There are 500 trout in Byrd Park waiting to be caught
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Volunteer Charlie Massie and DWR fisheries biologist Scott Herrmann holding up the big kahuna of the day. Herrmann told Axios he usually fishes Swift Creek Reservoir, sometimes by kayak with his dogs. Photo: Sabrina Moreno/Axios
State officials (and yours truly) delivered a fresh batch of about 500 rainbow and brown trout into Byrd Park's Shields Lake on Monday.
Why it matters: Trout stocking season in Richmond has begun.
State of play: The city's location is "one of the best-kept secrets" of a little-known Department of Wildlife program, says Brendan Delbos, DWR's statewide hatchery superintendent.
- The annual tradition, which draws a loyal crowd of Richmond anglers regardless of the weather, is part of DWR's Urban Fishing program that brings "trout to the people," per Delbos.
- It's been around since 1993 to create more fishing opportunities across Virginia during the colder months, especially for people who aren't near the mountain streams where trout are usually found.
Stunning stat: The state sells roughly 100,000 trout licenses a year, stocks about 200 waters (including Henrico's Dorey Park Lake) and produces around a million fish annually, Delbos tells Axios.
How it works: From November to April, DWR staff stock the coldwater fish across the state and give anglers — people who fish with a hook and line — a heads up on their trout stocking schedule.
- Staff drop the fish in with a quick flick of the wrist, not just a dump, to "wake up" the fish, since trout can "fall asleep on long rides," joked DWR spokesperson Shelby Crouch.
- Anglers can harvest four trout daily from these stocked waters.
- Anyone over 16 is required to have a license for freshwater fishing ($23 for one year) and trout fishing ($23), which can be purchased online.
What they're saying: "People are very, very dedicated to this sport, even in Richmond," Delbo says.
Go deeper: Why Richmond is a "world-class" fishing town