support for VDGIF stocking more but smaller trout and for fewer but larger trout.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Figure 9. Angler satisfaction with fishing on day of interview.

Figure 10. Angler satisfaction with stocked trout fishing during the last 12 months.

Harvest Orientation

Fewer than half of Virginia’s stocked trout anglers reported in the mail survey that they

always or often keep the fish they catch (Figure 11). Nearly equal numbers of anglers never or

rarely harvest stocked trout. On-site surveys however, reveal that over 67% of anglers harvested

at least one trout they caught per trip.

Extremely

Dissatisfed

Moderately

Dissatisfied

Slightly

Dissatisfied

Neutral Slightly

Satisfied

Moderately

Satisfied

Extremely

Satisfied

Percent of Respondents

How satisfied are you with today's fishing experience?

Extremely

Dissatified

Moderately

Dissatisfied

Slightly

Dissatisfied

Neutral Slightly

Satisfied

Moderately

Satisfied

Extremely

Satisfied

Percent of Respondents

How satisfied are you with stocked trout fishing in Virginia

in the last 12 months?

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Figure 11. Relative frequency of how often anglers harvest stocked trout.

Catch Rates

A widely accepted objective among fisheries management agencies is to have their

anglers catch approximately one trout per hour fishing (Catch rate = one fish per hour of fishing).

Catch rates on Virginia waters were around 1.4 fish per hour of fishing on days that waters were

stocked. However, catch rates remained around one trout per hour for a month after the trout

were stocked (Figure 12). Despite high catch rates immediately after stocking, more than half of

the stocked fish remained throughout the first weekend after stocking. Throughout the 8-month

season, anglers caught 48% to 100% of each batch of fish stocked.

Never Rarely Occasionally Often Almost Always

Percentage of Anglers

How often do you keep some or all of the

stocked trout that you caught?

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Figure 12. The average number of trout caught per hour of fishing relative to the day of

stocking. The horizontal line represents the objective of one trout caught per hour of fishing,

while the black vertical bars represent the mean standard error.

Distribution of Fishing Effort

In 2011, over 111,000 anglers fished for trout in Virginia with over 80% of that effort

focused on stocked trout waters (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Census Bureau 2011).

The time spent fishing varied with time after stocking and with each season. The time spent

fishing following each stocking peaked the day after stocking and declined thereafter (Figure

13). More anglers fished during the spring and fall months than in the winter months (Figure 14).

Figure 13. Distribution of time spent fishing relative to day of stocking.

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Day of Stocking Day After 1st Weekend 7-10 days after 11-15 days after 16-30 days after

Average Catch Rate (Trout/hr)

How does catch rate change with time following each

stocking?

100

120

140

160

180

Day of Stocking Day After 1st Weekend 7-10 days after 11-15 days after 16-30 days after

Hours

How much time did anglers spend fishing during each post-

stocking period?

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Figure 14. Monthly averages of time spent fishing for stocked trout.

Trends in Participation

Not all anglers fish for stocked trout every year. In fact, during the last 5 years, only half

of Virginia’s stocked trout anglers bought a trout license to fish in each of the five years and 16%

only purchased a license once or twice. Anglers who cease to participate are referred to as

lapsed anglers. The “drop in–drop out” rate of lapsed anglers is due to a number of factors.

Many anglers cite too many work and family commitments as a constraint to fishing. Others

participate in other recreational activities rather than fishing for stocked trout. Finally, others

continue to fish, but not for stocked trout. Nearly 70% of lapsed trout anglers intend to

participate in the future despite being busy with commitments because fishing for stocked trout is

a relaxing experience, and they enjoy being outdoors. Therefore, many lapsed anglers are not

lapsed forever but tend to “drop in and drop out.”

100

120

October November December January February March April May

Hours

What is the total time spent fishing by all anglers per day

each month?

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

HATCHERY PRODUCTION

To meet production and distribution needs, VDGIF operates five coldwater fish culture

facilities (Table 3). Each facility can rear fingerlings to catchable size, but only three of the five

have hatching capability. This presents some logistical challenges regarding transport and

distribution, particularly in regards to biosecurity (concern for introduction of diseases or

parasites). While the hatcheries share characteristics, they vary in key production elements

(Table 3). VDGIF has been working to update facilities to meet contemporary fishery demands

while also protecting natural resources, but this can be costly and, as a result, often slower than

desired.

The facilities range in age from approximately 80 years (Marion Fish Culture Station) to

the most recently renovated, Coursey Springs, which was rebuilt in 2010. The average age of

Virginia’s Coldwater production facilities is around 55 years, and only one major renovation

(Coursey Springs Fish Culture Station) has been completed for the coldwater system in the past

50 years. No hatching capability has been added during that time. Despite this, facilities have

taken small steps to improve and maintain production, including new filtration and oxygen

systems (Table 3) at several facilities. As a result, total fish production has remained consistent

and even improved in recent years.

Table 3. Hatchery comparison table: Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has

five coldwater Fish Culture Stations (FCS's) that vary in species reared, construction era, and

production technology.

Coursey Springs 2010 Brown Trout NA NA Yes No Water flow

(renovated) Brook Trout Lack of filtrations

Rainbow Trout No hatching capability

Marion 1930s Brown Trout Brown Trout No No No Crumbling infrastructure

Brook Trout Brook Trout Lack of filtration

Rainbow Trout Rainbow Trout Water drainage specific pathogen

No Oxygen supplementation

Deferred maintenance

Montbello 1930s Brown Trout NA NA No Yes No hatching capability

Brook Trout No Oxygen supplementation

Rainbow Trout Water flow

Paint Bank 1960s Brown Trout Brown Trout Yes Yes No Deferred maintenance

Brook Trout Brook Trout

Rainbow Trout Rainbow Trout

Wytheville 1960s Brown Trout Brown Trout Yes Yes Yes Deferred maintenance

Brook Trout Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Species

Technology

Triploid egg

production

Oxygen

supplement

filtration

Construction

era

Fish Culture

Station

Reared

Spawned

Challenges

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Historically, fish production numbers have not been collected in a consistent manner

across facilities and were not stored digitally. With global developments in computational access

and power, data collection has changed drastically. In recent years, this trend has changed for

VDGIF, and data are gathered more consistently and assembled in an easily accessible, digital

format. Over the past five years, VDGIF has stocked an average of 1,076,825 trout per year,

with an annual average total weight of 537,513 pounds, and at an average individual size of 0.51

pounds (approximately 11 inches). With ongoing small-scale updates, these numbers have

potential to increase (generally, when number of fish increases, the size decreases, and vice

versa), but constraints like deferred maintenance, fish health stressors at high density, and

biosecurity present consistent challenges.

Each facility works as part of a statewide production team to meet state stocking needs.

Generally, each facility focuses on stocking particular counties (Figure 15). In order to balance

resources across the state, facilities stock outside their designated area when necessary.

Figure 15. Trout production facility locations and the geographic areas they service. Urban trout

lakes are serviced by Montebello and Coursey Springs Fish Culture Stations.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Growth to stocking size

In Virginia, most stocked trout are grown to catchable size prior to stocking. This allows

for immediate harvest, and may limit holdover in areas where undesirable. Growth to stocking

size (at least 7”) varies among species and rearing conditions, but some general rules apply. For

instance, fish in an indoor facility with tight environmental control can reach stocking size in as

little as six months. However, those are under ideal conditions that are often unrealistic outside

of expensive and complicated indoor production systems. In an outdoor setting, with natural

environmental fluctuations and high rearing densities, growth rates vary, and trout may take up

to a year or more to reach stocking size.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity is defined as measures taken to prevent exposure to harmful biological,

chemical, or physical agents that may cause adverse health effects in humans or animals. These

agents include infectious microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and also non-

infectious entities, such as toxins, contaminants, and poor water quality. Biosecurity practices

are often initiated in aquaculture facilities in order to meet economic, public health, production,

and fish health objectives. Specifically, certain biosecurity practices seek to:

1. Reduce the risk of pathogen introduction into a facility;

2. Minimize the risk of disease spread throughout a facility;

3. Minimize the risk of disease spread out of the facility through cultured product;

4. Reduce conditions that increase the risk of stress and disease susceptibility in a

population;

5. Promote overall fish health;

6. Protect economic investment and reputation; and

7. Protect human health.

Pathogens may enter a system at several critical points and pose a hazard to susceptible

fish. These include, but are not limited to, imported live fish or fish products (e.g., eggs,

fingerlings, broodstock), contaminated source water, commercial feeds, live feed, frozen foods,

inanimate objects, such as equipment, that can transmit a pathogen from one population to

another, or vectors such as humans or animals (including predatory birds or mammals).

Identification of pathogens that are potential threats and pathogens that have been historically

diagnosed on-site should be identified prior to drafting a biosecurity plan. Additionally, the most

significant threats to the biosecurity of a facility (e.g., untreated surface water, importation of

commercially raised fish for rearing or forage on-site, transfer of fish between state hatcheries,

equipment that is used in multiple systems or shared between hatcheries, nearby nesting sites of

fish-eating birds, proximity to water body with zebra mussel populations) should be identified

and specifically addressed by the four essential elements of any biosecurity plan: 1) disease

prevention, 2) security precautions, 3) cleaning and disinfection, and 4) disease surveillance.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Biosecurity plans should be tailored to an individual facility; a generic biosecurity plan

should never be applied to an aquaculture facility; existing staff, budget constraints, estimated

risk, and available equipment all need to be considered. Biosecurity plans are dynamic

documents that should be reviewed on a regular basis and amended when situations change. The

first step in drafting a biosecurity plan is to critically examine each portion of the facility and all

aspects of production to identify potential biosecurity risks or hazards. The guidelines should

then be developed to minimize each potential risk to an acceptable level. While some risk is

unavoidable, the goal is to create a workable, enforceable, and practical biosecurity plan with an

acceptable level of risk.

VDGIF is initiating a standardized, system-wide disease monitoring plan for the VDGIF

coldwater fish cultural and rearing facilities in order to assess and classify each facility. This

will allow for the development of effective site-specific biosecurity plans, while reducing risk of

pathogen transfer among the agency’s fish rearing facilities and between fish captive-reared and

wild stocks. In addition, it will increase the ability for the agency to manage potential ecological

impacts of captive fish rearing and stocking. Production and stocking strategies have been

diligently adjusted to account for both fish health concerns and to protect natural resources but

also with the goal of maintaining fish production. VDGIF is also investigating other pathways to

reduce the risk of pathogen transfer from stocked fish to wild populations, including cooperative

interagency efforts, improved collaboration with private industry, and assessment of our

regulatory capacity.

Trout Species Produced By VDGIF

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Rainbow Trout prefer well oxygenated, high quality water less than 70 ˚F. Rainbow

Trout typically live in shallow rivers with gravel bottoms, but have established self-sustaining

populations in rivers with bedrock bottoms and spring creeks. Lake- resident Rainbow Trout

inhabit cool, deep lakes with sufficient habitat to get through the hot summer months and that

have an adequate food supply. Rainbow Trout eat a wide variety of prey, including insects,

crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. The primary food supply depends on habitat and

availability of a particular prey within the habitat.

Rainbow Trout are native to the Pacific basin, from the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia,

throughout the Aleutian Islands and southwest Alaska, the Pacific coast of British Columbia and

southeast Alaska, and south along the west coast of the U.S. to northern Mexico. Rainbow Trout

were originally found inland in the western U.S. occasionally as far east as the Rocky Mountains,

west of the continental divide and downstream of waterfalls and other natural barriers. Since

1875, Rainbow Trout have been widely introduced throughout the U.S. and the world. The first

rainbow-producing hatchery, established on San Leandro Creek in northern California in 1870,

began production in 1871. The first shipment of fish to other hatcheries occurred in 1875,

shipping fish to Caledonia, New York, and in 1876, to Northville, Michigan. In 1877, the first

National Fish Hatchery System was established on Campbell Creek in northern California.

Some of the earliest Rainbow Trout propagation and stocking in Virginia may have occurred at

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

the Montebello Fish Hatchery in Nelson County in the 1920s. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

records indicate that Rainbow Trout were released into Shenandoah National Park as early as

1943.

Rainbow Trout are the most popular and easily reared of the trout species because of their

highly adaptable nature and rapid growth. Desirable traits include high survivability (tolerant of

crowding), voracious feeding, excellent adaptability to artificial feeds, and ready availability as

eggs, fingerlings, or adult stock at almost any time of year. Anglers regard Rainbow Trout

highly due to its excellent fighting qualities, including frequent leaping when hooked. The fish

is pursued using a multitude of angling techniques, including fly fishing, spinning, and casting

with live and artificial baits, and trolling. The species is also excellent table fare, supporting an

extensive commercial culture industry.

Rainbow Trout require cold water with an optimum growth temperature range of

between 55 to 65 ˚F, high water quality, and nutritional feed with high fat and protein content

(high-priced feed). Each Virginia coldwater facility faces its own group of challenges in rearing

Rainbow Trout, including fluctuating water temperatures and flow rates, water quality, space,

predation, and disease control. Rainbow Trout are well suited for Virginia stocked trout waters

because existing VDGIF facilities match the specie’s needs well and Virginia anglers enjoy

catching them. The coldwater hatchery system has several strains of Rainbow Trout that spawn

at different times of the year.

Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)

Brown Trout first arrived in the U.S. on February 24, 1883 as eggs aboard the German

steamship Werra. These eggs were distributed to three hatcheries in the U.S.: Cold Harbor

Hatchery on Long Island, NY, the Caledonia Fish Hatchery in western NY, and the U.S. Fish

Commission hatchery in Northville, MI. Over the following years, these initial stocks were

reinforced with the importation of more eggs from Western Europe. Brown Trout continue to be

cultured in the U.S. for recreational uses to this day.

Brown Trout are used mainly for recreation purposes in the U.S., and unlike Rainbow

Trout, Brown Trout rarely are raised for commercial food operations. They have a temperature

range similar to that of Rainbow Trout, but can handle a wider range of water quality parameters

than either Rainbow Trout or Brook Trout. This makes them a good candidate for stocking

marginal waters where Rainbow or Brook Trout may not perform well. Additionally, Brown

Trout have the best chance to “hold over,” due to greater tolerance for marginal habitats and

wariness to lures. This elusive behavior also makes them a favorite of many advanced anglers.

Brown Trout were officially first stocked in Virginia’s waters in the 1950s by the

Virginia Game Commission (now VDGIF). These fish were obtained from the U.S. Fish &

Wildlife Service White Sulphur Springs Fish Hatchery, and were stocked into the Roanoke River

and into Smith River below Philpott Dam. In Virginia, Brown Trout fill a niche in larger streams

and lakes. Unfortunately, they can be detrimental to native fishes due to their tendency to feed

on other fish. As a result, biologists are now careful in the placement of Brown Trout to preserve

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

native and naturalized fishes. Rearing by VDGIF likely began in the 1960s after initial

introductions indicated that anglers desired Brown Trout for sport.

Brown Trout prefer deep streams with moderate to slow currents, which allows them to

perform well in large lakes with an adequate forage base. They prefer rocky, coarse river and

lake bottoms, and feed on a wide variety of forage ranging from algae to aquatic invertebrates to

other fish.

Brown Trout tend to grow slower to 10 inches than either Rainbow or Brook Trout.

However, upon reaching a size that allows them to prey on other fish, Brown Trout may grow

faster than comparable aged Rainbow or Brook Trout. While they are susceptible to some

bacterial infections common to cultured trout, Brown Trout demonstrate a natural resistance to

Whirling disease, which can be devastating to Rainbow Trout.

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Brook Trout prefer water temperatures below 65 ˚F and do not tolerate higher water

temperatures as well as Rainbow and Brown Trout. Brook Trout require very high water water

quality that is well oxygenated. They inhabit large and small lakes, rivers, streams, creeks and

spring ponds, but prefer small spring ponds and small spring-fed streams that are typically

headwaters to larger tributaries. Preferred stream habitat includes sand and gravel bottoms with

very little siltation. Brook Trout prey on a wide variety of items, with younger fish feeding on

small insects and adults feeding on many types of aquatic insects, terrestrial insects, snails,

worms, and small fishes.

Brook Trout are native to a wide area of Eastern North America (including Virginia),

Canada from the Hudson Bay basin east, the Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence system, the Canadian

maritime provinces, and the upper Mississippi River drainage as far west as eastern Iowa. The

southern range of native Brook Trout has been reduced to high–elevation, remote streams due to

habitat loss and introductions of Brown and Rainbow Trout. Their range expanded westward as

early as 1850 through intentional introductions. Brook Trout may have been stocked out of

Montebello Hatchery as early as the 1920s or 1930s.

Although Brook Trout are popular with anglers, they can be difficult to rear in some

hatcheries. Brook Trout’s higher sensitivity to temperature, crowding, low oxygen, and other

aquaculture stresses can make it more difficult to rear in captivity than Brown or Rainbow Trout.

Brook Trout require an optimum growth temperature of about 59 ˚F, very high water quality, and

nutritional feed with high fat and protein content (high-priced feed). Brook Trout are especially

difficult to rear at facilities that encounter drastic temperature changes, water flow fluctuations,

and water quality issues. At most aquaculture facilities, Brook Trout must remain in the upper

sections of raceways to obtain optimum water quality for growth and fish health.

Desirable qualities of Brook Trout include their colorful appearance, native appeal, and

adaptability to artificial feeds. Brook Trout are particularly popular among fly fishermen. Many

anglers prefer the taste of Brook Trout to that of other trout. Due to its status as the only trout

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

native to Virginia, many conservation-minded anglers practice catch-and-release fishing for

Brook Trout.

Triploid Trout

Triploid fish have three sets of chromosomes, instead of the two sets (diploid) normally

found in trout. Female triploids do not develop eggs and although male triploids develop sperm,

they are much less fertile than normal diploid fish. Triploids are effectively sterile and rarely

occur naturally. Triploid varieties of many species of fish have been created for commercial and

recreational purposes. Because triploid fish do not reproduce, they put more energy into growth

and produce larger fish at reproductive age than fertile, diploid fish. In Virginia, triploid

varieties of Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout are produced by subjecting freshly

fertilized eggs to either heat or pressure shocks. Several states stock triploid trout, including

Idaho, North Carolina, Arizona, and Virginia. Virginia stocks triploids as catchable fish to

prevent interbreeding with Southern Appalachian Brook Trout stocks. In addition, triploids are

utilized as a measure to prevent the establishment of natural-reproducing populations of

Rainbow, Brown, and Brook Trout in undesirable waters.

Triploid production in Virginia began in 2005, at Paint Bank Hatchery with Rainbow

Trout. At that time, Virginia produced about 15,000 triploid fingerlings. Currently, Paint Bank

and Wytheville hatcheries create triploid Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout. In 2014, VDGIF

produced approximately 400,000 triploid fingerlings. Extra triploids not used for specific

watersheds are stocked as needed in any stocked trout water. Some of VDGIF’s hatcheries also

grow triploids to produce “big fish” for stocking purposes. Triploid fish do not differ in physical

appearance compared to diploid fish. The desirable qualities of triploid fish (i.e., reproductive

sterility, rapid growth) have resulted in increased demand for them. Triploid trout, especially

Brook Trout, are harder to rear in the hatchery system. Fertilization, hatch, and survival rates of

triploids are lower than those of diploids. Thus, more eggs are required to make triploids than

diploids. Hatcheries are improving triploid production techniques and VDGIF likely will

continue to use triploids in the future. Marion Hatchery does not yet have equipment for making

triploids.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

VALUES, GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POTENTIAL STRATEGIES

The SAC members, with technical assistance and feedback from VDGIF staff, drafted

five goals addressing stocked trout management. These goals reflect the values of a diverse

public and are broad statements of principles and ideals about what should be accomplished with

stocked trout management in Virginia. As the underpinning for the direction of stocked trout

management, these guiding public values should be relatively stable for the period of the plan.

Specific objectives follow each set of value and goal statements. Based on the goals

identified by the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, the Technical Committee established specific

objectives to help guide the attainment of each goal. Objectives are the technical expression of

the public vision found in the goal statements. Objectives are generally more specific,

quantifiable, and have milestones for achievement.

Potential strategies clarify how each objective might be achieved. As with objectives,

technical management decisions about specific operational strategies to achieve public values are

largely the realm of fisheries professionals. Implemented strategies will be based on the best

available science, anticipated efficacy, public acceptability, and expected costs. While this is not

an operational plan detailing all the specific steps, actions, or costs to achieve objectives, these

strategies represent some of the approaches, techniques, and programs that will be considered to

accomplish objectives.

STOCKING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Under current policies, VDGIF announces waters that have been stocked at 4:00 p.m.

each day. The only stocking events announced in advance are those waters stocked for Heritage

Day and for kids fishing events where VDGIF supplies the trout. Virginia trout anglers are

divided over the issue of announcing stocking events. A 2014 survey showed that 26% of

Virginia trout anglers preferred the current policy of delayed stocking announcements, while

29% of trout anglers preferred no announcement of stocking events. Twenty-two percent of

anglers preferred to have stocking events announced for the whole trout fishing season prior to

its beginning, with another 23% preferring prior announcements on a daily, weekly or monthly

basis. The issue of when to announce stocking events (or whether to announce them at all) is

important because of concerns regarding equity of access to stocked trout. Prior announcement

of stocking events allows anglers to plan fishing trips but announced stockings sometimes cause

crowding and traffic safety issues when many anglers arrive at the announced time and place.

Unannounced stocking events may alleviate some of the crowding and safety issues, but favor

those anglers who follow the hatchery trucks, or learn of the trucks’ destinations via phone trees

or social networking. Delayed announcements (the current policy) provide an alternative to

prior announcements and unannounced stocking events.

Prior to 1996, stocked trout fishing began on Opening Day (Saturday in late March or

early April) each year. Many anglers enjoyed this announced stocking. However, several issues

existed regarding opening day. Landowners concerned with crowding withdrew some stocking

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

sites each year. Also, hatcheries can produce better quality trout if streams and lakes are

stocked throughout the year. Angler surveys conducted periodically over the last 20 years

indicate that about 75% of anglers support a year-round season with stockings occurring from

October through May. In 2001, VDGIF began Heritage Day which provides an “opening-day”

experience on the first Saturday in April. This announced stocking event occurs on about 20

waters each year. Trout are stocked that week and the site is closed to fishing until 9:00 AM on

Saturday. Angler counts conducted by VDGIF indicate that fishing pressure is 3-4 times less on

Heritage Day when compared to Opening Day counts on the same waters.

Value Statement

Virginia’s trout anglers have diverse expectations of how trout stockings should be

announced. The ability to plan fishing trips is valued by many anglers who prefer that VDGIF

announce stockings before they occur. Others feel that unannounced stockings provide for more

equitable access to stocked trout and a more natural fishing experience that is less crowded. Still

other anglers prefer announcements delayed until the end of the day stockings are made. Trout

stocking announcements should be diverse, allow for increased participation, and advanced trip

planning to meet the desires of different stakeholders. Various forms of announcements should

be promoted.

Goal Statement

Announce stockings using a variety of strategies (including prior announcement, post-

stocking announcement, or no announcement) to provide equitable access to the resource and to

address the diverse preferences of trout anglers. In addition to existing Heritage Day events,

some stockings will be announced in advance to allow anglers to plan fishing trips to coincide

with known stockings. Other stockings will be announced at the end of the day when stocking

occurs to reduce crowding and ensure the safety of anglers and VDGIF personnel involved with

stocking.

Objectives and Strategies

1. Continue the policy of not announcing stocking delayed harvest (except for the first

stocking which is announced at 4:00 PM the day of stocking), catch-and-release, and

other special regulation waters.

a. List unannounced stocking sites annually in the trout guide.

2. By 10/1/2016, announce in advance stocking events in Trout Heritage waters, fee fishing

areas, urban trout waters, and kid’s fishing events.

a. List Trout Heritage waters annually in the trout guide.

b. List fee fishing areas annually in the trout guide.

c. Stock fee fishing areas on a regular basis multiple times per week, as described in

the trout guide.

d. Announce stockings for kid’s fishing events at least 30 days in advance.

e. For urban trout waters, announce the week that stockings will occur at least 30

days in advance via the VDGIF website, the Outdoor Report, the Trout Line,

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

press releases to local media, and social media. Scheduled stockings are subject

to change due to inclement weather, or unforeseen circumstances.

3. Identify a minimum of two waters (by 5/1/2016) in VDGIF administrative region’s 2, 3,

and 4 to test prior announcement of multiple stocking events each year in those waters.

Implementation should begin in 2017 and be tested for 2 years.

a. Identify waters that have adjacent landowners who are willing to cooperate with

pre-announced stocking events. Coordinate with United States Forest Service

(USFS)for waters on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) lands.

b. Identify waters that are easily accessible by road, have adequate access to the

water, and suitable parking areas (e.g., current Heritage Day waters).

c. Identify waters that have existing infrastructure to support pre-announced

stocking events (e.g., bathroom facilities, campgrounds).

d. Identify needs for law enforcement presence to control traffic and ensure safety of

hatchery personnel and anglers and enforce stocking-day closure.

e. Schedule pre-announced stocking events to promote trout fishing at desired times

(e.g., first fall stockings, weekends, holidays, free fishing weekend, and school

break periods).

f. Investigate strategies pertaining to temporary closures immediately following

stocking.

g. Investigate different stocking densities and frequencies for waters selected for

prior announcement.

h. Scheduled stockings are subject to change due to inclement weather, or

unforeseen circumstances.

i. Assess angler use, opinions, and satisfaction with pre-announcement stockings.

j. Promote fishing education in schools (e.g., trout in the classroom, fishing clubs,

etc.).

k. Report at end of two-year evaluation.

4. Continue the current policy of announcing stocking events at 4 PM the day of stocking

except for waters that receive pre-announcements or for which stockings are

unannounced.

a. Announce each day’s stocking events at 4 PM online, through social media, and

on the Trout Line.

5. Publish by July 15 each year a report that lists pounds of trout stocked by county and/or

water in the previous 12 months.

a. Post the report on VDGIF’s website.

b. Announce the availability of the report via the Outdoor Report and social media.

ANGLER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Nearly 100,000 anglers fish for stocked trout in Virginia. Results from a 2009 statewide

angler survey indicate that trout rank second to black bass in popularity with Virginia anglers.

However, the average age of licensed trout anglers is 58, suggesting that ensuring a bright

future for stocked trout fishing requires recruitment of new and younger anglers. The

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

increasingly diverse human population in Virginia presents opportunities to reach out to new

angling stakeholders. Additionally, roughly half of all trout license buyers do not purchase a

license the following year and thus, retention of current anglers remains a high priority. These

convergent demographic trends suggest that participation in fishing for stocked trout in Virginia

will decline in the future, unless VDGIF initiates awareness strategies to counteract them.

Value Statement

The future of the stocked trout program relies on recruiting and retaining anglers. If

current trends in participation in trout angling do not change, and the average age of anglers

continues to increase, the stocked trout program will decline because trout anglers financially

support the program. The stocked trout program benefits local economies and strengthens

communities as anglers seek recreational fishing opportunities. Stocked trout fishing increases

environmental stewardship, outdoor participation, and preserves the long-standing tradition of

fishing for stocked trout. Therefore, VDGIF should evaluate current and proposed policies to

promote recruitment and retention of trout anglers, especially youth.

Goal Statement

Inform and educate existing and potential future anglers and promote fishing for stocked

trout to recruit younger and more diverse anglers to the sport and to retain those already engaged.

Objectives and Strategies

1. By July 1, 2021, increase youth (under 16 years of age) participation in the stocked trout

program by 10%.

a. Evaluate the number of license buyers ages 16-20 and compare with historical

data.

b. Quantify youth participation at kids’ trout fishing events.

c. Increase number and distribution of kids’ trout fishing events, including urban

areas.

d. Assess the feasibility of limiting fishing to youth only until noon on select

Heritage Day Waters.

e. Assess the feasibility of implementing youth-only days on selected waters.

f. Assess the feasibility of establishing youth-only stocked trout waters year-round.

g. Recommend to the Board of VDGIF inclusion of designated trout waters on free

fishing weekend.

h. Recommend to the Board of VDGIF the inclusion of a group license for stocked

trout.

i. Identify selected waters to stock for free fishing weekend in June.

j. Schedule pre-announced stocking events to promote trout fishing at desired times

(e.g., first fall stockings, holiday weekends, free fishing weekend, and school

break periods).

k. Develop a competitive grant program that funds (e.g., fishing equipment and trout

from private sources) non-VDGIF groups hosting kids’ fishing events open to the

public.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

l. Promote fishing education in schools (e.g., trout in the classroom, fishing clubs,

etc.).

2. By July 1, 2021, increase participation among females and minority populations in the

stocked trout program by 10%.

a. Track number of females purchasing trout license.

b. Assess the potential for including fishing for stocked trout in programs aimed at

increasing participation of females and minorities.

c. Develop multi-lingual signs, and educational material to target specific ethnic

groups.

d. Promote stocked trout fishing opportunities among college outdoor activity

organizations.

e. Promote urban fishing to attract more females and minorities.

3. By July 1, 2025, recruit new anglers to the stocked trout program to attain 100,000 trout-

license buyers (including lifetime license) annually.

a. Assess angler participation, and motivations, constraints to participation, and

management preferences in fishing for stocked trout via a statewide survey every

5 years.

b. Assess participation by new anglers using VDGIF survey data.

c. Modify the procedure for purchasing trout license online to assess prior license

buying behavior.

d. Encourage trout license purchases among anglers who seek specialized fishing

opportunities by creating special regulation fisheries throughout Virginia.

e. Promote stocked trout fishing opportunities among college outdoor activity

organizations.

f. Assess the feasibility of changing the regulations on delayed-harvest waters to

allow harvest sooner (e.g., Memorial Day weekend).

g. Increase information available to trout anglers by maintaining an online record of

stocking information (e.g., number stocked, pounds stocked, and average size by

county and/or water).

h. Promote stocked trout fishing through other agencies, local governments, and

other organizations.

4. Increase participation of non-residents by 10% in the stocked trout by program July 1,

2021.

a. Monitor non-resident participation in stocked trout fishing through sales of non-

resident license sales.

b. Assess participation by non-resident anglers through VDGIF creel surveys.

c. Increase information available to trout anglers by maintaining an online record of

stocking information (e.g., number stocked, pounds stocked, and average size by

county and/or water).

d. Conduct a survey of former and current non-resident anglers to assess

motivations, constraints, license costs and options, and management preferences.

e. Collaborate with Virginia Department of Tourism to promote stocked trout

fishing in Virginia to anglers in surrounding states.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

f. Advertise stocked trout fishing in regional media outlets (e.g., regional

magazines, websites, TV shows).

5. Develop and implement marketing strategies to promote the stocked trout program by

July 1, 2018.

a. Monitor traffic on social media sites.

b. Assess angler participation, and motivations, constraints to participation, and

management preferences in fishing for stocked trout via a statewide survey every

5 years.

c. Promote trout fishing as an outdoor experience (tie into motivations).

d. Promote fishing for stocked trout by posting information and photos on Twitter,

Facebook, Instagram and other social media outlets.

e. Promote stocked trout fishing through other agencies, local governments, and

other organizations.

f. Increase information available to trout anglers by maintaining an online record of

stocking information (e.g., number stocked, pounds stocked, and average size by

county and/or water).

g. Identify schools and contact people that can help disseminate information about

stocked trout fishing opportunities to students.

h. By July 1, 2018, launch an easy-to-use online resource providing details

(directions, amenities, etc.) for each stocked trout fishing water.

i. Publish 8 articles per year informing the public of stocked trout fishing

opportunities (VDGIF website/blog, the Outdoor Report, and VDGIF social

media).

FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION

The stocked trout program depends upon the revenue generated from the sale of trout

licenses and general fishing licenses. None of the funding for the program derives from general

state taxes. A trout license and a freshwater fishing license are both required to fish for stocked

trout in Virginia. A 2008 survey revealed that 64% of trout license buyers purchased these two

licenses to fish solely for stocked trout. The revenue from these “double” license sales is

significant. Sales of annual trout licenses have decreased substantially in recent years, while

sales of lifetime trout licenses have increased substantially. Since 2001, trout anglers purchased

nearly 50,000 lifetime trout licenses, but the decrease in sales of annual licenses resulted in a net

decrease in revenue to support hatchery production of catchable-size trout and maintain

hatchery facilities. It is not known how many lifetime trout license holders continue to fish for

stocked trout.

Value Statement

To continue current operations, the stocked trout program must account for costs

associated with annual production, support regular facility maintenance and promote improved

efficiency in a transparent manner. Currently, license fees cover most of the operating costs of

the program. However, the expensive and rising costs associated with producing and

transporting stocked trout, including, law enforcement, and public outreach not only limit the

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

scope of the current program but also create future financial challenges. The license fee revenue

should cover operating costs of the program while providing anglers with the opportunity to fish

for stocked trout.

Goal Statement

Maintain a productive and adequately funded stocked trout program, including

investigation of alternative funding and resource mechanisms to meet current and anticipated

future demands. Maintain an open and transparent decision-making process regarding

management of stocked trout.

Objectives and Strategies

1. Conduct a financial evaluation of the trout program and develop strategies based on those

results by January 1, 2017.

a. Conduct a detailed evaluation of license sales and types of licenses to assess

effects on VDGIF revenues.

b. Identify and evaluate different approaches to increase license sales including

approaches of other states, for example multi-year licenses, rollover licenses and

automatic renewal or notification.

c. Evaluate demographic trends for potential impacts on future license sales.

d. Estimate the annual operating cost of the stocked trout program including the

cost-per fish.

e. Identify annual maintenance costs and future needs for renovations at coldwater

hatchery facilities and equipment and develop strategies to address costs and

future needs.

f. Identify opportunities to establish partnerships with interested parties, both private

and public, to achieve objectives of the Stocked Trout Management Plan.

g. Improve efficiency of hatchery production through research and development.

2. Publish an annual report detailing accomplishments and progress in achieving objectives

of the Stocked Trout Management Plan by September 30 each year.

a. Compile an annual stocking report detailing quantity and locations (county and/or

water) of fish stocked for the period from October of the previous year through

May.

b. Compile an annual report detailing USFS forest stamp revenue projects on

stocked trout waters located on USDA lands.

c. In the case of production shortages, a reduction in stocking will be made on a

percentage basis statewide.

d. Report on progress made relative to specific plan objectives using multiple media

outlets (e.g., VDGIF website, Outdoor Report, press releases, social media) to

improve public awareness of the program and its progress.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

ECOSYSTEM EFFECTS

Catchable stocked trout interact with other fish and aquatic organisms, including native

species when introduced into streams or lakes, which may cause concerns about whether those

interactions negatively affect the species already present. High angler use associated with some

catchable trout stocking sites may harm riparian buffers, and/or increase erosion, littering, and

sedimentation.

Value Statement

VDGIF should balance the benefits of stocked trout fishing with effects on the

ecosystem. Virginia anglers should value wild and native trout in addition to stocked trout and

the effects of trout stocking on native aquatic species should be considered. Virginia stocked

trout anglers should value the protection of habitat and the conservation of quality trout habitat.

Goal Statement

Manage trout stocking to optimize recreational opportunities while minimizing adverse

impacts on aquatic and surrounding habitats, wild and native trout, and other aquatic species.

Manage habitat in stocked trout waters and preserve the aesthetics of the angling experience.

Objectives and Strategies

1. Develop strategies to minimize the effects of stocking on existing wild and native trout

by January 1, 2017.

a. Develop and publish the list of waters that contain existing native trout

populations.

b. Continue to monitor wild trout distribution through the Coldwater Streams

Survey.

c. No new native trout waters that have a Class I or II coldwater stream

classification will be added to the Catchable Stocked Trout Program.

d. When waters containing wild or native trout are stocked, VDGIF will consider a

variety of strategies to minimize the effects of stocking on wild fish, including not

stocking trout, the species of trout being stocked, location and timing of stocking,

and the use of sterile fish.

e. Continue research and development into fish production, focusing on the

production of sterile trout.

2. Develop strategies to minimize the effects of stocking trout on existing/resident aquatic

organisms in waters currently being stocked and when new waters are being proposed for

addition to the stocked trout program by January 1, 2017.

a. In an effort to minimize the effects of stocking trout on resident aquatic species,

VDGIF will consider a variety of strategies, including not stocking trout, the

species of trout being stocked, location and timing of stocking, and the use of

sterile trout.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

b. When a new water is proposed to be added to the stocked trout program, VDGIF

aquatic non-game/diversity biologists (including USFS staff if applicable) will be

consulted to determine if stocking hatchery trout poses a threat to any resident

aquatic species.

3. Develop strategies to minimize the effects of stocking and angler use on sensitive

riparian terrestrial species and habitat in waters currently being stocked and when new

waters are being proposed for addition to the stocked trout program by January 1, 2017.

a. In an effort to minimize the effects of stocking and angler use on resident riparian

species or habitat, VDGIF will consider a variety of strategies, including not

stocking trout, the species of trout being stocked, and the location and timing of

stocking.

b. When a new water is proposed to be added to the stocked trout program, VDGIF

terrestrial non-game/diversity biologists (including USFS staff if applicable) will

be consulted to determine if stocking hatchery trout (angler impacts) poses a

threat to any resident riparian species or habitat.

4. Develop strategies to address habitat issues in stocked trout waters by January 1, 2021.

a. Identify waters most-suited for collaborative management habitat issues.

b. Develop a list of potential collaborators for management habitat issues, and

establish formal relationships where feasible.

c. Collaborate with USFS to best utilize forest stamp revenues.

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Stocked trout anglers differ in a number of characteristics, such as motivation for fishing,

harvest practices, and type of equipment used. Anglers also seek different outcomes from their

fishing experiences. Some anglers fish to get away from it all, while other anglers enjoy the

social aspect of fishing with others. Some anglers release all or most of the fish they catch, while

others look forward to keeping the trout they catch. Some anglers prefer to catch larger fish

while others prefer to catch more fish, even if they are smaller. Since the “average angler” does

not really exist, a “one-size-fits-all” management strategy satisfies few anglers. Thus, managers

face the challenge of providing a wide variety of fishing opportunities to satisfy a diverse group

of anglers.

Stocked trout generally create recreational fisheries in locations where natural fisheries

do not exist. The demand for stocked trout fishing opportunities exceeds the current ability of

VDGIF to supply the fish needed. Numerous streams and lakes in Virginia meet biological

criteria to support stocked trout fisheries but are not currently stocked due to hatchery system

limitations or concerns about access to the water. In addition, decisions about adding new

waters to the stocked trout program must include consideration of labor force and funding to

adequately enforce fishing regulations. Virginia’s Conservation Police Officers frequently assist

in stocking trout and their enforcement of trout fishing regulations is key to successful

management of the resource.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Value Statement

The stocked program exists to create or enhance recreational fishing opportunities. These

opportunities promote positive interactions with natural settings, relaxation, and social/family

experiences. Trout angling provides opportunities to harvest or catch-and-release fish, stimulates

local economies and encourages tourism. VDGIF should consider the diverse preferences of

anglers, including the balance between the number and size of fish stocked, in developing and

selecting management strategies.

Goal Statement

Provide a diversity of stocked trout fishing experiences designed to meet diverse angler

preferences and increase participation. Improve access to stocked trout waters for all anglers.

Objectives and Strategies

1. Expand stocked trout fishing opportunities designed to appeal to a variety of angler

preferences including developing trophy trout fisheries, catch-and-release fishing,

delayed harvest, urban waters, and youth fishing opportunities by July 1, 2016.

a. Develop a list of potential waters suitable for alternative management

strategies.

b. Identify new management strategies, for example developing trophy trout

fisheries.

c. Expand existing alternative management programs, such as catch-and-release,

delayed harvest, special regulation, urban waters, and youth fishing

opportunities.

d. Evaluate current hatchery production techniques to meet the demand for new

management strategies including size and number of fish, timing, frequency of

stocking, and opportunities for reallocation of stocked fish.

2. Identify 12 waters statewide to be managed with alternative management strategies

(e.g., catch and release, delayed harvest, youth only, etc.) by October 1, 2017. This

may include the conversion of current stocked waters to a new designation.

a. Establish criteria to prioritize waters for inclusion in the alternative

management strategies program (e.g., angler use, proximity to other stocked

waters, geographic location, habitat).

b. Conduct creel surveys on several waters selected for alternative management

strategies to measure angler use and satisfaction.

3. Increase angler access to stocked trout waters where appropriate.

a. Identify locations that need increased access or where no improvement to

existing access is desired by January 1, 2018.

b. Collaborate with partners and localities to develop facilities that improve

access throughout the life of the plan.

c. Provide more ADA-compliant or barrier-free access to stocked trout waters.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Appendix A. Stakeholder Advisory Committee members.

Name

Interest/Organization

County/City

David Angus

Angler

Amherst

Stuart Burrill

Angler

Big Stone Gap

Nick Collins

Angler

Churchville

Hugh Elliott

Angler, retired

Roanoke

Jimmy Graves

Graves Mountain Lodge

Syria

Cara Kauffman

Angler

Weyers Cave

Dawn Kirk

U.S. Forest Service

Natural Bridge Station

John Lipetz

Angler, youth education

Falls Church

John Rathburn

Angler, college student

Lynchburg

Graham Simmerman

Angler, Trout Unlimited

Weyers Cave

Kristin Stone

Angler

Annandale

Appendix B. VDGIF Stocked Trout Technical Committee members.

Name

Agency Position

Brian Beers

Manager, Paint Bank Hatchery

Jason Hallacher

Region 4, Assistant District Aquatic Biologist

Elmo Herndon

Region 4, Conservation Police Officer

John Odenkirk

Region 4, District Aquatic Biologist

Steve Owens

Region 3, District Aquatic Biologist

George Palmer

Region 2, District Aquatic Biologist

Steve Reeser

Region 4, District Aquatic Biologist

Tim Tilson

Assistant Manager, Wytheville Hatchery

Nate Wilke

Statewide Hatchery Coordinator

Gene Wirt

Region 3, Conservation Police Officer

Eric Wooding

Manager, Coursey Springs Fish Cultural Station

Bryan Young

Region 2, Conservation Police Officer

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Appendix C. Summary of public comments

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

VDGIF web

comments

Chesterfield

If a population of brown or

rainbow trout have established

itself and turned wild they should

not be removed. This was done on

the Conway River in an area that

the brook trout did not even

populate vey well

Ecosystem Effects

The National Park Service's

policy is to manage for native

species. The NPS actively

removes wild non-native

trout and sets regulations on

park streams. VDGIF is not

involved in management of

waters within Shenandoah

National Park. VDGIF

currently has no policy

concerning the removal of

wild non-native trout from

wild Brook Trout waters

outside of Shenandoah

National Park.

Chesterfield

We need more stream clean up

days with greater visibility so we

can win more people over to

keeping the streams clean instead

of a dumping area. By the way;

Dumping on a stream should cost

you the total lost of your car/truck,

$1000 fine, and min. year in jail.

Lets stop pussy footing around, let

people know they will receive

extremely stiff consequences for

dumping

Ecosystem Effects

VDGIF supports and

participates in stream cleanup

efforts. VDGIF has no

authority to establish

penalties for littering or

dumping. Your comment will

be forwarded to the Law

Enforcement Division.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Nelson

support efforts to maintain as much

wild fishery as possible, i.e. do not

stock any stream capable of

supporting a wild trout fishery

Ecosystem Effects

Consistent with the goal for

the issue of ecosystem effects

(optimizing recreational

opportunities while

minimizing adverse impacts),

no new Class I or II wild

trout waters will be added to

the stocked trout program.

The use of triploid (sterile)

will be investigated when

stocking over current wild

fisheries. Streams that are

currently being stocked to

provide additional

recreational opportunities

will be evaluated on a case-

by-case basis.

Nelson

favor using a greater amount of

VDGIF revenues for habitat

improvement, access to streams,

etc,

Ecosystem Effects

Partnerships currently exist

for habitat improvement and

future opportunities will be

explored.

Fairfax County

I think the trout license needs to be

less money, many cant afford the

extra stamp.

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

Franklin County

The sales of trout licences are

declining mostly due to costs keep

rising. I have considered stopping

fishing for this reason and not just

trout.

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

Henrico

Require a trout license to fish

delayed harvest or special

regulation streams. You have to get

funding from somewhere and the

program supplies many of the

trout.

Funding and

Administration

Currently a trout license is

required to fish delayed

harvest and special regulation

waters where catchable sized

fish are stocked. See

Objective 1 under Funding

and Administration issue in

VSTMP.

Henrico

As I understand from the plan none

of the funding from lifetime trout

licenses goes to the program. That

is wrong and should be changed

Funding and

Administration

Income from lifetime license

sales are placed into a

separate fund. The

accumulated interest from

this fund is used to support

the stocked trout program.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Lee

the reason trout license has

declined is due to the expense after

already paying that amount for

regular license

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

Nelson

if the cost of stocking would

necessitate increased

fees/revenues, reduce the amount

of stocking!

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

Rockingham

the license are way too expensive

for residents

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

Bedford County

Speaking for myself I trout fished

for many years and loved it. I

would go and camp for heratage

day and spend a fair amount of

money on it. Then the trout

stocking got so miserable that I

just gave up. It was not worth the

time effort or money to catch 2 10

inch fish. It was to the point on

Jennings creek that they basicly

only dumped trout at the bridges! I

have seen holes a bridge where you

could not see the bottom for all the

trout but all so 100 people! The

next mile of creek had no fish! I

even volunteered to help stock if

there was a shortage of man power.

But no one wanted to hear .That.

So after a few years of that I just

gave up. Now I fish private streams

at least I catch good fish and they

are spread out like they shoud be!

Miscellaneous

You can volunteer to help

distribute fish through the

VDGIF Complementary

Work Force program is being

developed to assist with

spreading fish. Please visit

www.dgif.virginia.gov/volunt

eer/#cnf for more

information.

Bedford County

The only change that I suggest for

the current trout stocking program

is to return to the twice per month

schedule as was done in the past.

Miscellaneous

In the past select stocked

trout waters were only

stocked twice a month

(March - May). The current

stocking frequencies were

adopted to allow for more

flexibility for the hatcheries.

This strategy also allows for

the hatcheries to stock a

higher quality fish.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Campbell

Better directions to the stocked

stream should be on the web site

for casual trout fishermen would be

able to locate the stream

Miscellaneous

Better online maps are being

developed to assist with

directing anglers to our

stocked trout waters. Please

visit http://dgif-

virginia.maps.arcgis.com/app

s/webappviewer/index.html?i

d=441ed456c8664166bb735b

1db6024e48 for more

information.

Chesterfield

Stiffer fines for trash, no license,

over fishing, or other violations.

Each infraction should be at least

$200 dollars and person(s) forfeits

their tackle to be sold of

Miscellaneous

VDGIF supports and

participates in stream cleanup

efforts. VDGIF has no

authority to establish

penalties for littering or

dumping. Your comment will

be forwarded to the Law

Enforcement Division.

Chesterfield

Youth have to take a hunters

course so why not a youth fishing

course that includes ethics, laws,

and manners on the stream

Miscellaneous

Although not specifically

addressed in the VSTMP,

VDGIF does have a fishing

education program. Please

visit

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/

education/fishing/ for more

information.

Chesterfield

All licenses should be worn so that

they ar e visible to the Game

Officer or Law enforcement

Officer. They can be on a hat, on

the back of a vest, hung around

your neck, or worn on the front.

The number is flash material so it

can be easily seen from the

Officers car or when walking

around. There will be a $20 dollar

fine if the license is not displayed

for the Officer to see. Many states

,do this why not VA

Miscellaneous

Thank you for your

comment. Your comment

will be shared with VDGIF

Law Enforcement Division.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Chesterfield

We should encourage people to fly

fish and Tenkara Fly fish more and

offer more courses. Also a

Macroinvertebrate and water

chemistry course would be great to

better educate anglers and the

Youth.

Miscellaneous

VDGIF welcomes

opportunities for partnerships

to develop workshops on

fishing and aquatic ecology.

Please visit

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/

education/fishing/ for more

information.

Chesterfield

All wild trout under 12 inches

must be released immediately

unharmed

Miscellaneous

The VSTMP does not address

wild trout management.

Chesterfield

Only 4 fish a day may be caught in

put and take area

Miscellaneous

Although there are no current

plans to change the daily

creel limit on put and take

waters, that option can be

addressed during the biennial

regulations review.

Chesterfield

Only some put and take streams are

bait fishing

Miscellaneous

Currently there are no gear

restrictions on all put and

take waters.

Chesterfield

Trible hooks should not be

allowed to reduce false hooking or

people trying to illegally snaring

the fish by stripping the trible hook

through the water.

Miscellaneous

When properly used, treble

hooks cause no more

mortality than other types of

hooks. If you see a wildlife

violation please call our

Wildlife Crime Hotline at 1-

800-237-5712.

Covington

Regarding declining trout license

sales. I cant comment for many

anglers, but I havent bought mine

this year because of the change in

regulations at Hidden Valley

special regulation area. Allowing

treble hooks to be used there has

decimated the trout population. I

used to fish there year round, but

there are so few trout in the river

now, its a waste of a time to fish

there. Even if the trout are released,

most dont survive. Local fly

fishermen have so few places to

fish in this area and this has a big

impact on them.

Miscellaneous

Published research studies

have documented no

significant difference in

hooking mortality of trout

caught using either single-

hook artificial lures or

multiple-hook artificial lures.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Culpeper

I think it would be beneficial to

stock some fingerling trout. The

trout fishing is relatively good but

could improve if fish are stocked

that are short and able to reproduce

to help build a good population.

Miscellaneous

See Fingerling Stocking

Program section in VSTMP.

Fairfax County

Nova is where the people are.

Some of us even buy trout licenses.

We are not getting enough. I am

not talking about a fair share, we

do not have the best trout habitat

but what we get from VDGIF is

absurd.

Miscellaneous

VDGIF is currently

investigating new stocked

trout waters and seeking new

partnerships in Northern

Virginia

Fauquier

I would also like to see more trout

fishing places and an expansion of

the lake at Thompsons wildlife

area to include the upper half

above the current lake

Miscellaneous

There is insufficient stream

habitat upstream of Lake

Thompson to warrant

stocking.

Franklin County

Less people are buying licenses but

still fishing without one. The

chances of getting caught by a

game warden are minimal these

days

Miscellaneous

Conservation Police Officers

consistently patrol our

stocked trout waters.

Franklin County

People are following the trucks that

stock trout and immediately

cleaning out the streams by

catching and keeping coolers full at

a time

Miscellaneous

There is no way to prevent

anglers from following the

stocking truck. However, if

you see a wildlife violation

please call our Wildlife

Crime Hotline at 1-800-237-

5712.

Giles

Please consider: all trout caught

which are of legal length in stocked

streams must be creeled. This will

eleminate overfishing by the guys

who make it a habit to catch and

release as many fish as they can

before they leave the stream

Miscellaneous

Trout can be caught and

released multiple times and

provide more recreation.

Grayson

I also said we should try to talk to

land owners to see if we could get

some streams opened back up that

used to be stocked

Miscellaneous

VDIGF continues to support

efforts to open up new

stocked trout waters.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Henrico

The urban program is nice but are

you really selling enough trout

licenses to fully fund the program.

Miscellaneous

VDGIF is currently

evaluating costs and benefits

of the entire stocked trout

management program.

However, the urban program

is an integral part of our

recruitment and retention

objectives outlined in the

VSTMP.

Henrico

Heritage day is a disaster with huge

crowds because there are no other

streams near.

Miscellaneous

The opening day experience

is desired by some anglers.

Gaining landowner

permission to add new

Heritage Day waters has been

challenging. See Objective 3

under Stocking

Announcements in the

VSTMP.

Henry

Some counties have several bodies

of water that receive 8 stockings.

Why only 5 for the upper Smith

river?

Miscellaneous

Biologists decided that

stocking the upper Smith

River 8 times would be too

strenuous on the resident wild

brown trout population.

Henry

I wish that trout stocking extended

into june and july. I go to nc and ky

during the summer. Maybe

summer stocking would give to

tourism.

Miscellaneous

The vast majority of VDGIF

stocked trout waters cannot

support trout in the summer

due to warm water

temperatures.

Henry

If brown trout in citation sizes were

stocked in Smith River it would

create more interest as currently

brooks and rainbows are stocked

and residents are hoping to

eventually have a brown trout

population that reaches citation

sizes. If implemented, there may be

a renewed interest in a river that

was once considered a Trophy

Trout stream.

Miscellaneous

Trophy trout fisheries are

being considered in several

places. See Objective 2 under

Recreational Opportunities in

the VSTMP.

Out of state

Can you tell me about the little

pond near boo Williams sports

complex in Hampton, VA?

Miscellaneous

Armistead Point Pond was

added to the Urban Trout

Program in 2015. It will be

stocked with trout 5 times

from November - April.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Out of state

why ask for public comment? vdgif

does what they want regardless of

public opinion.

just look at the new bear tag fee

that passed with an over 2 t0 1 ratio

against it.

Miscellaneous

The values and goals

presented in the VSTMP

were developed primarily

based on stakeholder input.

Many of the strategies were

adjusted as a result of

stakeholder input.

Patrick

One of the best improvements,

other than possibly bigger fish,

would be to mark the streams with

the yellow signs like they were

once marked in the past. (fish

below here or above here, etc.).

The computer maps dont show

enough detail in where to fish

Miscellaneous

Better online maps are being

developed to assist with

directing anglers to our

stocked trout waters. Please

visit http://dgif-

virginia.maps.arcgis.com/app

s/webappviewer/index.html?i

d=441ed456c8664166bb735b

1db6024e48 for more

information. Our current

metal signs are color coded to

better inform anglers about

regulations.

Roanoke

County

Stock late in the day instead of

early morning; may have to adjust

the announcement accordingly.

Miscellaneous

The opportunity to stock later

in the day is being done when

possible

Rockbridge

I would like to see more late week

and Saturday stockings. I work

during the week and often find that

when I go fishing of the evenings

the fish are already gone from

people who do not work I also

would like to see January and

February stockings stopped to give

the fish more time to grow.

Miscellaneous

Recent creel surveys indicate

that stocked trout waters are

not fished out up to a month

after stocking (See Figure 12

in VSTMP). VDGIF does

attempt to stock some waters

in the evening where

logistically possible.

Rockingham

Stock smaller trout for smaller

streams or for feasibilty and cost

savings purposes is do away with

small streams and double up

frequency of stocking larger

streams in counties where

applicable

Miscellaneous

VDGIF has collected

valuable creel survey data

from 17 stocked trout waters

and will use this information

to justify any changes to

stocking numbers and

locations.

Rockingham

The problems I have with the VA

trout stocking program is the

streams arent stocked often

enough, too few fish when they are

stocked

Miscellaneous

A recent study found that

VDGIF stocks trout at higher

densities than levels

published for stocked trout in

other states.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Suffolk

Urban waters are a complete waste

of money and a strain on an

already tightened budget

Miscellaneous

The urban program is an

integral part of our

recruitment and retention

objectives outlined in the

VSTMP. VDGIF is currently

evaluating costs and benefits

of the entire stocked trout

management program.

Virginia Beach

What species of trout are stocked?

Looked all over the website but

couldnt find anything.

Miscellaneous

Brook Trout, Brown Trout,

and Rainbow Trout

Chesterfield

We need a lot more catch & release

with single hook with it debarded

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of special

regulation fishing

opportunities is proposed in

the VSTMP. See Objectives

1 and 2 under Recreational

opportunities.

Covington

I also would like to see the

delayed harvest program expanded

to include more streams

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of the delayed

harvest program is proposed

in the VSTMP. See

Objectives 1 and 2 under

Recreational opportunities.

Franklin County

To improve angler satisfaction with

trout fishing and management you

can stock more trout and bigger

trout. Maybe make the stocking

longer (maybe start in mid to late

September

Recreational

Opportunities

The VDGIF hatchery system

is currently at maximum

production capacity. In order

to meet management

objectives, VDGIF can

produce more trout of smaller

average size, or fewer fish of

larger average size. It is not

possible with existing

facilities to produce more and

larger fish. Most waters are

still too warm for trout in late

September.

Greene

Hopefully this plan will allow for

more evenly distributed delayed

harvest and trophy streams. At my

age and health condition it is

difficult to find a wild fish stream I

can access easily

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of special

regulation fishing

opportunities is proposed in

the VSTMP. See Objectives

1 and 2 under Recreational

opportunities.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Henrico

You need to get the Jackson River

below Gathright Dam back to all

fish for fun. This was a great

fishery that could return if

managed

Recreational

Opportunities

The Jackson River Tailwater

currently hosts an exceptional

wild Rainbow Trout and

Brown Trout fishery.

Henrico

Make the South River permanent

catch and release for trout stocking

program

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of special

regulation fishing

opportunities is proposed in

the VSTMP. See Objectives

1 and 2 under Recreational

opportunities.

Loudoun

I would love to see all special

regulation water managed as catch

and release, barbless hook

Recreational

Opportunities

See Objectives 1 and 2 under

Recreational opportunities in

VSTMP.

Mecklenburg

Make the South River delayed

harvest catch and release year-

around and fly fishing only!

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of special

regulation fishing

opportunities is proposed in

the VSTMP. See Objectives

1 and 2 under Recreational

opportunities.

Montgomery

I would like to see VDGIF develop

a trout program not only tailored to

those looking to catch fish (i.e.

through heavier, more frequent

stocking) but also those looking for

the trout fishing experience. I

recently fished in North Carolina

and was very impressed with their

trout management. Special rivers

were designated for catch and

release and/or fly fishing only

where anglers could enjoy the trout

fishing experience, including:

remote, private rivers with native

or established trout, etc

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of special

regulation fishing

opportunities is proposed in

the VSTMP. See Objectives

1 and 2 under Recreational

opportunities.

Nelson

VDGIF should substantially

increase delayed harvest waters for

this reason, also because catch-

and-release fishermen put much

less stress on the resources and

environment.

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of the delayed

harvest program is proposed

in the VSTMP. See

Objectives 1 and 2 under

Recreational opportunities.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Nelson

eliminate delayed harvest areas,

and convert to year-round catch

and release. most of our delayed

harvest streams will hold some fish

over, and those that perish will

provide nutrients to the watershed

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of special

regulation fishing

opportunities is proposed in

the VSTMP. See Objectives

1 and 2 under Recreational

opportunities.

Nelson

increase number of catch and

release waters. our neighboring

states have demonstrated that this

type of management leads to an

increase in trout per mile, and are

much sought by fly fishermen

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of special

regulation fishing

opportunities is proposed in

the VSTMP. See Objectives

1 and 2 under Recreational

opportunities.

Richmond

County

I think the inclusion of more trophy

size trout would draw more people

to our trout streams.

Recreational

Opportunities

See Objectives 1 and 2 under

Recreational opportunities in

VSTMP.

Roanoke

County

Overall pleased with the proposed

changes to the program but would

support taking in more special

regulations (single hook artificial

lures or fly fishing only) type

waters or converting more waters

to special regulations

Recreational

Opportunities

Expansion of special

regulation fishing

opportunities is proposed in

the VSTMP. See Objectives

1 and 2 under Recreational

opportunities.

Rockingham

on Delayed Harvest waters change

hook regulations to artificial lures,

single, barbless hook only

Recreational

Opportunities

Published research studies

have documented no

significant difference in

hooking mortality of trout

caught using either single-

hook artificial lures or

multiple-hook artificial lures.

Smyth

I would like to see more places for

the older fishermen to access.

Recreational

Opportunities

By focusing on improving

access more opportunities

will be created (as specified

in Objective 3 of

Recreational Opportunities).

Suffolk

Please continue to stock fee fishing

areas

Recreational

Opportunities

We will. Thanks for your

Comment.

Warren

There should be a Handicapped

day at all the smaller lakes ( ie.

Clearbrook in Winchester for

example) . They can only get to

certain places most streams have

no HDCP

Recreational

Opportunities

By focusing on improving

access more opportunities

will be created (as specified

in Objective 3 of

Recreational Opportunities).

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Chesterfield

We need to get into the classroom

and get started early with our youth

to instill the importance of

stewardship, trout streams, fly

fishing, and reporting violators.

This way we develop the next

generation of ethical sportsmen and

sportswomen.

Recruitment and

retention

See Objective 1 under

Recruitment and Retention in

the VSTMP.

Fairfax County

License fees are too high especially

for nonresidents. Do we want

visitors or not?

Recruitment and

retention

VDGIF is currently

evaluating the entire license

structure including non-

resident licenses.

Henrico

The youth days are nice but it

takes trout away from those who

pay for the program and eliminates

one stocking. This past year on

Hawksbill Creek in Page County

you had Heritage day and youth

day back to back Saturdays and

then no stocking for over a month.

On the youth day there are more

adults fishing than youth during the

youth closure

Recruitment and

retention

Youth days are important for

the future of the program

because they introduce youth

to trout fishing. Dates for

youth events are scheduled

by sponsors but VDGIF can

work with sponsors on future

events. If you see a wildlife

violation like adults fishing

on youth day please call our

Wildlife Crime Hotline 1-

800-237-5712.

Roanoke

County

There needs to be more stockings

set up so parents can take their kids

fishing on Saturday mornings and

know their kids have a really good

chance of catching fish. Maybe

have announced stockings on

Friday evenings

Recruitment and

retention

See Objective 1j under

Recruitment and Retention

and Objectives 2 and 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Stafford

GOOD AFTERNOON,I WOULD

LIKE TO FIRST

CONGRAULATE THE (VDGIF)

in its efforts to bring fishing to the

YOUTHS OF TODAY.I AM

AFFILATED WITH A NON

PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT

ARE SEEKING TO EDUCATE

AT RISK CHILDREN.MOSTLY

THRU FISHING AND

BOATING,TO KEEP THEM

AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

AND VIOLENT VIDEO

GAMES.I WOULD LIKE TO

GET MORE INFO FROM YOU

SO WE CAN GET OUR CENTER

INVOLVED ON A

VOLUNTARY MISSION TO

GET THESE KIDS INVOLVED.

Recruitment and

retention

VDGIF would be happy to

support and partner with your

program.

Allegheny

Virginia's streams are not stocked

frequently enough to satisfy me. I

work full time, and by the time I

get to fish (on off days), most of

the fish are gone. People following

stocking trucks are a terrible

problem. This could be addressed

by stocking at night, or at least late

in the afternoon.

Stocking

Announcements

Recent creel surveys indicate

that angler catch rates remain

high 30 days after stocking

(See Figure 12 in VSTMP).

VDGIF does attempt to stock

some waters in the evening

where logistically possible.

Appomattox

Ever since the State took away

Opening Day for Trout Season,

trout fishing been on the decline. It

has only gotten worse since that

was done. It took away all the

hoop-la that goes with opening day

Stocking

Announcements

Past surveys indicate support

for a year-round season.

Greater hatchery efficiency in

a year-round season. Year-

round season allows for

stocking at other optimal

times. Landowner preference

for a year-round season.

Recent surveys indicate that

the majority of stocked trout

anglers would not support

bringing back an opening

day. However, see Objectives

2 and 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Augusta

One thing that could be changed is

stocking days. Most of the time

the trout are stocked on days that

the working man cannot fish. Most

of the fish are being caught by

retired people. Many times I have

witness retired people taking over

their limit of fish. The go back to

their vehicles change a hat and

come back and sit right down

beside you to fish again after they

have caught their limit. This

frustrates me due to the fact that I

do not get to fish during the week.

When I do get to fish on stocked

days I have noticed many

violations. By the time the

common working man gets to fish

on Saturday or Sunday the fish are

fished out

Stocking

Announcements

Recent creel surveys indicate

that angler catch rates remain

high 30 days after stocking

(See Figure 12 in VSTMP).

VDGIF does attempt to stock

some waters in the evening

where logistically possible.

VDGIF does attempt to stock

some waters in the evening

where logistically possible.

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP. If you see

wildlife violations, please call

our Wildlife Crime Hotline.

1-800-237-5712.

Augusta

Folks generally plan advanced

fishing trips around weekends. So

rather than announce the actual day

of the stocking, announce a range

of days the stocking could occur.

For example, using this years

calendar, "The week of

March 16th, Elkhorn Lake will be

stocked between the 18th and the

20th

Stocking

Announcements

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

Campbell

I live in an area with few stocked

waters and the few we have get a

lot of pressure from the stocking

truck followers. This means I

drive 100 or so miles to find water

with adequate trout numbers

available on the Saturdays and

Sundays I have off.

I would just like a fair chance to

catch trout. That is all, just a fair

chance.

Stocking

Announcements

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Campbell

On large streams that are stocked

8 times a year, such as the Jackson

River, 2 or 3 stockings should be

announced in advance to allow

people to plan to take off work,

plan and travel to the site. A week

or at least 3 days.

Stocking

Announcements

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

Campbell

The number of trout stocked

should also be published so an

angler can determine if it is worth

his trouble and expense to travel to

the stocked stream

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF is planning to be

more transparent regarding

stocking numbers. See

Objective 5 under Stocking

Announcements.

Covington

I do not agree with the present

format for advertising the stocking

locations on a daily basis. I work

full time and feel like I am put at a

disadvantage by having to (fish for

the leftovers). I feel like a weekly

announcement would be adequate

and would take the pressure off of

popular and convenient fishing

locations

Stocking

Announcements

See Objectives 1-4 under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP. VDGIF is

striving to diversify our

stocking announcements.

Highland

It sure would be nice to see them

opening day comeback

Stocking

Announcements

Past surveys indicate support

for a year-round season.

Greater hatchery efficiency in

a year-round season. Year-

round season allows for

stocking at other optimal

times. Landowner preference

for a year-round season.

Recent surveys indicate that

the majority of stocked trout

anglers would not support

bringing back an opening

day. However, see Objectives

2 and 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

Out of state

I would like to see the early trout

sticking program have a monthly

sticking schedule

Stocking

Announcements

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Out of state

I would also like to see Virginia go

back to a opening day, like it was

years ago. I think there would be

more licenses sold and more

people interested again if it was

like that.

Stocking

Announcements

Past surveys indicate support

for a year-round season.

Greater hatchery efficiency in

a year-round season. Year-

round season allows for

stocking at other optimal

times. Landowner preference

for a year-round season.

Recent surveys indicate that

the majority of stocked trout

anglers would not support

bringing back an opening

day. However, see Objectives

2 and 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

Patrick

When opening day of trout season

was done away with it ruined trout

fishing in Patrick County.

The history and culture of this

great opening day event was lost.

Bring back opening day and you

will see increased license sales and

increased money being spent with

local merchants.

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF needs landowner

permission before adding

new stocked trout waters.

Past surveys indicate support

for a year-round season.

Greater hatchery efficiency in

a year-round season. Year-

round season allows for

stocking at other optimal

times. Landowner preference

for a year-round season.

Recent surveys indicate that

the majority of stocked trout

anglers would not support

bringing back an opening

day. However, see Objectives

2 and 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Roanoke

County

Bring back opening day in April

Stocking

Announcements

Past surveys indicate support

for a year-round season.

Greater hatchery efficiency in

year-round season. Year-

round season allows for

stocking at other optimal

times. Landowner preference

for the year-round season.

Recent surveys indicate that

the majority of stocked trout

anglers would not support

bringing back an opening

day. However, see Objectives

2 and 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

Roanoke

County

What about putting a moratorium

on stocked waters for 24 hours

after a stocking?

Stocking

Announcements

Closing stocked waters is

being evaluated. See

Objective 3 Strategy F under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

Roanoke

County

Please consider closing waters that

have been stocked for 1-2 days

after stocking. This would

eliminate waters becoming

immediately after being stocked

Stocking

Announcements

Closing stocked waters is

being evaluated. See

Objective 3 Strategy F under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

Roanoke

County

Announce the stocking in advance

and close the creek to fishing until

the next day.

Stocking

Announcements

Closing stocked waters is

being evaluated. See

Objective 3 Strategy F under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

Rockbridge

There has to be someway to

eliminate the truck followers.

Stocking

Announcements

No strategy will eliminate

people following the stocking

truck. Closing stocked waters

is being evaluated. See

Objective 3 Strategy F under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

Rockbridge

I would like to see the daily

stocking report changed to weekly.

Stocking

Announcements

The VSTMP contains

objectives and strategies

under Stocking

Announcements that attempts

to satisfy a diversity of

stocked trout anglers.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Rockingham

The reason licenses sales are

because there are a lot of people

like me who love to trout fish but

have quit because of the way the

stocking program is no it's

impossible for a working man to

have a chance you hardly put any

trout in and the ones you do stock

is during the week when we are at

work and the other reason is the

trout are so small. I think they need

to go back to the opening day again

in stead of the way it is now where

people like me who work every

day don't stand a chance

and when you stock them put some

trout in not minnows

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF developed the

VSTMP to address your

concerns.

Scott

I would like to see more area

creeks and streams stocked.

Would like to have an area closer

so I could fish after work hours. I

would like to see year round

stockings, if possible. As far as

announcements, I like the current

method - but people do follow the

stocking trucks, so some of us

don't have an opportunity to

catch fish due to this.

Stocking

Announcements

Recent creel surveys indicate

that angler catch rates remain

high 30 days after stocking

(See Figure 12 in VSTMP).

VDGIF does attempt to stock

some waters in the evening

where logistically possible.

VDGIF does attempt to stock

some waters in the evening

where logistically possible.

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP.

Warren

No Stream that is Stocked can be

fished until Sunrise the following

morning. This eliminates the

Cheaters and the truck followers.

This gives everyone an even

chance.

Stocking

Announcements

No strategy will eliminate

people following the stocking

truck. Closing stocked waters

is being evaluated. See

Objective 3 Strategy F under

Stocking Announcements.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Washington

Some stocking should to be moved

to later days in the week.Those of

us who work monday thru friday

for a living must fish the

weekends.It seems most stocking

happens on tuesdays or weds.It

would be nice to fish a sat or sun

and have as much a chance at

"numbers" as those who can go

fishing as they please

Stocking

Announcements

Recent creel surveys indicate

that angler catch rates remain

high 30 days after stocking

(See Figure 12 in VSTMP).

VDGIF does attempt to stock

some waters in the evening

where logistically possible.

VDGIF does attempt to stock

some waters in the evening

where logistically possible.

Comments received during public meetings Sept-

Oct. 2015

Do not stock on any native brook

trout streams

Ecosystem Effects

Consistent with the goal for

the issue of ecosystem effects

(optimizing recreational

opportunities while

minimizing adverse impacts),

no new Class I or II wild

trout waters will be added to

the stocked trout program.

The use of triploid (sterile)

will be investigated when

stocking over current wild

fisheries. Wild trout streams

that are currently being

stocked that provide popular

recreational opportunities

will be evaluated on a case-

by-case basis.

Stocked rainbows outcompete

native brook trout

Ecosystem Effects

See objective 1-d under

ecosystem effects. Wild trout

streams that are currently

being stocked to provide

additional recreational

opportunities will be

evaluated on a case-by-case

basis.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Triploid trout still compete

Ecosystem Effects

See objective 1-d under

ecosystem effects. Wild trout

streams that are currently

being stocked to provide

additional recreational

opportunities will be

evaluated on a case-by-case

basis.

Have you considered not stocking

on brook trout at all and not just

the Class I and II waters?

Ecosystem Effects

See objective 1-d under

ecosystem effects. Wild trout

streams that are currently

being stocked to provide

additional recreational

opportunities will be

evaluated on a case-by-case

basis.

Try and find new warmwater

streams to stock and use fish that

are currently being stocked over

wild/native trout

Ecosystem Effects

See objective 1-d under

ecosystem effects. Wild trout

streams that are currently

being stocked to provide

additional recreational

opportunities will be

evaluated on a case-by-case

basis.

Like the idea of publishing a report

Funding and

Administration

See Objective 2 under

Funding and Administration

Does trout license pay for

program?

Funding and

Administration

Trout license revenue funds

the stocked trout program. A

study is currently underway

to determine the fiscal

stability of the program. See

objective 1 under Funding

and Administration.

Will public be able to see the

“balance sheet” associated with the

stocked

Funding and

Administration

See objectives 1&2 under

Funding and Administration;

this is part of the stocked

trout evaluation

Should have to buy a trout license

to fish all stocked waters –

including fingerling stockings

Funding and

Administration

See objective 1a,d under

Funding and Administration

Need to look at ways of conserving

money not just looking for new

monies

Funding and

Administration

See objective 1 under funding

and administration

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Let some streams go wild to

conserve money

Funding and

Administration

See objective 1 under funding

and administration. Most

stocked trout waters cannot

support trout year round.

100

Seek sponsorships in Trout Guide

to generate revenue

Funding and

Administration

Currently VDGIF allows for

advertising in our Freshwater

Fishing Guide

101

Would like automatic renewal of

trout license

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

102

Send reminders of license and

renewals

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

103

Willing to pay more for a quality

experience

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

104

The cost of a lifetime license for

age 65+ is too cheap

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

105

Eliminate stockings on really small

Funding and

Administration

Our stocked C waters are a

significant resource to trout

anglers. 32% of anglers

surveyed in recent stocked

trout creel surveys indicate

they prefer to fish in small

streams. 31% prefer large

streams, 18% prefer lakes,

and 19% had no preference.

106

Handicapped license is a good deal

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

107

Scale the disabled vet license based

on disability

Funding and

Administration

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

108

Augusta

Is catch-and-release a good idea in

stocked trout waters?

Miscellaneous

Trout can be caught and

released multiple times and

provide more recreation.

Gear restrictions would be

necessary to reduce hooking

mortality.

109

Fish need to be scattered better –

can we use volunteers to help?

Miscellaneous

VDGIF currently uses

volunteers through the

Complementary Work Force

Program. Staff and volunteers

work diligently to spread out

fish throughout our stocked

trout waters. Please visit

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/

volunteer/#cwf for more

information.

110

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Can you stock at night?

Miscellaneous

Concerns for staff safety

prevent VDGIF from

stocking at night.

111

Stock later in the day

Miscellaneous

VDGIF stocks some waters

in the afternoon when

feasible.

112

Non-residents pay too much – need

a trip license (3 or 5 day) for non-

residents

Miscellaneous

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

113

Keep non-resident license high but

offer a trip license

Miscellaneous

VDGIF will be evaluating its

current licensing structure.

114

Augusta

Convert South River to catch and

release/trophy

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 1&2 under

Recreational Opportunities.

115

Augusta

Add fly fishing only to objective 1

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 1-c under

recreational opportunities

116

Augusta

There is only one fly fishing only

stream – need more, maybe South

River

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 1&2 under

Recreational Opportunities.

117

Augusta

Fly fishing is on the rise – need

more special regulation areas

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 1&2 under

Recreational Opportunities.

118

Augusta

Fly fishing only excludes spin

fishermen

Recreational

Opportunities

Fly-fishing only regulations

exclude spin anglers.

However, recent surveys

indicate that anglers desire

more special regulation

waters, which could include

fly fishing only sections.

119

Augusta

Fly fishing only on South River

would upset a lot of people

Recreational

Opportunities

Thank you for your

comment, but these issues

were not addressed in the

VSTMP. Your comments

will be shared with VDGIF

aquatics staff.

120

Augusta

Need better balance to meet

diverse preferences identified in

the Plan

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 1&2 under

Recreational Opportunities.

121

Augusta

South River can be managed for fly

fishing and single hook artificial

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 1&2 under

Recreational Opportunities.

122

Augusta

Increase the number of delayed

harvest waters

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 1&2 under

Recreational Opportunities.

123

Augusta

Greenways are great places to

expand ADA access

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 3-c under

Recreational Opportunities

124

Augusta

More access and opportunities for

handicapped and disabled veterans

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 3-c under

Recreational Opportunities

125

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

ADA areas would help

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 3-c under

Recreational Opportunities

126

Provide diverse opportunities by

modeling after private fisheries

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 1 and 2 under

recreational opportunities.

127

Whitetop Laurel would be a good

candidate for special regulations

Recreational

Opportunities

Currently there are two

special regulation sections on

White Top Laurel Creek. See

objective 1&2 under

Recreational Opportunities.

128

Delayed harvest streams – need

more stockings and more fish per

stocking

Recreational

Opportunities

VDGIF has collected

valuable creel survey data

from 17 stocked trout waters

and will use this information

to justify any changes to

stocking numbers and

locations.

129

Some of the best stocked waters

have special regulation waters

adjacent to them – lets fish spread

out and provides some protection

Recreational

Opportunities

VDGIF will investigate

developing more streams

containing both general put

and take and special

regulation reaches.

130

Would like to see more delayed

harvest and catch-and-release

waters

Recreational

Opportunities

See objective 1&2 under

Recreational Opportunities.

131

Look at how West Virginia

markets program to youth

Recruitment and

Retention

VDGIF plans to investigate

youth fishing marketing

strategies used by other states

across the country.

132

Must get parents involved to get

kids involved

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 5 under

Recruitment and Retention

133

Great ideas in Plan for getting

youth involved

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1 under

Recruitment and Retention

134

Market trout fishing in schools

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1-l under

Recruitment and Retention

135

Pigg River and Buchanan youth

days a huge success

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1-c under

Recruitment and Retention

136

Stock Friday – kids only on

Saturday

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1-j under

Recruitment and Retention

and objective 3-f under

Stocking Announcements

137

Would like to see youth-only

Heritage Day on Upper Pedlar

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1-d, e, f under

Recruitment and Retention

138

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Kids don’t want to get off the

couch – need to catch fish to get

interested

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1 & 5 under

Recruitment and Retention

139

Kids wont go fishing without a

mentor

Recruitment and

Retention

A mentorship program is not

mentioned in the VSTMP.

However, VDGIF currently

has a fishing education

program through the outreach

department

140

Kids will get interested if they

catch fish

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1 under

recruitment and retention

provides ample opportunities

for youth anglers

141

Every stream could have a kids day

once per year

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1-d,e,f under

recruitment and retention.

142

Like the Heritage Day youth option

but need more Heritage Days

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1 and 2 under

recreational opportunities.

143

Lots of competition for kids time

but success breeds success

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1 under

Recruitment and Retention

144

Good idea to target urban areas but

also target FFA kids in rural areas

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 1&5 under

Recruitment and retention

145

Follow up with kids after events

Recruitment and

Retention

VDGIF plans to evaluate the

success of recruiting youth

anglers.

146

Virginia has “fishing in the

classroom” – one of 9 states

Recruitment and

Retention

VDGIF's Outreach

Department is involved in

this program. See objective

1-K,L under Recruitment and

Retention.

147

Trout in the classroom – good way

to introduce kids to biology of trout

Recruitment and

Retention

VDGIF is in full support of

expanding the Trout in the

Classroom Program.

148

Think beyond kids < 16 – target

college students

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 2-d, 3-e and 5

under Recruitment and

Retention

149

Non-residents wont buy license

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 4 under

Recruitment and Retention

150

Do follow-up surveys to measure

economic impact of non-resident

trout fishing

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 4-b, d under

Recruitment and Retention

151

Promote in other states

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 4e,f and 5

under Recruitment and

Retention

152

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Need a trip license for non-

residents

Recruitment and

Retention

VDGIF will be evaluating it's

current licensing structure.

153

Attracting military will help

demographics

Recruitment and

Retention

See objective 3h and 5 under

Recruitment and Retention

154

Do not announce at 4 PM – only

helps truck followers

Stocking

Announcements

See Goal Statement and

objectives 1-4 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

A diversity of stocking

announcement scenarios are

being considered.

155

Announce earlier in the day (noon

or 2PM)

Stocking

Announcements

See Goal Statement and

objectives 1-4 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

A diversity of stocking

announcement scenarios are

being considered.

156

Announcing at 4PM is too late –

some people not buying licenses

because of that

Stocking

Announcements

See Goal Statement and

objectives 1-4 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

A diversity of stocking

announcement scenarios are

being considered.

157

Like it the way it is

Stocking

Announcements

See Goal Statement and

objectives 1-4 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

A diversity of stocking

announcement scenarios are

being considered.

158

Communication and social media

causes folks in the loop to get most

of the access to the fish

Stocking

Announcements

See Goal Statement and

objectives 1-4 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

A diversity of stocking

announcement scenarios are

being considered.

159

Don’t announce at 4PM day of

stocking – wait 3 days

Stocking

Announcements

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

VSTMP.

160

Current system not fair for people

who have to travel (Richmond)

Stocking

Announcements

See Goal Statement and

objectives 1-4 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

A diversity of stocking

announcement scenarios are

being considered.

161

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Really like closing for 1-day on

test waters

Stocking

Announcements

See Objective 3 Strategy f

under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

162

Do not allow fishing until 5PM day

of stocking or the next day

Stocking

Announcements

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

VSTMP.

163

Pre-announce all sites

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF plans to evaluate pre-

announced stockings. See

Objective 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

164

Test more than 2 sites per region –

not enough of a sample

Stocking

Announcements

The VSTMP mentions testing

a "minimum" of two waters

per region.

165

Put stocking schedule out ahead of

time

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF plans to evaluate pre-

announced stockings. See

Objective 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

166

No such thing as unannounced

stockings; in favor of closing

streams day of stocking

Stocking

Announcements

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

VSTMP.

167

Problems with enforcement on

closing streams

Stocking

Announcements

The added burden of stream

closings on Law Enforcement

has been discussed

throughout the planning

process of the VSTMP.

168

Only 6 prior announced streams

not enough

Stocking

Announcements

The VSTMP mentions testing

the feasibility, logistics, and

popularity of adding more

announced waters.

169

Announcement needs to be early

enough so people can plan (one

week)

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF plans to evaluate pre-

announced stockings. See

Objective 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

170

Some confusion on how many

stockings will get announced and

how many times

Stocking

Announcements

The VSTMP mentions testing

a "minimum" of two waters

per region to test prior

announcements. See

objective 3-g under stocking

announcements in the

VSTMP

171

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

The announced stockings would be

just like opening day

Stocking

Announcements

Correct, these announced

stockings will have a similar

atmosphere to opening day.

Recent surveys indicate a

desire for more announced

stockings.

172

Like the idea of prior

announcement on 6 sites but

changing two things at once isn’t a

good idea – keep number stocked

the same

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF currently stocks 50%

more fish for Heritage Day

stockings and plans to do the

same for additional pre-

announced stockings.

173

Closing sites for 1-day sounds like

an enforcement nightmare

Stocking

Announcements

The added burden of stream

closings on Law Enforcement

has been discussed

throughout the planning

process of the VSTMP.

174

Announce at start of week for test

waters

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF plans to evaluate pre-

announced stockings. See

Objective 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

175

Might be hard to find sites that are

safe

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF plans to evaluate pre-

announced stockings. See

Objective 3 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

Safety will be taken into

consideration during the

selection process.

176

Need to consider if streams are

mainly catch-and-release –

wouldn’t be a good idea for prior

announcement – match site type

with program

Stocking

Announcements

Preannounced stockings will

only be used on general put

and take waters.

177

Announced stockings during

school breaks is a good idea

Stocking

Announcements

See objective 3-e under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP

178

What is the cost of enforcement on

1-day closures?

Stocking

Announcements

An estimated $500-$1500 per

day depending on multiple

variables.

179

No such thing as unannounced

stockings

Stocking

Announcements

The VSTMP addresses

multiple stocking

announcement strategies.

180

Like unannounced stockings

Stocking

Announcements

See objective 1 under

Stocking Announcements in

the VSTMP

181

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Would like to see more Saturday

stockings

Stocking

Announcements

VDGIF currently stocks on

Saturdays. VDGIF is

currently looking into the

feasibility of adding more

Saturday stockings.

182

Announce at least a week ahead of

time to get more families involved

Stocking

Announcements

See Objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements in

VSTMP.

183

Comments received via letter

The stocking of trout over native

populations is detrimental and

should be stopped. Currently the

plan lacks clarity on when and

where the stocking of trout does

not conflict with the strategy to

protect and restore native trout

populations.

Ecosystem Effects

Consistent with the goal for

the issue of ecosystem effects

(optimizing recreational

opportunities while

minimizing adverse impacts),

no new Class I or II wild

trout waters will be added to

the stocked trout program.

The use of triploid (sterile)

will be investigated when

stocking over current wild

fisheries. Streams that are

currently being stocked to

provide additional

recreational opportunities

will be evaluated on a case-

by-case basis.

184

Recommend including private trout

stocking practices and VDGIF's

review and approval process in the

VSTMP.

Ecosystem Effects

The VSTMP specifically

addresses hatchery-reared

trout that VDGIF stocks into

publically accessible waters.

185

USFS

Objective 4 under ecosystem

effects should mention using forest

stamp funds to manage or mitigate

resource damage.

Ecosystem Effects

Amended objective 4 under

ecosystem effects.

186

USFS

Examples of forest stamp funds

utilized for objective 4 in

Ecosystem Effects should be

included in objective 2 under

Funding and Administration.

Funding and

Administration

Amended objective 2 under

Funding and Administration

187

Lee

Stock some Golden Trout

Miscellaneous

At this time there are no

plans for VDGIF to stock

Golden Trout. There has been

very little support from

anglers to stock Golden

188

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Trout.

Montgomery

River otters are eating all the

stocked trout in Big Stony Creek,

Giles County

Miscellaneous

VDGIF does not know the

exact mortality rate of

stocked trout caused by rivers

otters in Virginia. However,

an angler creel survey

conducted (2013-2014) on

Big Stony Creek in Giles

County revealed that angler

catch rates remained

consistent up to 30 days post

stocking.

189

Recommend that the definitions for

"wild", "native", "sterile", and

"Southern Appalachian Brook

Trout" should be contained in a

glossary and be used consistently

throughout the plan.

Miscellaneous

Amended VSTMP

190

Lee

Stock larger trout

Recreational

Opportunities

VDGIF has collected

valuable creel survey data

from 17 stocked trout waters

and will use this information

to justify any changes to

stocking numbers, size of

trout and stocking locations.

Some of this information

indicates that a slight

majority of anglers favor

stocking larger trout, even if

that means fewer trout per

stocking.

191

Montgomery

Keep the current stocking

announcement system

Stocking

Announcements

See Goal Statement and

objectives 1-4 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

A diversity of stocking

announcement scenarios are

being considered.

192

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Location

Comment

Goal Area

DGIF Response

Montgomery

I like the year round trout season

Stocking

Announcements

See Goal Statement and

objectives 1-4 under Stocking

Announcements in VSTMP.

A diversity of stocking

announcement scenarios are

being considered.

193

USFS

Objective 3 under Stocking

Announcements should specifically

mention coordinating with USFS

when discussing waters on USDA

lands.

Stocking

Announcements

Amended objective 3 under

Stocking Announcements.

194

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)

Appendix D. Priority rankings of the Virginia Stocked Trout Management Plan objectives

by the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) and the VDGIF Technical Advisory

Committee (TAC). A rank of 1 means most important, 2 means next most important, etc.

Some ranks are tied and repeated.

Priority Level

Stocked Trout Management Plan Objectives

SAC

TAC

STOCKING ANNOUNCEMENTS

18 17

Continue the policy of not announcing stocking delayed harvest (except for the first

stocking which is announced at 4:00 PM the day of stocking), catch-and-release, and other

special regulation waters.

7 8

By 10/1/2016, announce in advance stocking events in Trout Heritage waters, fee fishing

areas, urban trout waters, and kid’s fishing events.

13 1

Identify a minimum of two waters (by 5/1/2016) in VDGIF administrative region’s 2, 3,

and 4 to test prior announcement of multiple stocking events each year in those waters.

Implementation should begin in 2017 and be tested for 2 years.

17 11

Continue the current policy of announcing stocking events at 4 PM the day of stocking

except for waters that receive pre-announcements or for which stockings are unannounced.

14 15

Publish by July 15 each year a report that lists pounds of trout stocked by county and/or

water in the previous 12 months.

ANGLER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

1 2

By July 1, 2021, increase youth (under 16 years of age) participation in the stocked trout

program by 10%.

7 9

By July 1, 2021, increase participation among females and minority populations in the

stocked trout program by 10%.

4 5

By July 1, 2025, recruit new anglers to the stocked trout program to attain 100,000 trout-

license buyers (including lifetime license) annually.

19 11

Increase participation of non-residents by 10% in the stocked trout by program July 1,

2021.

2 2

Develop and implement marketing strategies to promote the stocked trout program by July

1, 2018.

FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION

7 7

Conduct a financial evaluation of the trout program and develop strategies based on those

results by January 1, 2017.

10 13

Publish an annual report detailing accomplishments and progress in achieving objectives of

the Stocked Trout Management Plan by September 30 each year.

ECOSYSTEM EFFECTS

4 10

Develop strategies to minimize the effects of stocking on existing wild trout populations,

including native brook trout, by January 1, 2017.

14 13

Develop strategies to minimize the effects of stocking trout on existing/resident aquatic

organisms in waters currently being stocked and when new waters are being proposed for

addition to the stocked trout program by January 1, 2017.

10 19

Develop strategies to minimize the effects of stocking and angler use on sensitive riparian

terrestrial species and habitat in waters currently being stocked and when new waters are

being proposed for addition to the stocked trout program by January 1, 2017.

Develop strategies to address habitat issues in stocked trout waters by January 1, 2021.

RECREATIONAL OPPORTINITIES

4 2

Expand stocked trout fishing opportunities designed to appeal to a variety of angler

preferences including developing trophy trout fisheries, catch-and-release fishing, delayed

harvest, urban waters, and youth fishing opportunities by July 1, 2016.

3 6

Identify 12 waters statewide to be managed with alternative management strategies (e.g.,

catch and release, delayed harvest, youth only, etc.) by October 1, 2017. This may include

the conversion of current stocked waters to a new designation.

Increase angler access to stocked trout waters where appropriate.

VIRGINIA STOCKED TROUT MANAGEMENT PLAN (2016-2025)