West Virginia’s Monster Trout Contest back for 3rd year

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) will stock more than 40,000 pounds of trout over the next few weeks, including 100 fish that come with a chance to win prizes.

West Virginia’s fall trout stocking and the 3rd annual Monster Trout Contest will both begin the week of Oct. 21-28, according to a press release from Gov. Jim Justice’s office. During the two week stocking period, 35,000 pounds of 1-2 pound trout and 6,500 pounds of monster 3-6 pound trout will be stocked in 40 bodies of water across West Virginia.

Of the thousands of trout, 100 will be marked with a pink tag. Anglers who catch a pink-tagged trout and submit a photo with the tag number will be eligible for prizes, including a weekend West Virginia State Park cabin stay and a Cabela’s prize package. Photos must be submitted by Nov. 22 for a chance to win.

The following locations will be stocked for the contest over a two-week period. Details about when lakes and streams were most recently stocked are available on the WVDNR’s website .

1. Anthony Creek
2. Big Clear Creek
3. Blackwater River
4. Brandywine Lake
5. Buckhannon River
6. Buffalo Fork Lake
7. Cacapon State Park Lakes
8. Coopers Rock Lake
9. Cranberry River
10. Elk River
11. Evitts Run
12. Glade Creek of New
13. Guyandotte River
14. Knapps Creek
15. Lost River
16. New Creek Dam No. 14
17. North Branch of Potomac River
18. North Fork South Branch
19. Opequon Creek
20. Pendleton Lake
21. Pinnacle Creek
22. Pipestem
23. Pond Fork
24. R.D. Bailey Tailwaters
25. Rock Cliff Lake
26. Seneca Lake
27. Shavers Fork (Lower)
28. Shavers Fork (Upper)
29. South Branch (Franklin)
30. South Branch (Smoke Hole)
31. Spruce Knob Lake
32. Summersville Tailwaters
33. Summit Lake
34. Sutton Tailwaters
35. Teter Creek Lake
36. Tygart River Headwaters
37. Tygart Tailwaters
38. Watoga Lake
39. West Fork Greenbrier
40. Williams River

“Our fall trout stockings are designed to support West Virginia’s fisheries and offer exceptional recreational fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels,” WVDNR Director Brett McMillion said in the release. “The Monster Trout Contest adds an extra level of excitement and encourages people to get outside and experience our state’s natural beauty while enjoying top-notch sport fishing.”

Additionally, the WVDNR is conducting a trout tag study. Anyone who catches a trout with a yellow tag is asked to report their catch by clipping off the tag and emailing the number and date of the catch to the provided email address.

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