BY THE NUMBERS
4,000 Miles of trout water in Georgia
75,000 Trout stocked in seasonal streams in the last two weeks of March
100,000 Trout anglers in the state
Georgia’s seasonal trout streams opened for angling this weekend. Roughly half of the state’s trout waters are seasonal, with the rest open year-round.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources stocks many of the seasonal creeks and rivers with fish during the two weeks leading to opening day. Rainbow, brown and smaller numbers of brook trout are released in these waters.
“Trout production has been great at state and federal hatcheries thanks to the incredible amounts of rain received here in Georgia during the summer of 2013,” DNR stocking coordinator John Lee Thompson said.
The general trout season annually runs from the last Saturday in March to the end of October. A number of the seasonal creeks are the state’s most popular fishing destinations for trout. Cooper Creek in Union County, Wildcat Creek in Rabun County, Dicks Creek in Lumpkin County and Johns Creek in Floyd County are among those streams.
Anglers heading to these waters should expect to have some company. All of these creeks draw crowds early in the season.
Anglers are allowed to use any baits except live minnows and may keep eight trout per day, when fishing on general-regulation streams. A regular fishing license and a trout license are required on designated trout waters.
Fishermen wanting a bit more solitude should try one of the seasonal streams that harbor wild, stream-bred trout. Jacks River in Fannin County, Coleman River in Rabun County and Jones Creek in Lumpkin County are more difficult to access and get much less fishing pressure.
Artificial lures only are allowed on Jones Creek and Coleman River.
Complete regulations and trout-stream maps are available online by visiting Georgiawildlife.com and clicking the link for Fishing. Next hit the link for Trout on the Where To Go Fishing menu.
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