Info Provided by: Jeff Durniak, GA DNR North Georgia Region Fisheries Supervisor and North Georgia Region Fisheries staff
Kids Fishing Event on the Chattahoochee at Jones Bridge.
It’s National Fishing and Boating Week, and that means Kids Fishing Events and a couple of free fishing days for adults. Take advantage of the great family opportunities available during the next two weekends.
Kids Fishing Events – Here are some of the most popular June 7 events in the metro area and north Georgia. Each of these events will receive a truckload of WRD or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service trout.
- Chattahoochee River at Jones Bridge Park (Gwinnett County)
- Rock Creek at Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery (Fannin)
- Tallulah River (Rabun)
- Lake Winfield Scott (Union)
Free Fishing Days – Georgia residents are not required to have a fishing license to fish on June 7 and 14. Take a neighbor who has never fished before.
$100 Bass Pro Shops Gift Card Contest – Round 2 has started. You’ll enjoy the smiles on the faces of these young anglers. Enter your own photo soon!
Another Contest – Join the fun on the 2014 First Ever KeepAmericaFishing™ Day. Go fishing on June 7, and you just might win one of many exciting prizes.
We Support Summer Campers! – Enjoy Sheila in action.
Teacher Grant Contest – Georgia Department of Natural Resources is offering a $1,000 grant to a third-, fourth- or fifth-grade public or private school teacher in Georgia who demonstrates exceptional energy and innovation in teaching life sciences.
Here we go…
Flathead collected near Clarks Bridge of Lake Lanier.
Lanier Flatheads – Biologist Patrick O’Rouke and Technician Chris Looney sampled the Hooch above Lanier this week. IN addition to a good population of spotted bass, they found a concentration of flathead catfish a couple miles upstream from Belton Bridge. About 20-30 were seen, with the biggest around 30 pounds. They’ve sampled even bigger ones in the Hooch arm of Lake Lanier this year (attached photo). Patrick suggested to try the river channel with significant structure (rock ledges or submerged trees).
Small Lakes – Guru’s five-kayak flotilla assaulted Unicoi Lake on Saturday evening as the sun set. The gang caught a nice bunch of bluegill and redbreast sunfish by tossing small poppers against the bank. Some of the redbreast were good-sized for north Georgia (as big as their hands), and were found bedding. The group also caught some largemouth bass up to 14 inches on poppers for the flyrodders and Senkos for the spinfishers.
Stocked Trout – Best bets include: Tallulah, Rock, and Jones Bridge after the KFE’s, Johns, Boggs, Hooch on WMA, and West Fork Chattooga.
Headwater trout – Now is prime time!
Rivers –Be Careful on Toccoa Tailwater
- Necessary TVA flow changes
- Most of Jake D’s kayak fleet ventured to the Hooch near Highway 115 on Sunday evening and caught a mixed bag of spots, shoal bass, redeyes, redbreasts, bluegills, and even a couple of small stripers. The river was still turbid from the week’s rains, but it had cleared enough for the fish to see and eat!
- Kayaks and River Bass?
- Chattooga DH holding on
BIG Browns(Video) -Here’s a good one to end on… your dream of a fish of a lifetime. Enjoy this and plan your next trip to trophy waters.
Good luck this week. Take some time out for the kids and help WRD to grow the next generation of Georgia’s stream and lake stewards. Grab your neighbor’s family and introduce them to the outdoors. You might just create some more fishing buddies and conservation partners.