WVDNR has several trout hatcheries that culture and maintain their own brood stock for spawning. Annual fish stocking from all WVDNR hatcheries averages more than two million fish per year.
Additional warm-water species are cultured and stocked when fish biologists identify specific needs. These facilities raise warm-water species that commonly include walleye, musky, channel catfish, blue catfish, striped bass and hybrid striped bass. The two warm-water hatcheries are Apple Grove and Palestine hatcheries. These cold-water hatcheries rear trout species including rainbow trout, golden rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout and tiger trout. Seven of these hatcheries are cold water and include the Bowden, Edray, Petersburg, Reeds Creek, Ridge, Spring Run and Tate Lohr hatcheries. WVDNR currently manages and operates nine fish hatcheries statewide. This is especially true for most stocked trout waters due to increased temperatures during summer months that prevent fish from surviving year around. Without the hatchery program, many of the state’s waters would not sustain recreational sport fishing at the current level. The purpose of the hatchery program is to provide gamefish for recreational angling opportunities. West Virginia fish hatcheries and fish stockings began in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that larger hatcheries were built, and fish production and stocking began to increase.
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