More catch and release water !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NiteOwl]

This little gem of information was obtained from our brother in the south...well, the west maybe - south of trout fishing.....anyway, here's the GREAT news !Everybody say it together.......YEAHHHHH !


negative comments are always welcome.... http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif heheheor more information, contact:
Lisa Doty, Information and Education Officer -- (770) 918-6400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION OFFERS
MORE FISHING OPPORTUNITIES

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (September 28, 1999) -- The Board of Natural
Resources recently adopted new fishing regulations that will add a
portion of Amicalola Creek to be managed under delayed harvest
regulations and also will open the Evans County Public Fishing Area
(PFA) to fishing year- round, according to the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). The new
regulations will go into effect on October 7, 1999.
Delayed harvest is a management program designed to provide a
"fish-for-fun" experience with high catch rates for trout. In this program,
trout are stocked in streams and catch-and-release fishing, using
single-hook artificial lures only, is allowed from November 1 through May
14. From May 15 through October 31, the stream is managed under
general regulations, which means there are no bait restrictions and there
is a daily limit of eight trout.
An experimental delayed harvest program was tried for the first time in
Georgia last year on Smith Creek at Unicoi State Park. User surveys
show that the program has been very popular and successful. Based
on this success, WRD will add the portion of Amicalola Creek from
Dawson County Road 192 (Steele Bridge Road) downstream to Georgia
Highway 53 to the delayed harvest program by restricting anglers to the
use of artificial lures and catch and release trout fishing.
Some important features of the delayed harvest program include:
Trout may be caught several times each because no harvest is
permitted between November 1 and May 14.
Because each trout may be caught more than once, catch rates remain
high over long periods, not just the day after stocking. Research has
shown that catch rates have averaged three to four times higher in
delayed harvest streams when compared to traditional stocked streams.
Periodic restocking to replace trout lost to injury and natural mortality is
used to maintain catch rates at a high level.

Delayed harvest areas have been very popular with anglers who want
to introduce new anglers to trout fishing.
WRD also will operate the Evans County PFA throughout the year,
instead of from March 1 to October 31, as it has been in the past. This
regulation change increases fishing opportunities in Evans County and
also simplifies the PFA regulations by making all PFAs in Georgia open to
fishing year- round.
For more information on any changes to the fishing regulations, contact
the WRD Fisheries Management Section at (770) 918-6418.


Happy trouting this fall, ya'll ! http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif JOY oh JOY !


Brookies next ! http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif

------------------
:) Here fishy, fishy, fishy.......

Owl

[dredger]

Thanks for the good news.
It's good to get the official announcement that it was approved.

Smith's
Amicolola
???
???
(we can dream can't we?)

[NiteOwl]

Tell ya what Dredger.....I been thinkin a spell.....and I think the Hooch in Helen, right in town. Maybe once folks get used to the regs and we can convince the DNR to support trout like they support bazz and deer, being right in town wouldn't be a ( poaching) problem. Also, there are several rivers and creeks that would be good winter streams( that have few holdover trout and high summer temps)..like.......Dicks creek , Wildcat, The mighty Tallulah, and how about the Toccoa below the dam ? Heck, let's have a special stamp for delayed harvest fishing and do a whole mess of streams that way !

...and it wouldn't be takin a darn thing away from bait anglersin most cases...they wouldn't be fishing then anyway - or the season would have ended already ! Ya know that could boost the stocking program and send trout fishing to a new level in GA ! and the snowy days would prob. keep things from getting too crowded ! let's debate it, Ya'll...I'll be nice, I promise.... http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif

------------------
:) Here fishy, fishy, fishy.......

Owl

[Scott]

Great news!!!

I've never fished Amicacola Creek but I will this Fall! Anyone want to plan a trip?

[Scott]

Great news!!!

I've never fished Amicacola Creek but I will this Fall! Anyone want to plan a trip?

[The Ole Man]

Anyone have any good info on Amicolola access? I asked a couple of locals in Jasper and they said they only knew two access points-Devils Elbow and Horseshoe bend. I don't know how you get those two spots. Any others?

[phlyster]

That's cool! I am really glad to be feeling the temps droping, and hopfully so are the fish. They soon will kick their troutmobile in gear, and burnrubber, all the way to my fly.

Does anyone know if you can wade at the DH section of the Amicalola?

Are they going to be stocking those really BIIIIIIIIIIIIG fish in Smith's again?

------------------
><>Peace<><
Blake
wowills@mindspring.com

[Grizzz]

I am ready to try the Ami myself. It is not far from my side of town. Lets put a trip together

[ALG]

Hey guys,
I am excited by about the new D.H for many reasons. First and foremost, it will take away from the overcrowding of Smiths. I was hoping that someone could give us a good description of the type of water to expect in the Ami. Does it have natural aquatic life? Does it support wild trout?
Also, I was wondering if the public section of the Soque has ever been considered for D.H, or C&R. In my opinion it would be perfect b/c there are already big fish in there, it has some natural aquatic life, it is in a gorgeous area, it is open enough for ffing. The only problem would be with poaching, but a few DNR already ride up and down there consistantly. Any thoughts? please share.
-------ALG

[KB]

Here is an idea.
Turn the section of the Chattahoochee between Robertstown and Nacoochee into delayed harvest. Just imagine how fun that could be!

KB

------------------
The Georgia Mountain Angler (http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/atl/k/a/kaddisb)

[phlyster]

I'm sure we can all see that there are plenty of opotunities out there.

Alg, that's a great idea!

Owl, KB, great ideas!

I say we get down to talking so that another one will be considered for next years Delayed Harvest program.

I would love to go Delayed Harvest fishing in Chattahoochee Helen, and the Soque river.

Great ideas!

------------------
><>Peace<><
Blake
wowills@mindspring.com

[Goldman]

I recently decided to scope out the A in anticipation of the upcoming DH season. I started at what I think was Devil's Elbow. There was a dirt road and an old bridge over the stream. Downstream of the bridge was a big deep pool, almost like a small pond. This was full of 9-12 in stockers. I think this would probably be full of the larger fish once the DH stocking begins, mainly because of its proximity to the bridge where, I would assume, a large number of fish will be dropped. I wanted to check out the stream downstream to see about any shoal areas that were wadeable. There is a nice, wide path that follows the river, probably down to 53(Just speculation). I only made it about 1/2 mile down. The access to the river was almost nonexistant as the water was usually 4-6 feet down a steep bank, as in straight down. I came accross no real shoals as well. It looked to me that best way to fish this part of the stream would be from a canoe or float tube. Going back home, I slowed over the 53 bridge and looking upstream, it looked like there were some wadeable shoals. I tried to get some info from the locals camped out by the bridge, but they never fished pass the first hole. I ended up throwing my fly rod back in the truck since there were no places to stretch any line out. Grabbed the spinning rod and stood next to a local and we proceeded to pull out 15 fish in about 20 minutes from that first pool. I think I'll go up next week and walk up from 53. Anyone have any ideas how/if there will be stocking between access points. Do they get on 4-wheelers with a tank of fish and dump em at various spots?

[NiteOwl]

KB, exactly what I was thinkin' !


Goldman - HUH ? I was under the impression that the DNR still ceased stocking on Labor Day.....sounds like alot of trout....(maybe we shoulda fished where the happy doggie was, Ken !)....just wonder if any of these will( could ) hold over.....

Owlie

[dredger]

NiteOwl,

I agree with you. The 'hooch right in Helen. Lots of visibility to deter the low life scum suckers.

[Goldman]

Now that I think about it, it wasn't that recent after all. I was up there the week before Labor day. I didn't have a thermometer, but the water had to be in the upper 60's to low 70's. I was surprised the stockers weren't floating when I got there.