The printed edition of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries ( DGIF) 2018 Fishing Digest lists an incorrect date for the annual Heritage Trout Day.
According to an announcement by the agency, the correct date is Saturday, April 7, the first Saturday in April.
As has been the case since Heritage Trout Day was started several years ago, Jennings Creek in the Arcadia area will again be one of the streams closed, stocked and reopened at 9 a.m. that day— reminiscent of the old Opening Day of Trout Season. Tinker Creek in Roanoke County and Douthat Lake in Douthat State Park are also Heritage Trout Day waters.
DGIF also announced the waters for two of its newer trout fishing programs— the Youth-OnlyWaters and pre-announced trout stocking dates for several trout streams or lakes.
Youth-Only Stocked Trout Waters provide trout fishing opportunities for young age 15 and under f rom April 1 through June 15 on selected waters, including Cave Mountain Lake near Natural Bridge. It will be stocked with trout April 6, May 4 and May 19.
Under the program, only youth age 15 and under will be allowed to fish in these designated waters from April 1-June 15. Adults can assist youth only by baiting the hook, casting, and removing the fish from the hook.
Adults cannot assist with setting the hook or retrieving the fish. The daily creel limit is three trout. Adults assisting youth are not required to have a fishing license or a trout license. Parking or access fees may be required at some locations.
Youth-Only Waters will be stocked three times. Stocking times may vary depending on the distance from the hatchery to the receiving water. DGIF will strive to stock between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the designated days. DGIF may postpone or change the date of any of these stocking events due to circumstances that compromise the resource or public safety.
Other youth only waters are Northern Fauquier Community Park, South River Basic Park in Waynesboro, Glen Alton Pond in Giles County, Franklin County Park Pond, Ivy Creek in Peaks View Park in Lynchburg and South Fork Clinch River in Dunford Park in Tazewell.
Dates for the special stockings for those waters are available on the DGIF website
Pre-announced stockings are scheduled on 12 waters, including Barbour’s Creek in Craig County and the Roanoke River in Roanoke.
There will be no temporary stream or lake closures associated with these stocking events.
The pre-announced trout stocking dates for spring. are:
Lake Thompson (Fauquier Count), April 4.
South River-Ridgeview Park & Grottoes Park (Augusta/Rockingham Counties), March 23.
Jackson River Hidden Valley (Bath County), April 27.
North River – Upper & Gorge (Augusta County), March 28.
Mint Springs Lake (Albemarle County), March 31.
Rural Retreat Pond (Wythe County), April 14.
Barbour’s Creek (Craig County), April 28.
Middle Fork Holston River (Smyth County), May 26.
South Fork Powell River (Wise County), May 5.
Roanoke River (Roanoke City), May 5.
Pigg River (Franklin County,) March
