WV Fly Fishing

West Virginia’s location entirely within range of the Appalachian Mountains means the state is swimming in rivers and streams perfect for fly fishing. Here, fly fishing seems to be so popular, the state’s official fish is the brook trout, one of the most prized game fish anywhere.

The Salvelinus fontinalis, or brook trout, is a relative of the salmon family of fish.Salmon are famous for their dual lives, beginning and ending in freshwater streams with a seafaring life in the ocean’s salty waters in between. In many locations with access to the sea, brook trout are known to migrate in cycles similar to salmon. In land-locked WV, however, the brook trout are freshwater fish their entire lives.

In many locations, the brook trout is also known as the char, as are most fish of the Salvelinus genus. The fontinalis portion of its scientific name indicates a spring or fountain.

Brook trout prefer small bodies of water but they can be found in creeks and streams as well as in lakes and ponds. Their preferred water temperature range is between 34 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The state’s mountainous terrain and its abundance of cool, clear waters makes WV fly fishing some of the best in the
country.

Since the brook trout thrives in water that is crystal clear and free of impurities, it thrives in the pristine WV mountains. Environmental elements that alter the pH level of the water, such as acid rain and industrial pollutants, are so detrimental to the health of the brook trout that it’s unlikely even the most patient fisherman will enjoy success; brook trout simply cannot survive in polluted waters. Catch-and-release fishing is always popular where fly fishing is enjoyed but their absolute requirement for life in clear, clean waters makes the brook trout a culinary delicacy for those anglers who enjoy dining on their catch.

Fish in general have a tendency to remain small in small bodies of water while fish of the same species reach larger sizes when they live in larger bodies of water. Larger bodies of water generally offer more food to eat, ensuring larger fish. The size range for adult brook trout runs from 10 to 26 inches in length and 11 ounces to a whopping seven pounds in weight.

The brook trout is prized by anglers but the fish is an important food fish, too.Commercial fisheries often stock brook trout, which is often available to the WV consumer as fresh or smoked trout in the grocery store. The brook trout is important to science, too, thanks to its need for waters free of contaminants; it’s frequently used in scientific experiments that assess water quality and how pollutants affect entire ecosystems.

While the brook trout may be the darling of WV fly fishing enthusiasts, it’s also important to people who never learn how to cast a fly. No wonder the state celebrates it as its official fish.