TOCCOA RIVER STOCKING

[John Pool]

Bill Couch:
I know the Toccoa is out of your region, but do you know if its been stocked as heavily this year as in years past. The fishing has been slow this year in areas where it was great before. There should also be some hold-over fish, but they've been few and far between too. Just wanted to know -- Thanks JPOOL

[Bill Couch]

John,
I posed your question to the stocking coordinator. His reply is below.

Bill:

The Toccoa has actually been stocked heavier this year. The actual number
last year was 21,700 with a proposed number of 31,400 for 1999. The
increase is due to Lee's creel data which indicated more fishing pressure
than first thought.

Thanks

Hal

Hope this helps.
Bill

[John Pool]

Bill --
Thanks for passing on the info. Obviously, I've been at the wrong place at the wrong time -- an all too frequent occurance it seems. Looks like I need to try some different locations. Thanks -- JPOOL

[Flyguy]

Bill....

How many of the proposed fish have actully been stocked into the river at this point. Also have they started generating water there yet. Last I heard the had not stocked because the water level on the lake was low due to some type of construction or some thing like that.



Flyguy

[Bill Couch]

Fly guy,
Hal Chestnutt, Region 2 fishery stocking coordinator responded with the following.


"Bill:

The info that I gave you before was for the Toccoa River. This message
seems like he is asking for info on the Blue Ridge T.W. The Toccoa River
has received 9,975 of the proposed 31,400 (21,700 in 1998) while the Blue
Ridge T.W. has received 10,900 of the proposed 20,000 (18,400 in 1998). I
have no idea about generating in the T.W., but this does not affect our
stocking.

Thanks

Hal"


I hope this helps,
Bill

[John Pool]

Based on Bill's earlier post, a Mothers Day outing, by some strange coincidence, happened to take us by the Toccoa Tailwater just before dark. When I saw a dozen fish rising to the evening caddis hatch, just had to fish for a few minutes. In 30 minutes, caught four and had six more on that got off. Despite earlier fishless outings, the fish are now there -- yes Bill, there is a Santa Claus (or even better, a DNR stocking program)!! One note of interest on how selective even hatchery fish can become pretty quickly. As I said, the fish were rising to caddis. About the time I was leaving, saw something fluttering down the current line -- on closer inspection it was a giant black stone fly -- as big as maybe 100 caddis. But it floated right past five rising fish who all ignored it and continued eating the caddis instead. A good illustration of why using the right fly can make or break you. Anyway -- Tight lines -- JPOOL

[Flyguy]

Thanks for the information JP and Bill. I think a trip to the Taccoa is soon to be.



Flyguy

[NGTO]

It's about time you come around Gary! So can we go now finally?

[Owl]

You fellas stay in the Hooch, you hear ! http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif