PA vs WV Brown Trout Populations

[cfarr]

Hey y’all, just wanted to spitball something I’ve been thinking about lately. Why do brown trout seem to thrive and become a problem in PA, but not particularly WV? Here in WV, it’s a genuine struggle to find a wild brown trout streams. I’m not saying that I wish brown trout took over more brookie streams in WV, but I’m just wondering what the difference is between the two states. Could it be the management practices between the states, or is it just a geological thing? Would love some insight from you all.

 

[CLSports]

I would say Geology. Just compare the state geologic maps and notice the difference in the limestone areas.

 

[cfarr]

I would say Geology. Just compare the state geologic maps and notice the difference in the limestone areas.

I had figured geology played a big part. WV’s big limestone streams have large brown trout populations as well, but we don’t have many.

 

[troutbert]

Probably geology. Limestone streams are very strongly dominated by brown trout.

Even among the freestone streams, there is a wide range of fertile vs infertile streams. The freestoners on the fertile side support both browns and brookies. Those on the infertile side support only brook trout, not brown trout. The extremely infertile freestoners support no fish at all.

 

[FisherOfMen]

Pennsylvania has significantly more wild and stocked brown trout populations than West Virginia due to a combination of diverse limestone geology, warmer and larger lowland river transitions, historical stocking density, and different state conservation priorities protecting native species.

WV stocks over 1 million trout per year with 80 percent being rainbows. The remaining 20 percent are brown, brook and tiger.

PA stocked 3.2 million trout. Almost 700000 brown trout from state hatcheries. I dont know how many from other sources.

Pennsylvania stocks a lot more brown trout than WV. Every year. Its entirely possible that PA stocks as many brown trout from all sources combined as WV stocks all trout species combined.

 

[td566]

When I lived and worked in WV I often wondered the same thing. I agree with above posts that geology is most likely the factor.
WV had a somewhat aggressive fingerling stocking program in the 70s and 80s that tried to establish browns in a number of freestone streams. Every once in a while it was big news in the papers that an upper teens to 20 some inch brown was caught in an “unstocked” freestone stream. The stream was usually named lol.
Other than the Elk River, no other wv limestone stream is a destination stream. I encountered very few wild brown streams over years of fishing there. I always wondered why the limestone streams in Berkeley and Jefferson counties didn’t have any gems like in the Cumberland Valley. Lots of ag there (now suburban housing developments), and was always told that siltation was the issue. Some of those streams have that classic look with the vegetation, springs, etc. No public access, and not worth asking permission anymore. IMO

 

[kbobb]

Adequate water flow/temp/pH and food supply?

Are the streams acidic, can they support quality bug life, and do they dry up or get hot in the summer?

 

[JimKennedy]

West Virginia has never been particularly vigilant about water pollution, particularly bacteria and algae resulting from uncontrolled farm runoff. Pennsylvania is far from perfect, but teaching the value of controlling animal waste to generate fertilizer has made a difference in states that are proactive.

 

[rustbeltwilds]

Might seem like less in wv probably cuz your fishing behind jun t🤩🤩😅😅🤣😂🤣

 

[The_Sasquatch]

West Virginia has never been particularly vigilant about water pollution, particularly bacteria and algae resulting from uncontrolled farm runoff. Pennsylvania is far from perfect, but teaching the value of controlling animal waste to generate fertilizer has made a difference in states that are proactive.

This was my initial thought. We trash ALL our "natural resources" in this state. Water, air, people...

 

[cfarr]

Definitely agree pollution is a big part of it. Thankfully we have organizations that are determined to help with the problem, despite the state doing damn near nothing about it.

However, one of our best brown trout streams is absolutely disgusting and has literal septic tanks draining into it constantly. I know that stream is an absolute outlier, but I hope with continued stream restorations we can continue to better our trout fisheries. It is frustrating the lack of respect a lot of our population has for environment.