GAINESVILLE, Ga.
(Mar. 7, 2017) – Take advantage of beautiful spring weather and plan a
trout fishing trip to the north Georgia Mountains! How about an early
trout stocking to sweeten the deal?
The Georgia Wildlife
Resources Division (WRD) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will
cooperatively stock 40,000 trout in Georgia during the week of Mar. 6,
giving anglers their first opportunity to harvest some freshly stocked
trout in 201
7. Regular weekly stockings for the 2017 stocking season begin on Mar. 20, when an additional 70,000 trout will hit the water.
Despite the low stream flows being experienced in north Georgia, the
trout stocking program is still aiming to stock one million fish this
year.
“With the current spring-like conditions and all trout
waters open to fishing year-round, we have decided to stock
approximately 40,0000 trout two weeks early,” says WRD trout stocking
coordinator John Lee Thomson. “Due to the mild winter, we have
experienced excellent trout growth in our hatcheries and with the
continuing low stream flows, these fish have outgrown the available
hatchery space giving us the opportunity to stock a few weeks early this
year.”
Some popular stocked streams that will receive trout
during this early stocking effort include Cooper Creek in Union County,
Tallulah River in Rabun County, Dicks Creek in Lumpkin County, Holly
Creek in Murray County, and Johns Creek in Floyd County. 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.
Anglers must possess a current Georgia fishing
license and a trout license to fish in designated trout waters and to
fish for or possess trout. Anglers must also possess a wildlife
management area license or Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass (GORP) in
order to fish on certain WMAs. Find a list of designated areas at
www.georgiawildlife.com/Georgia-Outdoor-Recreational-Pass .
Anglers must possess a current Georgia fishing license to fish in public waters. Where can you get a license? Buy it online (
www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com), at a retail license vendor (list at
www.georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes ) or buy it by phone at 1-800-366-2661.
Purchasing a Trout license plate supports Georgia’s trout conservation
and management programs. These efforts positively impact trout
production, stocking and stream restoration throughout north Georgia.
Purchase or find out more at your county tag office.
For the list of stocked trout streams, online versions the Georgia trout stream map, and other trout fishing tips, visit
www.georgiawildlife.com/Fishing/Trout or call (770) 535-5498.
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