Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 7, 1994 TAG: 9403090173
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The general limit on stocked streams is six daily. All fish under 7 inches in length must be released alive immediately. Catch and release may be practiced on any size trout. Some special regulations streams have more restrictive size and catch limits. These are listed in the 1994 Virginia Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing Regulations brochure, available from license agents or the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4010 West Broad St., Richmond, 23230-1104; 804-367-1000.
Not all need a license
Fishing licenses are valid January through December. The cost of an annual resident fishing license is $12. A trout license is $6.50 (It is scheduled to increase to $12 next season).
You need both to fish designated trout waters, and if those waters are in the Jefferson or George Washington national forests you also need a national forest stamp, which costs $3. A 50-cent license agent fee is charged with each license or stamp sale.
Fishermen age 65 and older are required to buy a $1 state fishing license and a $6.50 trout license, but they don't need a national forest stamp. Holders of the old $5 lifetime licenses, no longer available to senior citizens, need no other licenses.
Disabled fishermen can purchase a lifetime license for $5. Information is available from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Fishermen who aren't required to buy a license of any kind include:
Residents under 16 years of age.
Landowners, their spouses, children and minor grandchildren within the boundaries of their own land.
Tenants on the land they rent and occupy if they have written permission of the landowner.
Guests fishing individually owned private ponds.
The legally blind.
Pay fishing is available
Virginia has three fee-fishing areas where anglers are required to purchase a $4 daily license in addition to their regular fishing license. A trout license is not required.
Money from the daily fee is used for frequent restocking of catchable-size trout. The daily limit is five. The fee program has the same opening date as the general trout season. It ends Labor Day at Big Tumbling Creek and Crooked Creek, but extends through Sept. 30 at Douthat Lake. After that, regular trout regulations apply.
Here's a look at the areas:
\ BIG TUMBLING CREEK: This is an aptly named stream that surges out of the mountains west of Saltville, creating a series of waterfalls and deep pools as it moves swiftly through the state-owned Clinch Mountain Wildlife Area.
At its headwaters is 330-acre Laurel Bed Lake, which is included in the fee program and scheduled to get a preseason stocking of 8,000 trout.
The Big Tumbling area is reached by turning off Interstate 81 at the Chilhowie exit and following Virginia 107 north to Saltville. At Saltville, turn left on Virginia 91, then right onto 634 (Allison Gap), left on 613 and right on 747. Primitive camping is available.
\ DOUTHAT PARK: A 70-acre lake and a brief portion of Wilson Creek below it are part of the pay program in Douthat State Park near Clifton Forge.
Lake fishing is done from the bank or from small boats. Rental boats are available at a concession, or you may bring your own car-topper. Electric motors are permitted. The park's A and C campgrounds will be open to accommodate fishermen. The camping fee is $8.50 plus tax. Park information is available by calling 703-862-7200.
The park is on Virginia 629 north of U.S. 60.
\ CROOKED CREEK: This meadow stream, near Galax in Carroll County, can be reached by turning left off U.S. 58 onto Virginia 620 west of Hillsville.
It draws fewer fishermen than the other pay areas, even though it has had the reputation of producing impressive numbers of citation-size rainbow trout. Its citation production dropped sharply last season.
Turn them back alive
Some streams or sections of streams have programs designed for the angler who enjoys fly or spinner fishing and who releases most of the trout caught. These streams operate under special regulations, such as small catch limits and large minimum-size limits. Most require the use of artificial lures with a single hook, some are for fly fishing only.
The better-known examples are: a portion of Smith River in Henry County, Little Stoney Creek in Giles County, Mossy Creek in Augusta County, Rapidan River in Madison County, Jackson River in the upper Hidden Valley area of Bath County, Stewart's Creek in Carroll County, Back Creek immediately below the Vepco pumped-storage complex in Bath County and Sinking Creek in Craig-Giles counties.
Other special-regulation streams are listed in the fishing regulations brochure. Many of Virginia's streams are featured in a book titled "Virginia Trout Streams A Guide To Fishing The Blue Ridge Watershed." It is written by Roanoker Harry Slone and is available in most book stores.
Trout farms also offer sports
Virginia ranks fourth in the nation in trout production, which means there are numerous opportunities for anglers to fish streams and ponds stocked by trout farms.
A partial list of these fee fishing areas is included in the Virginia Aquaculture Directory, available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services, Office of Agriculture Diversification, Aquaculture and Fairs Support, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond 23209.
by CNB