Prior to the arrival of the white man, West Virginia was covered with virgin forests.  Streams ran clean and cool, and native brook trout were abundant in the central and eastern portions of the state.  These self-sustaining trout populations provided food for early settlers and Indians.

By the early 1900's, natural trout production had been severely reduced and hatcheries built in an effort to help nature along, were barely successful.  by the early 1950's the operation was much improved and by the the 1970's production was dramatically increased.  Currently, approximately 1.2 million trout weighing 720,000 pounds are being stocked in 185 waterways statewide.

Brook, brown, rainbow and golden rainbow trout are all produced in West Virginia hatcheries.  Petersburg is known as the "Home of the Golden Trout", which is a color mutation of the regular rainbow and was developed using selective breeding at the Petersburg hatchery.

There are two hatcheries located in Grant County, one in Petersburg, and the other in Dorcas, about six miles south of Petersburg.

Visitors are welcome 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m..

Spring Run Trout Hatchery - Dorcas, WV

 

Have you ever seen a Golden Trout?