The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has postponsed the West Virginia Gold Rush and will stop announcing locations for daily trout stockings. The decision was made in lieu of the COVID-19 virus pandemic in hopes to reduce the number of anglers in or near public waters.
Futher, the DNR will not be updating its trout stocking hotline or onlline report. They are continuing the regularly scheduled trout stockings, just not the Gold Rush that was set for Friday.
“To make sure no crowds interfere with trout stocking personnel and that anglers maintain a safe distance from hatchery staff, a DNR Law Enforcement officer will join each stocking run,” the DNR release stated. “We are taking these precautions to protect you, keep our hatchery staff safe and to help West Virginians meet the requirements of Gov. Jim Justice’s executive orders.”
Areas in Monongalia County that are stocked with trout in the spring are Coopers Rock Lake, Westover Park Pond, Mason Lake and Whiteday Creek. Coopers Rock Lake and Whiteday Creek are stocked twice a month from February through April and once in May, while Mason Lake is stocked once a month from February through May. Westover Park is stocked just once a season, and that was completed in the first week of March.
In Preston County, Rhine Creek and Big Sandy Creek are the only streams stocked in the spring. Rhine Creek is stocked once each month from February through May, and Big Sandy Creek is stocked twice a month from February through April and once in May.
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