Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : April 11, 2006

Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 558-3381 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

Contact: Mike Shingleton, Wildlife Resources Section (304) 637-0245 wildlife@wvdnr.gov

DNR Tags Trout in Two West Virginia Lakes and River

  Since late March, tagged rainbow and golden trout have been stocked into Mountwood Lake in Wood County, Spruce Knob Lake in Randolph County , and the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River in Pendleton and Grant counties, according to Mike Shingleton , Assistant Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources fishery biologists are tagging rainbow and golden trout with colored tags at the base of the fish's dorsal fin to gather information about trout fishing and harvest.

  Each tag is uniquely numbered and has the WVDNR address printed on it. Anglers are asked to clip the tag at the insertion into the fish and provide the DNR either the tag or tag number, when the fish was caught and if the fish was harvested or released. Information can be mailed to the WVDNR, 2311 Ohio Ave , Parkersburg , WV 26101 , e-mailed to fishtags@wvdnr.gov or by calling 304-420-4550. A reward is provided for returned tags. Tagged trout will continue to be stocked until early May.

  Funds for this study and other ongoing studies are provided from the Federal Aid for Sport Fish Restoration and West Virginia license revenues. Results from these and all DNR conducted studies are useful in the wise management of the state's fishery resources, as well as providing quality-fishing opportunities statewide.

**DNR**