Sat.?

[Jeff Jones]

Anyone fishing Sat.? Storms should pass.
No response in "connections" so I thought I'd try here ! http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

[Drifter]

Jeff,

If we get the "flash floods" like the weather folks are predicting, the only clear water will probably be in the spillway at Buford Dam ;(

Be careful and good luck,

The Drifter

[Tommy Hunter]

I plan on fishing below the Dam around the hatchery in the afternoon. Will be fishing with bait to try to catch some of the browns I released Sunday. Planning to put them in my newly built pond in Gainesville.

[NightOwl]

I think that they will not survive in Gainsville unless you put in a block of ice,.....but I could be wrong.
NightOwl http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

[The Ole Man]

Tommy
I think if you read the GA fishing regs you will find that it is illegal to move fish from one body of water to another. Course-who's going to enforce the reg??

[NightOwl]

I think that law is in reference to "public" bodies of water. If he catches the fish legally who's to say he can't do what he likes with his fish and his private pond? But, once again, I could be wrong. I thought the same thing when I first read it, but I really think that's about public water as in whoeve put the Walleye into the Hooch. What a Hoot! ....er...but erong, very wrong. I think that's what appened to the smallmouth fishery in many of the N.Ga lakes. Can we all say Spotted Bass? Ol Man - a hatchery duck has no feathers on it's head - commenly called a " bald- quacker", ...which is where I'm headin - who brought the rogain, I'm due for a dose !

[NightOwl]

Going to go to Smith's on Sat. to see if there are any fish left in the creek. If you see me and do not like my posts please throw rocks at me ONLY when I'm OUT of the creek. Don't want to scare the trout any more than I already will. hehe

[The Ole Man]

Night Owl
As far as I know , the Hooch is a public body of water. I'm not being judgemental. Just being the messenger in case he was not aware. I'm sure people do it all the time. In my youth, I did it myself. Just know it's always been in the reg book and suppose it has to do with transmission of diseases. We'd have to ask Bill Couch about that. I don't think they will live as far as Gainesville anyway, unless he owns a tank truck. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

[NightOwl]

yes. the Hooch is public. but he can catch them there if he wants,and if he puts them in a cooler with an areator(sp?) and trucks them to Gainsville, i think that is legal,like i said it may be illegal to take a fish caught in public water and put t in privatewater, but as far as i know , the regs. ie license, limit, methods of harvest - don't apply to private water. that;s the water in question.....i think...

[Banker In Space]

Owl,

How was Smith's Creek today?

[HNeal]

Tommy Hunter - you might as well fry up those trout when you catch them, the water in a pond in Georgia gets entirely too warm in the summer for a trout. The Hooch supports trout only due to the temperature of the water coming from the bottom of Lake Lanier. Very few lakes in this part of the world can support trout year around. Don't do it!

[Tommy Hunter]

I always love to tell people I am putting fish in my pond in Gainesville. It never fails for someone to say it won't work. Do any of you know Russ England, Assistant to the Director of Fisheries in Social Circle? He is a good friend of mine. You should have seen his face a couple years back when I pulled a 22" male rainbow out of my pond for him to look at. As for the legallity of moving trout from one body of water to another, it is perfectly legal if you move fish to private water. I have letters from Russ England proving it. Some day I'll take some of you to see my fish. I have grown 'bows to 8 pounds and browns to 7 pounds, even grew a 4 pound brookie once. Sad to say that particular pond and all the fish were destroyed by a developer who didnot follow silt control regulations. Russ helped me on that one too. The developer paid a handsome sum for that screw up. Just now getting up the will to go at it again. Ain't nothing like feeding big 'bows and browns. It's why I would like to see the State bring back brookies and add cutthroats. I would like to add some of these to my collection. Any way, I was very successful today. Caught 16 browns and one rainbow. Only kept 8 though guys. My dad got his limit of 8 browns too. Will start regular feeding schedule in two days.

Tommy

[Drifter]

Tommy,

You bring up an interesting point. I have been wanting to order about 6 or 8 dozen trout from a commercial hatchery to stock in my pond. I figure the water will be cool enough by December and the fish should do well til March or April. I have one of those electric aerators like the catfish farmers use, to keep the water moving. I figure Little Drifter would enjoy the winter time fishing.

This would be a delayed harvest deal. I would start fishing out the trout in March. Callaway Gardens is doing this type of thing on one of their lakes and a creek on the property.

Kent Edmonds...Could I have your thoughts on this?

Speaking of Delayed Harvest.....I wonder if it would be practical on stillwater such as the lake at Unicoi or maybe Rock Creek Lake??

The Drifter

[Tommy Hunter]

Drifter,
This may be a topic for somewher other than this to discuss this topic, but I will tell you and anyone else listening that is interested in my secret for raising trout in areas where others say they want live. I am a civil engineer by trade (of course not for the money) and dam building and lake construction is one thing I really enjoy. To grow trout around here, I will dam a creek to about 4 feet deep. As long as the creek as nominal flow in summer it will work. By using a small shallow pond, the water does not sit long enough to warm (thus reducing the oxygen levels). Rainbows can survive in water up to 78 degrees, browns around 70 degrees, and brooks around 65 degrees. Most creeks in this area maintain temperatures no higher than 67 degrees year round. Therefore, if the flow is not impeded to much the water will not warm. Oxygen level is the critical factor (and keep out silt). Most ponds over 6 or 8 feet will stratify in the summer and even though it may be cool enough for trout in the lower depths, the oxygen content will not be there.

Tommy

[The Ole Man]

Tommy
I love this idea. I have a creek like that, but it's maybe 4' wide . Just one question without going into all the details, You said 4 ' deep. What surface area size approx. are you talking about?

[Tommy Hunter]

The Ole Man,
The pond I am currently working with is about 6' wide, 3' deep, and about 130' long. A pond my uncle built for me and my brother-in-law to stock south of Cleveland is a roughly 100' square and about 6 feet deep. We currently have browns and rainbows approaching 30" in there. Even though they are raised in a pond, it doesn't mean they are stupid. I have fished there for hours and not even gotten a bite on corn, flies, spinners, only to feed them and watch the water boil. I guess that's a story for another time. Sounds like the one you have would work just fine. It's tough to say, I'd have to see it to say for sure. My opinion is I'd try anything.

Tommy

[NightOwl]

Amazing!!!! I've got a sall creek on my lot, but I don't think I could make a big enouh pool and the "creek" is a trickle! Oh well. How do you get them home - just wondering??

[Tommy Hunter]

N.O.
I have a 84 quart cooler and a 500 gph areator that runs off a 12 volt battery. When I fish I always carry a 5 gallon bucket with me. I never touch a fish except to lip it. I bring it straight from the creek to the bucket as quickly as possible then lip it and remove the hook. If you see a guy on a creek in the mountains or on the 'hooch with a bucket, it's probably me. One note, this time of year, the water is usually cold enough that the areator isn't necessary.

Tommy

[NightOwl]

Man, your a genius !!! Hope you grow 'em big and healthy !