ACCIDENT — Although he admits to having his fingers crossed, Maryland’s director of inland fisheries has reason to believe that the Bear Creek Trout Rearing Station will once again start growing trout for the state’s anglers.

The station was closed in late 2006 when whirling disease was discovered in its fish.

“This year there have been no positive tests for the disease,” said Don Cosden on Thursday. “We filled in the problem pond where the disease spores were found and diverted water around it.”

Cosden said 20,000 trout fingerlings, mostly browns, but with some rainbows, have been in the raceways since spring.

“Those trout will be tested probably three more times and if they are still disease free next spring they will be stocked,” he said.

At full production, the Bear Creek station was putting out 100,000 trout per year. “Sometimes we pushed it up to 120,000,” Cosden said. “We won’t be able to reach that production without a water treatment station that would remove sediment and food scraps, but we won’t consider spending the money for that until we have at least a couple disease-free seasons.”

Also closed in 2006 because of whirling disease were trout facilities at Mettiki and at Jennings Randolph Dam. Since then, the state has been purchasing adult trout for stocking from private sources.

“We are getting bids right now from suppliers for next year,” Cosden said.

Bill Wilhelm, president of the Allegany-Garrett Sportsmen’s Association, welcomed the news, calling it a step in the right direction.

“If the trout are healthy and can be stocked it will certainly enhance fishing in Western Maryland,” he said.

Contact Mike Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.