England said the new fishery on the Roanoke River has helped business. I've sold beginner outfits so people can go out to Green Hill. The program also makes monetary sense to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The state saves money not only on the cost of fish, but on the cost of transporting the trout. Martel also said the program can have a lighter environmental impact on waters.
Fewer anglers mean less litter - and happier streamside landowners.
Recently, Hodges helped a fly angler pull a citation-sized brown trout from the Roanoke River. But he said he wanted to have it mounted. Hodges said the man hurried to his truck with the big trout and sped away. Martel said delayed-harvest waters receive intensive law enforcement. A lot of our law enforcement efforts are undercover.