Trout Could Be Smaller This Year

West Virginia’s Department of Natural Resources says anglers should expect trout stocked in state waterways during the winter months to be smaller than usual. A long dry spell across the state from late summer through the fall is thought to have impacted the average “catchable” size of the fish. The Gazette-Mail reported winter weather slowed the growth rate of the trout, but that should return to normal as the weather gets warmer. Each of the 31 streams and 30 lakes designated for January stockings will receive as many pounds of fish as last year. And since the trout are smaller, the streams may actually get more fish than in years past.