08/21/2026
Well, that’s unfortunate. I guess it’s officially a sad day for fishermen in Virginia. 🎣
We tried. Over 1,800 comments from hardworking Virginia outdoorsmen and women, but apparently they were just sent to an inbox to be lost and unread for ever. 🤷♂️
We all knew the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources had their minds made up before the public comment period even opened, so I guess checking the “public input” box was all that really mattered.
So now we get to pay more in license fees for 35% less trout stocking… and the trout that do get stocked will be those lovely 6" - 7" trout. And the full stocking schedule will be announced, working parents you want to take your kids to catch some trout on the weekend? Not in Virginia for the next 10 years 100 trucks will be lined up at every stream waiting for the trout truck and wipe it out in a day.
But hey, at least we’ll have the privilege of paying more to catch fewer fish. Got it. 👍
Unfortunately, this is going to do some serious damage to trout fishing in Virginia. The people who actually fish these waters tried to tell them, but apparently 1,800+ comments weren’t enough to outweigh a decision that had already been made.
Great job, Virginia. 🎣👏
PRESS RELEASE: VIRGINIA BOARD OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES APPROVES FEE INCREASES & WILDLIFE & BOATING REGULATIONS
Richmond, VA — At its regularly scheduled August meeting, the Board of Wildlife Resources approved several wildlife, fisheries, and boating regulations. In addition, the board approved increases to certain fees related to hunting, fishing, trapping, and boating and a new fee for primitive camping on Department owned wildlife management areas.
The proposed Stocked Trout Management Plan was endorsed by the Board. The original plan proposed by DWR in May was a 10-year management plan and after the public comment period and further staff review a five-year management plan was presented by staff and endorsed by the Board. The plan includes a 35% reduction in trout stocking statewide.
These approvals came after a 30-day public comment period during which the Department received a total of 1835 comments on proposed regulations and fee increases as well as the Stocked Trout Management Plan. Out of those, 972 comments specifically related to the proposed fee increases.
Fee Increases:
Effective Oct. 1, 2026, most resident hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, as well as boat registration and titling fees will increase by $5. Licenses for youth, apprentice, disabled veterans, and disabled participants will not increase. Boating related fees have not increased since 2019 and hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses have not increased since 2012. A $10 fee to camp on Department-owned lands will also go into effect on Oct. 1, 2026.
Wildlife:
Approved changes include updating the lists of federally threatened and endangered species and of native and naturalized fauna in Virginia, adding and removing species from the state list of endangered and threatened species, clarifying the start of bear hound training season, changing the release date for rehabilitated deer fawns via permittees, and adjustments to the elk special conservation license program. Some of these changes will become effective on Oct. 1, 2026, while others will become effective on Jan. 1, 2027.
Fisheries:
Fisheries regulatory changes include a prohibition on stocking flathead catfish and rock bass, limiting the waters in which certain gear can be used to collect bait, updating the definition of “fish bait,” as well as changes to some local trout regulations. These changes will become effective on Jan. 1, 2027.
Boating:
Boating regulations include clarifying language related to vessel operation and waterway markers, adoption of the federal requirement for children under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket when underway, and adoption of the federal requirement for the use of engine cut-off switches. These changes will become effective on Jan. 1, 2027.
View the full press release for a complete breakdown on all proposed fee adjustments. Link in the comments.
