Info Provided by: Jeff Durniak, GA DNR North Georgia Region Fisheries Supervisor and North Georgia Region Fisheries staff

Not much has changed recently as we continue in “summer mode.”  Reservoir species are setting up at their preferred depths based on lake stratification (see bottom of http://www.georgiawildlife.com/Hatcheries/Buford)and the resulting combination of temperature/dissolved oxygen that is to their liking.

There are some planned changes to our trout stocking routine as we scale back after July 4on our lower elevation streams, which have already received all or most of their annual trout allocations.  Go higher up the mountain to have better success with stockers.

The biggest change may be north Georgia’s declining rainfall and dropping river levels, which are expected this time of year.  These conditions are often better for float fishers, since they mean more days of clear water and easily boatable and wadeable river flows.  To that end, how about a recipe for some fine summer fishing fun?  We often simply tether our yaks to our waists and wade-fish downstream until we’re shoulder-deep, then hop in the boat to float to the next wadeable spot. Try it – you’ll like it!

Recipe for Float Fishing Fun

A.)  Look at these:

B.)  Pick a flavor from this menu: http://georgiawildlife.blog/2014/05/21/upper-chattahoochee-river-fishing-and-public-access-points/

C.)  Call a buddy.

D.)  Load the boats.

E.)  Go Fish Georgia! 

Here’s some additional news from our angling locales.  Grab some kids and enjoy summer vacation OUTDOORS!

Reservoir Profiles

Spotted bass from Lake Chatuge.

Redeye bass from the Chattooga River.

Here are the July dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles for Lakes Nottely and Chatuge – fisheries technician Chris Looney

Reservoir Reports – Thanks Ken, and DNR biologists.

Lanier stripers

Allatoona best stripers – GON Forum Report 1, GON Forum Report 2

Fourth of July bassin’ – VIDEO

Sights along the river

Trout best bets

It’s going to be very hard to beat the two tailwaters, Buford and Blue Ridge.  Try for an early start to beat the high summer sun.  Although the water will stay cold all day, the hot summer afternoons can be uncomfortable to anglers unless they take a dunking or two.

For mountain stream stockers this weekend, try: Rock, Cooper, Dicks, Boggs, Wildcat, Tallulah, and Hooch high in the WMA.

Trout, Top Secret Bait – That top bait is – – – stealth. 

This week’s heroes – Here are some great stories about getting kids outdoors (story 1, story 2).  It’s better than the water park!

Good luck.  Don’t forget the sunscreen, the PFD…And the kids!!!!!!!!!!!!