By Patrick Calvert

Happy May! ‘Tis the season of sunburns, river floats, foraging and fishing! Let’s talk some fishing, shall we?!

We are fortunate to live in a state with 9 trout hatcheries and an excellent stocking program. Stockings are posted at the end of each business day at the WV DNR website (https://wvdnr.gov/fishing) and on the hotline number at (304) 558-3399.

But how do you catch them?! This month I had the opportunity to chop shop with two local fishing pros- Craig Miller of Serenity Now Outfitters and George Altizer of Renick. Let’s get to it.

Q: Hey Craig! I know you live and die by the fly rod. Any advice for someone who wants to try their hand chasing a stocked trout with a fly rod?

Craig:

Once they get stocked, in the first few weeks, they’re not too particular. Use some sort of attractive pattern; don’t get too in depth. Your basic run-of-the-mill fly patterns like a wooly nymph, things like that. Most everything’s coming up surface. And any egg patterns. Patterns work well on stock fish.

Q: How important is scent with those things?

Craig:

Most fly fishermen are not going to scent flies. It’s a rarity. When the guys are fishing with Power Bait or salmon eggs and things like that, the scent definitely comes into play. But across the board, most fly fishermen don’t.

Q:

Where is your favorite spot in Greenbrier or Monroe County to chase the stocked trout?

Craig:

I say Anthony Creek. Just because of the proximity to Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs. There’s a lot of water to fish and it’s it’s one of the more heavily stocked streams in the State of West Virginia.

Q: Would you say later in the season is better to go way downstream and try to catch those holdovers or even just the ones that made it downstream in the rain.

Craig:

You’re going to have some success with that leading up into, say, June. But by the time July rolls around, most of those fish have been picked over.

Q: Let’s check in with George Altizer. George, I’ve seen you pull in more stocked trout on a salmon egg than you could shake a stick at. What is your preferred rig?

How do you set it up?

George:

It depends on the water clarity.

If the water is stained and a little higher, I will go with a a little larger hook and try to set 2 salmon eggs on it. I like to put a sinker 8 to 10 inches above.

As water clarity gets better, I’ll go down to a single salmon egg on a small hook and a small sinker trying to get the right depth in.

Q: So how often do you change colors up?

George:

Not very often. Once I figure out what’s good for the year, I’ll stick with it. This year happens to be a pink. I have seen green. Orange. But so far this year and most of last year was was a nice pink color.

Q: Where would you recommend someone go in Greenbrier or Monroe County who is getting into the game of chasing stocked trout?

George:

Well, here in our area, Anthony Creek is always a good reliable spot. I’ve fished it my whole life, so I know a lot of good places there.

In Monroe County, they have started a stocking program for Howards Creek that goes through White Sulphur Springs into Caldwell. I have fished that before and done well.

Q:

You’re a fisherman who likes to be on the move. Let’s say you’re actively chasing them with your rig. Any advice for those of us who like to be on the move?

George:

A I don’t usually fish the big holes like Blue Bend because it takes so much extra weight. I prefer to be active fishing and that’s why I change up. I use as little weight as I can get away with.

I look for runs. I try to cast as high as I can into a run without getting caught up in rocks to get a good presentation- let the bait get down to the height I want as it runs through a nice hole of water.

You’ve got to pay attention to your water. It’s trial and error. You’ve got to play around.

Q:

I’ve seen you catch fish in holes that I’ve already fished. I’ve noticed you pay a lot of attention to where you’re dropping it and how it’s floating in. You think there’s a fish hanging out under a rock in an eddy or something- you want that egg to just drop in just right. It seems like you’ve kind of mastered that technique. Any advice on that?

George:

You’ve got to watch the water.

I’ve been fishing for trout for over 40 years now. So, I’ve had a little experience at it.

I’m in my line a lot. I don’t know if you’ve paid attention to me- whenever I’m actually fishing a hole, if I’m close enough to it I pull my line. I’m in my line. 

Similar to a fly fisherman- instead of just casting and letting it go where it it’s just going to go, I’m trying to adjust it. I’ll reel in, I’ll pick my rod tip up, I’ll drop my rod tip…

It’s just years of experience as to what I wanted to do and I’ve learned how to do it.

Q:

Let’s talk lures. I’m assuming you’re going to say Rooster Tails and Joe flies?

George:

Accurate. Rooster tails and Joe flies. I have had friends that I know catch a lot of fish recently tell me that they’re going back to some trout magnets.

Q: Color?

George:

The clearer the water, the darker the lure I go with. I’m going to go with a brown or a black in clear water with a silver blade. 

Gold blades in stained water. If you get into more stained water, I will go to a brighter color. I’ll go something with either yellow or white- something the fish can see a little better because a lot of trout, although they’ll hit on scent, they prefer to strike on sight because, especially in the warmer the water, the more aggressive they are.

Q:

Any final thoughts?

George:

Get out there and fish. That’s the best way to catch them.

Thanks to George Altizer and Craig Miller for taking the time to talk with me! Now, I don’t know about you but I’m going fishing!