delayed harvest/stream concern

[curtiscreek]

I am a concerned trout fisherman in north georgia, the stream i am concerned about more than any is Rock Creek up on lookout mtn. This stream supports regular stockings from the DNR however i feel that it is being neglected as a real prospect for delayed harvest or even some kind of stricter regulation thru TU. There are holdover fish in this creek some of considerable size however these fish are pursued daily by the locals. I am wondering if anyone from TU would be intrested in checking this creek out for some kind of help, I would love to take someone out on this stream to see if it has DH abilities and the need for conservation help with size limits and artifical lures only. please check this out!!
MY EMAIL IS jeffreybowman2003@yahoo.com pleae e-mail me or let me know via this topic if you can help.

thanks
curtiscreek

[Tom]

Have never been up to Rock Creek so I am flying blind here. If it sustains a sizeable population of reproducing fish, it probably would not be considered by the Wildlife Resources Division of the DNR, for Delayed Harvest management. Most streams that are candidates for DH are seasonal in that the water temps in summer are too high and force the trout to seek cooler temps, or die. Another feature of DH is accessibility..for both stocking and law enforcement.
Now, I am just a private citizen, and active member of a TU chapter. If I were you, I would have my local TU Chapter contact the WRD and get their feedback on management of the stream. Management technique will ultimately rest with them.

[This message has been edited by Tom (edited 07-15-2003).]

[Obtuse Angler]

Where is this creek? I suppose I should have heard of it, as I have lived almost entire life in the two valleys on either side of Lookout, but I haven't.

I know there was a move afoot about a yr ago to convince DNR to designate a creek in NW GA as DH, but it was never specified which creek would be it. There were three candidates on the list and Rock Creek wasn't one of them. As I recall, the candidates were Stamps, Holly and Johns, although perhaps Rock also should have been on the list. As it turned out, though, the whole discussion is academic, as the movement appears to have gone nowhere.

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Regards,
Obtuse Angler
"The Charlie Daniels of the torque wrench"

[curtiscreek]

Rock Creek is located on lula lake rd, you take hwy 193 south to nickajack rd follow it all the way up to lula lake rd turn right and go probably 1/4 mi till you see a bridge you can park on either side of the bridge and follow trails down to the creek. This creek gets alot of fishing pressure but it also gets abused in alot of ways. I have found stringers of trout stuck in the banks almost like someone intends on coming back later to get them. I've never seen the first warden up there since I've started fishing it and thats been at least 4yrs. One of the guys who respond earlier to this topic misunderstood there are holdover trout big trout way up stream but that area is very ard to fish because it is on private property and these fish are hand fed by the landowner. I dont know who my local chapter of trout unlimited is I live in walker county just 30min from this creek but i thought this might need some attention and i also thought tu would have the pull to check this out and see what they think it really is a beautiful trout stream it just needs some regulations. Anyway i hope this helps also if would like a tour e-mail me and we could arrange going up there together and i could show you the areas i am talking about.

thanks
cc

[Obtuse Angler]

There's a TU chapter in Dalton. That's probably where they would assign you if you joined. There are at least two chapters in Chatt. as well. I belong to the chapter in Rome. You should consider joining one of these.