Happy New Year comes quickly for the trout angler. The stocking trucks get rolling all but on queue from Dick Clark’s ball-dropping countdown. Though the state’s January stocking waters may be limited for starters, they’re as good a place as any to do just that.

The stocking pace picks up in February reaching full steam ahead by March 1. Before wetting a winter line however, a current fishing license and trout stamp is required. Locally, the following waters are slated for January: Chief Logan State Park Pond in Logan County, Laurel Lake in Mingo County, Lick Creek Pond and Twelvepole Creek (Wayne Dam) in Wayne County. For the complete statewide skinny, pick up a copy of the 2008 regulations brochure at any local license agent.

Many of the Mountain State’s most traditional big name trout waters will also receive a January stocking. This includes the likes of the Blackwater, Cranberry, Elk and Williams Rivers; Knapps Creek, Shavers Fork and the South Branch Potomac.

Come February, a host of other local streams chime in including the newest trout kid on the block, Buffalo Creek in Logan County. Additional nearby February waters include Rockhouse Lake and Spruce Laurel Fork of the Boone and Logan County border country, Pond and Hopkins Forks in Boone County, East Lynn Lake Tailwaters and West Fork of Twelvepole in Wayne County and the R. D. Bailey tailwaters in Mingo County.

With all the big game hunting seasons closed and the rabbit and grouse

populations not at the most stellar proportions for the available open hunts, not to mention gas prices, the local winter trouters may have to make a bit more elbow room!

Winter fly fishing can be ticklish to say the least. Though trout can feed all through winter, their body metabolism is controlled by the water temperature. They want to move a bit faster but just can’t do it. The trick is to slow down and get the bait as close to them as possible “putting it right in their mouth.”

Baits and lines should be smaller and more finesse oriented.

More weight should be used to get the bait down closer to the bottom, especially for stream anglers. Along these lines, a series of unseasonably warm days can really crank up the bite. The favorite winter trout baits are the varying color power-baits, salmon eggs, garden warms, mealworms and the smaller trout jigs and Joe-flies. If you’re not sure, just ask a local vendor what’s selling the hottest and you can bet it’s worth a try.

Another plus to winter fishing is that the flesh is firm and flaky which in turn can make for better meals. It’s likewise easier to keep the fish from spoiling in the field.

The standardized limit is now six trout per day in contrast to that confusing four or six depending on the waterway of a few years back.

For current stocking information call the hotline at 558-3399 or over the internet at www.wvdnr.gov. The annual trout kickoff is here and now.

Right along with the lengthening daylight periods, a cherry-cold cheek can be cheered up just like that