Percent

Votes

29.1%

73

25.1%

63

24.7%

62

13.9%

35

5.6%

14

1.6%

4

Percent

Votes

46.2%

115

18.1%

45

14.5%

36

12.4%

31

4%

10

3.2%

8

1.6%

4

Percent

Votes

61.6%

135

6.4%

14

29.7%

65

2.3%

5

Percent

Votes

26.2%

37

24.1%

34

19.9%

28

14.9%

21

12.8%

18

2.1%

3

Percent

Votes

41.57%

212

33.14%

169

12.75%

65

7.84%

40

3.92%

20

.78%

4

The DNR needs to do something, ANYTHING. I think all of the above could be used to 'manage anglers'. The fish can manage themselves, we need to manage the people. Everyone taking what they want does not work. The DNR needs to look at improving the QUALITY of our fisheries and get off the BS story that it's to difficult to implement and enforce regulations. Bullsh@t, PA does it, MD does it. I suppose we are just complete idiots here in this state. Their reasoning certainly sounds like they think as much of themselves and our anglers.

actually i think we need to make the punishment for poaching alot more stringent. if found poaching you should lose your right to hunt and fish for life and be subject to a huge fine

I think a combination approach should/could be used on larger, better waters. Combine C&R, Size and Creel limits with gear restrictions AND put and take. Some rivers are large enough to accommodate all. Take the Elk, extend the C&R another mile or two. Add 4-5 miles of size restrictions (say two trout over 16 inches, artifical lures only). This should still leave 8-10 miles for put and take. Now this would limit the put and take length, but put the same number of trout in the 8-10 mile stretch as they do in the 14 mile stretch they now stock. Let natural reproduction and a hardline on poachers improve the upper stretches.

In addition to C&R sections I think stocking Fingerlings (by the DNR)in water that will support trout year around would be a significant improvement and eliminate truck chasers.

I think the slot limit has worked well in other states for the most part. More C&R is running a very close second. Patrick R.

Streams that do not have a reproducing trout population, but provide suitable habitat for trout all year should be removed from the regular stocking list and stocked with brown trout fingerlings only.

In addition to slot limits, the thought of trophy streams would be a good idea. I know it would take alot of effort by our CO's. But I think the benefit would be well worth it. On these trophy streams only one fish over 18".

Greater enforcement. I'm not being critical of our CO's, everyone knows how strapped they are now, including the poachers. What with so many miles of water and limited manpower and budgetary constraints it's a tough problem. I don't have a good solution to this problem either. Keep in mind that all of the proposed solutions would require enforcement to be effective. Some of the burden lies with us to police our fellow fishermen. TSkinner

A slot limit would be great. I have never harvested a trout from WV, but want that option. Size wouldn't matter, so I'd take a small fish and leave a bigger fish to reproduce. A combination of a slot limit and a lower limit would be spectacular, I believe. More Catch and Release water would also be great. Photographs are always much prettier than a dead fish anyday.

stock more fingerlings and improve wild/native trout habitat

WVDNR spends too much of its coldwater fishery budget on the hatchery program for catchable size trout. A greater proportion of these monies should go to habitat improvement and protection, angler access on private land, fingerling brown stocking, and research.

The working people do not have a chance to catch fish due to the CHECK/WELFARE people that follow the stock trucks or wait on the side of the road for them.

As a native of West Virginia who has been fortunate enough to live/work in other states trout country a combination of regulated waters seems to work best. If you want to preserve the quality WV trout experience for all (resident/non-resident) you have to change the way people think about harvesting a resource. You can't get thier overnight, so one way to show conservation and a harvestable resource is to start with a delayed harvest program. This way all get to enjoy the resource. At the same time you have to make a commitment to protecting your most treasured and fragile trout habitat or can become lost forever, something nobody in their right mind could condone. Unfortunately I think this education system has to start with the cold water division of the Department of Natural Resources who seems un-willing to take lessons learned from their surrounding neighbors. This lack of vision hurts everyone, especially the people who use the resource the most, the people of West Virginia

length limit/lower creel in carry over streams if a trout is allowed to grow to a reasonable length in waters that may support them such as the elk/williams/tygart rivers they will provide at least a couple of seasons of enjoyment to anglers and if they are allowed to reach such a size before harvest they will be much wiser against the methods of the stock truck followers and poachers. If these streams are patrolled adequately after such a system is in place, then catch and release streams would not be necessary. As a fisherman if you do not have the option to keep a fish you may injure, It is wasteful to fish a population as you are going to kill some of the fish you catch no matter how "careful" you try to be. Also while we are on the subject outlaw powerbait and cheese eggs and many more trout will live in our waters mysteriously uncatchable to those who really don't know how to fish. Who says a trophy trout is too valuable to catch only once? The greedy orvis guides who would run out the native west virginians from their home waters to make big $ from out of state fisherman. Tell a 5 year old he has to turn loose the biggest fish he could ever catch if he is so lucky to catch one, and when he grows up he will not associate fishing with food or accomplishment and thus the future reasons for him to fish may be non-existent. If there is no reason to fish in our young kids minds and fishing of a population is only to harrass and injure the fish the anti's will have a pretty easy future of taking away our fishing rights. I know this posting will tick off a lot of fly shop types, but I have heard too much about preservation (catch and release) when all a renewable resource such as fishing needs is the proper dose of conservation for the existing situation of each fishing water. Also before anyone wants to label me an uneducated redneck I'll be happy to match diplomas, pictures of fish caught or days of year fishing on the waters with anyone. Mine aren't the best at all, but they are all respectable. PS As I myself practice I encourage all to keep only what you will use, don't be a game hog, and pass on our wonderful sport, and sportsmanship. Good luck and god bless

WV has to few waters for catch and release the way it is now, a little more would only help and give more people an opportunity to have the chance to catch fish on the weekend. Its a win win situation!

Percent

Votes

26.97%

65

25.3%

61

15.77%

38

10.79%

26

9.13%

22

8.3%

20

3.73%

9

Acid Rain would have been my first choice had we not discovered the wonders of limestone in the past few years. Once those streams get acidic, it wipes everything out but the crawdads. At least that was the case in my experiences. It was a toss-up for me between timbering and development. I chose timbering because you have to timber to make room for the development. This is why we need to preserve the remaining streams we have. This might be all we have and the probably looks like it can only get worse.

A unified private movement to address the problems associated with poaching is probably the only hope of getting any real progress. To assign enough officers to police all of the streams is simply outside our states budget. If we as West Virginians want to protect the sanctity of our unspoiled streams, we will have to act on it ourselves.

streams are getting to much publicity any more. Television shows and magazines have ruined many but not all streams. Such as "seneca Creek" in trout magazine.

I think law enforcement needs to be increased and the problem is not timbering. Proper timbering will not hurt streams let me stress the word PROPER TIMBERING.

All the problems with our watersheds stem from development. The development of our wild lands leeds to all of the environmental problems you listed above. From the demand for timber to people wanting to find wild places to fish. We need to let people know that are actions do affect our watersheds even when were not out on the streams and rivers.

This has been chosen b'c what I have seen in the past month. In the last 3 trips to Slaty I have noticed Siltation from Big Spring Fork. This looks to be caused from a HUGE timbering operation on the top of the MT. It is also beginning to effect the ELK( Main ). This is sad and needs to be handled ASAP!!!

Percent

Votes

25%

36

66.7%

96

8.3%

12

Percent

Votes

12.5%

8

21.88%

14

26.56%

17

39.06%

25

Percent

Votes

58%

64

16%

18

5%

5

5.5%

6

15.5%

17

Percent

Votes

26%

24

72%

67

2%

1

Citation Type

Percent

Votes

39%

11

35%

10

25%

7

28 Total Votes

Percent

Votes

48%

12

28%

7

16%

4

8%

2

Gandy??? Who the heck would want C&R on Gandy over the Elk???

Percent

Votes

87%

27

9%

3

3%

1

Don't play the "NUMBERS" game. Turn the natives loose! They are too precious to kill!

Percent

Votes

29%

5

64%

11

5%

1

0%

0

17 Total Votes

Fish Species

Percent

Votes

38%

13

26%

9

23%

8

8%

3

2%

1

34 Total Votes

Fly

Percent

Votes

41%

13

19%

6

16%

5

12%

4

6%

2

3%

1

31 Total Votes