photo by Richard Simms
It is time for pre-season trout stocking and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan to stock more than one million trout in Georgia streams, rivers and small lakes by the end of the year. Many streams will be stocked by the end of the month and in time for opening day for seasonal trout stream fishing - Sat., March 27.
"Our goal is to replenish all of our stocked streams before the end of the month," says Perry Thompson, trout stocking coordinator for the Wildlife Resources Division. "Since stream flows are up, we'll have an opportunity to spread our fish out well. Flow can drop quickly though, and we'll manage accordingly."
A high percentage of available trout will also be stocked by July 4 to avoid keeping too many catchable-size (nine-inch trout) in the hatcheries during the hottest time of the year.
Anglers anxious to fish the seasonal trout streams can do so beginning Sat., Mar. 27. Some popular seasonal streams include Cooper Creek in Union County, Wildcat Creek in Rabun County, Dicks Creek in Lumpkin County and Johns Creek in Floyd County.
Anglers must possess both a current Georgia fishing license and a trout license to fish in designated trout waters and to fish for or possess trout. Licenses can be purchased online and at various local sporting good dealers. The daily limit is eight trout on general regulation trout waters. Anglers are reminded to respect private property rights along streams flowing through private lands and to obtain permission before fishing on private property. Buy a license online (www.gofishgeorgia.com), by phone (1-800-366-2661) or at a retail license vendor (list of vendors available at website).
For those seeking additional county-specific trout fishing information, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com where current Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations, a complete list of stocked streams (updated for 2010), a Northeast Georgia fishing guide, and the award-winning Trout Streams of Georgia map are available. Printed copies of the regulations and trout stream map are available at all Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management offices and at some official fishing license dealers.