West Virginia
Fall study to provide insight into trout harvest rates, movement in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Biologists in West Virginia will be studying trout harvest rates during the state’s fall trout-stocking season to better understand how long trout stay in stocked streams, how they move over time, and whether they survive through the summer.
As part of the effort, the state recently released rainbow and golden rainbow trout marked with unique numbered blue tags into waters during fall stockings. Anglers who catch a tagged trout are asked to clip off the tag and report it using the contact information printed thereon.
Brett McMillion, director of the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources in Charleston, said his agency is looking forward to the help of anglers in the process.
“We appreciate our anglers and their cooperation in this important research,” McMillion said. “Anglers who report tagged trout contribute to the science that helps us improve how we manage and stock trout across West Virginia.”
Anglers may keep or release the fish after removing the tag. If a fish has more than one tag, all tags should be removed and reported to the authorities.
To assist with data collection, division biologists are asking anglers to provide the following information when reporting a tagged fish:
- Tag number
- Location and date of catch
- Whether the fish was harvested or released
- Contact information for sending the reward
All anglers 15 years old and older must have a valid West Virginia fishing license and a form of identification while fishing. Anglers fishing for trout are also required to have a trout stamp. Fishing licenses and stamps can be purchased online at WVFish.com, where anglers can also upgrade their annual license with a collectible license card.
Tag reports can be submitted by email to dnrfishtags@wv.gov or by calling 304-637-0245. Participants in the study will receive a gift card valued up to $100.
Trout in West Virginia
Trout are cold-water fish that play a vital ecological and cultural role in West Virginia’s highland environments. The state supports three primary species—the native brook (Salvelinus fontinalis), as well as two non-native but widely established species: the rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown (Salmo trutta). Brook is the only species native to the Appalachian region and is often regarded as a biological indicator of pristine water quality.
Brook trout inhabit small, shaded headwater streams where water temperatures rarely exceed 65°F and dissolved oxygen levels remain high. These fish depend on coarse gravel beds for spawning and clear, well-oxygenated flows for survival.
Their presence typically signifies stable watersheds with intact forest cover and minimal human disturbance. Genetic studies have shown that many of West Virginia’s brook trout populations are isolated remnants of postglacial colonization, making them of significant conservation interest.
Rainbow and brown species were introduced to West Virginia in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to expand recreational fishing opportunities and now occupy a variety of cold-water streams and rivers. While both species have naturalized, they can outcompete native brookies for food and spawning habitat.
Environmental pressures, including acid rain, rising stream temperatures, and land-use changes, have reduced the range of native brook trout to an estimated 500 miles of streams, primarily in the Allegheny Highlands.
Restoration initiatives by the state and partner organizations focus on improving stream habitat, restoring riparian vegetation, and mitigating water chemistry imbalances through liming projects.
The species remains an important part of West Virginia’s aquatic biodiversity, serving as an indicator of ecosystem health and as an emblematic species of the state’s cool, high-elevation mountain waters.
Trout fishing in West Virginia
West Virginia has earned a strong reputation as a top destination for angling thanks to its extensive network of cold, clear streams, active stocking programs, and accessible wild habitats. The state regularly stocks more than 40,000 pounds in about 40 lakes and streams each fall, bolstering both stocked fisheries and angler interest.
Meanwhile, many streams such as the Elk and Cranberry rivers are celebrated as quality wild and stocked waters. The state’s combination of rugged backcountry access, scenic mountain settings, and strong fisheries management attracts fly-fishing enthusiasts, families, and newcomers alike, making trout fishing an integral part of West Virginia’s outdoor tourism appeal.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history, compiled by the West Virginia Humanities Council from its online encyclopedia, e-WV.
April 19, 1896: Writer Melville Davisson Post was born in Harrison County. His best-known works are the Randolph Mason series, published in three volumes, and the more successful collection Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries.
April 19, 1902: Author Jean Lee Latham was born in Buckhannon. She wrote a number of children’s books, including Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, which won the 1956 Newbery Award.
April 20, 1823: Gen. Jesse Lee Reno was born in Wheeling. He graduated from West Point in 1846 with another cadet from western Virginia, Thomas J. Jackson, later known as “Stonewall.” Reno was the highest-ranking officer from present West Virginia killed in the Civil War.
April 20, 1863: President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that in 60 days, West Virginia would become a state. The occasion was marked 100 years later during the state’s Centennial celebration with a special ceremonial session of the West Virginia Legislature on April 20, 1963, in Wheeling.
April 20, 1909: Fiddler Melvin Wine was born near Burnsville in Braxton County. A favorite of old-time music enthusiasts nationally, he was chosen as a National Heritage Fellow in 1991 by the National Endowment for the Arts — the highest recognition given to a folk artist in the United States.
April 20, 1939: Poet Irene McKinney was born in Belington, Barbour County. Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed her state poet laureate in 1993, and she served in that capacity until her death in 2012.
April 21, 1908: Musician Phoeba Cottrell Parsons was born in Calhoun County. Parsons’ traditional clawhammer banjo style, unaccompanied ballad singing, riddles and storytelling have influenced countless younger musicians.
April 21, 1936: President Franklin Roosevelt established the Jefferson National Forest. The West Virginia portion of the forest includes about 19,000 acres in Monroe County.
April 22, 1908: Marshall “Little Sleepy” Glenn was born in Elkins. Glenn coached basketball at West Virginia University from 1934 to 1938 and football from 1937 to 1940. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
April 22, 1948: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and musician Larry Groce was born in Dallas, Texas. He is best known as the longtime host and artistic director of the Mountain Stage radio program.
April 22, 2003: Activist Judy Bonds, a Raleigh County native, received the Goldman Environmental Prize for her fight against mountaintop removal mining. Her efforts inspired thousands and turned a local West Virginia issue into a national cause.
April 23, 1857: Andrew S. Rowan was born in Gap Mills, Monroe County. Rowan, a military officer, was chosen as the messenger when President William McKinley wanted to send a message to Cuban Gen. Calixto Garcia during the Spanish-American War. The 1899 pamphlet A Message to Garcia made the incident famous.
April 24, 1865: McNeill’s Rangers surrendered to Union troops at New Creek — now Keyser. The Confederate guerrilla force probably never numbered more than 100 men at any time but managed to inflict regular damage on Union operations.
April 25, 1863: In what became known as the Jones-Imboden Raid, about 1,500 Confederate soldiers under Gen. William “Grumble” Jones advanced through Greenland Gap, a deep pass through New Creek Mountain in present Grant County. The Confederates encountered 87 Union soldiers who held off several assaults before finally surrendering.
April 25, 1923: Union leader Arnold Ray Miller was born at Leewood on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County. In December 1972, he defeated Tony Boyle to become president of the United Mine Workers and served until 1979.
e-WV is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. For more information, contact the council at 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301, call 304-346-8500 or visit wvencyclopedia.org.
During the Gold-Blue spring game on Saturday, the West Virginia coaching staff named wide receiver Cyrus Traught the recipient of the 2026 Tommy Nikolich Award.
The award, which is always given out at the end of spring ball, recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who passed away from cancer in 1983.
Traugh is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School. He began his career at Youngstown State before transferring back home to play for the Mountaineers last season. In his final year with the Penguins, he logged 36 receptions, 409 yards, and a team-leading five touchdowns, two of which came against Pitt.
During the 2025 campaign with the Mountaineers, he saw action against Robert Morris and Kansas, playing 10 snaps against the Jayhawks, but did not record any stats.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has mentioned him twice this spring as someone who has been doing some good things and making progress. Wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett also showed him some love during his press conference last week.
The Mountaineers completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason, upping the level of talent at both inside and outside receiver spots, but perhaps Traugh can work his way into the mix if he puts together a strong summer and fall camp. If he’s not a regular in the rotation, he’ll serve as a quality depth piece who can play special teams.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025: Clay Ash, RB
2024: Avery Wilcox, S
2023: C.J. Cole, WR
2022: Nick Malone, OL
2021: Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020: Osman Kamara, S
2019: Jake Abbott, LB
2018: Evan Staley, K
2017: Nick Meadows, LS
2016: Jon Lewis, DL
2015: Justin Arndt, LB
2014: Michael Calicchio, OL
2013: Connor Arlia, WR
2012: Tyler Anderson, DE
2011: Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010: Matt Lindamood, FB
2009: Josh Taylor, DL
2008: Adam Hughes, LS
2007: Andy Emery, LB
2006: Tim Lindsey, LS
2005: George Shehl, H/DB
2004: Jeff Noechel, LB
2003: John Pennington, WR
2002: Moe Fofana, RB
2001: Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000: Ben Collins, LB
1999: Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998: Mark Corman, TE
1997: David Lightcap, DB
1996: Matt Ceresa, OL
1995: Rob Keys, DB
1994: Randy Fulmore, DB
1993: Matt McCulty, WR
1992: Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991: Keith Taparausky, RB
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