BY THE NUMBERS
3 Maximum number of trout an individual may take from Waters Creek in a season
18 Minimum length in inches for keeping a brook trout on Waters Creek
22 Minimum length in inches for keeping a brown or rainbow trout on Waters Creek
Waters Creek was Georgia’s first watershed managed for trophy trout fishing. But, the legendary angling on the stream has now fallen on hard times.
Waters is a small- to medium-sized stream flowing through the Chestatee Wildlife Management Area in Lumpkin County. Georgia, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Trout Unlimited began managing the creek for trophy trout in 1970.
Special regulations, size limits and bag limits were applied, along with a supplemental feeding program for the fish. The management program regularly produced trout in the 22- to 26-inch range in the 1970s and ’80s.
The 2 1/2 miles of stream reached a peak in 1987, yielding 76 keeper-sized trout. Waters Creek then began a decline because of both man-made and natural problems.
A band of poachers struck the stream just before the 1988 season. Biologists estimated from remains found at stream side as many as 100 trophy fish were netted or gigged in a single night. Only three trophy catches were reported during the ensuing season.
Next the creek valley was ravaged by a tornado that left many fallen trees in the water. These caused silting problems that harmed the habitat.
River otters were discovered in Waters Creek in the 1990s. Anglers reported seeing otters chasing the big trout. Anglers reported catching less than 10 keeper fish during most years.
Finally, the supplemental feeding program was discontinued because of budget cutbacks.
Today the sign-in sheets at Waters Creek show as few as two or three anglers fishing each weekend. Those anglers have reported catching no keeper-sized rainbow, brown or brook trout in 2013.
The fishing for wild 9- to 12-inch rainbow trout still is exceptional for the stream’s size, but the trophy fish are only a memory.
Complete regulations for Waters Creek can be found at georgiawildlife.com. Click on the Fishing drop-down menu, and then follow the link for Trout.
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