Thursday, April 09, 2009
Stocked trout could be a worthy net gain
Bill Cochran
Recent mail
BILL: Have you heard any new information concerning the Jackson River between Lake Moomaw and the treatment plant at Covington? It seems that with the economy the way it is now that state, federal agencies and Alleghany County could prosper by utilizing a blue ribbon trout stream.
The 18 miles of river should be stocked with trout and you should be allowed to float fish the river in its entirety. I understand there’s some kind of King’s Grant that’s prohibiting this from happening. Does the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the U.S. Forest Service realize what a treasure we have in this fishery if it could be used by everyone?
As for myself, I’m not loyal to any king. I thought all this ended in 1776.
J.C. STEGER
J.C.: I am not aware of any movement on the Jackson River that would break the logjam that has kept it from becoming a first-rate public trout fishery. You are correct in saying that a public fishery would be an economic benefit in an area that has been suffering from lost jobs.
BILL
