Ready or Not, 2023 is here. Let’s make it a challenge this year to take the “New” in “New Year” and adventure out to explore NEW waterways and catch species NEW to you or introduce NEW people to fishing. Sound good?  

NEWS TO KNOW

  • Time to Tag Shad: Southeast Georgia Fisheries staff have begun tagging American Shad in preparation for the 2023 Shad Season. Staff hope to tag 500 Shad for the season, with data being used to estimate the size of the Shad run and determine fishing mortality.
  • Crayfish Creek Update: Northeast Georgia Fisheries staff Leon Brotherton and Hunter Roop met with UGA fisheries professor, Dr. Jay Shelton, to review progress of a stream restoration project at Crayfish Creek, a tributary to the Chattahoochee River in Gwinnett County. Native vegetation planted in early 2022 has become well established, and stream structures installed to add complex fish habitat were still in place and functioning as intended. The Crayfish Creek working group is planning to finalize phase one of this project and execute a second phase of stream restoration further downstream in the future.

This week, we have fishing reports from Central, Southwest, Southeast and North Georgia. We can’t wait to hear about your “NEW” fishing adventures as you Go Fish Georgia!

(READERS NOTE: We typically include photos with our fishing blog post – but are having some technical difficulties. If this changes, we will add them as soon as possible because photos are fun!).

CENTRAL GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Steve Schleiger, Region Supervisor and fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

Reservoir Fishing Reports Courtesy of Southern Fishing with Ken Sturdivant.

LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 1.4 FEET, 50’S

Bass fishing is fair.  Several different methods are being used to catch bass.  Rip rap rock seems to be a favorite using Shad Raps in perch and shad patterns.  Also use the Rapala RS Shad Raps if the wind is up.  These baits are made of plastic instead of balsa wood and have rattles in them.  This added weight will help during the windy days and work great on catching those rip rap bass.  The better fishing on the rock will occur after the sun has been beating down mid-day.  This gives the rock enough time to warm up and start holding the bait fish.  During the cold winter months points are great areas all day.  Find the points and fish a Rapala DT10 in close.  Patience will be the key here and fish as many points as possible during the day.  One extra tip is going down to 8-pound clear Sufix Elite line on a spinning rod.  The spotted bass are also coming off these points.  Also use some small jigs during the slow period of the day.  Keep an eye on the water temperatures with the Lowrance Heat Map overlay on the map.  And make sure that there is deep water nearby.

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 3.2 FEET, 50’S

Bass fishing is fair.  Mid-day a few bass are coming from relatively shallow water on small to medium crank baits, small jigs and Carolina rigs.  Shad Raps crank baits have working in in shad and chartreuse patterns.  Use a lightweight jig with pork or plastic in the colder water.  Rocky banks, riprap, blow downs, points and docks have all yielded bass using jigs.  Try a Strike King 3/8-ounce jig in black and blue with a Zoom Chunk in green pumpkin or black blue.  Line should be 15 to 20-pound test.  The Carolina rig anglers are catching fish from the points and docks.  Try a shorter leader of 18 to 24 inches with a Zoom Finesse worm in green pumpkin and a half ounce weight.  Fishing deep has gotten better, but still not as good as normal for mid-winter.  Vertically jigged spoons like a .6 Flex It are usually all that’s needed.  Normally the cove centers work only if huge amounts of bait are present.  Keep an eye on the water temperatures with the Lowrance Heat Map overlay on the map.  And make sure that there is deep water nearby.  Fish the same areas after the cold fronts rolls out.  Just slow down and flip the flats with a 1-ounce Tru Tungsten flipping weight and a black and blue Big Bite Baits 3-inch Yo Mama.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 50’S

Bass: Bass fishing is fair.  The lake is full and a heavy stain in the rivers and light stain on most of the lake.  The water temperature is 49 to 54 degrees.  Start in the back of the coves off of the main lake and work out using small crank baits around docks and sea walls.  Square billed crank baits are working best.  Fish these baits slow as the water is cold.  The Ott’s Garage Flat OG8 crank bait in the Coosa Shad has been working.  Keep an eye on the water temperatures with the Lowrance Heat Map overlay on the map. Make sure that there is deep water nearby.  Some fish are coming on Strike King jigs with a Zoom mini green pumpkin or brown trailer.  White spinner baits have also been producing some fish.  Fish these baits near bridge rip rap and sea walls.  Along with the spinner baits, a rattle trap will also bring a few bites.

Crappie: Crappie fishing is fair.  Most of the crappie have been in the mouths to the middle of the major creeks.  Use the Lowrance to locate the schools in the timber and then drop live bait down to them.  The Lowrance Down Scan technology is especially powerful and has a much wider beam.  The other method that is working is to use a spider rig and work a large area of the creeks with jigs tipped with a minnow.  Blue and black jigs have been the color of choice.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.4 FEET, 50’S

Bass fishing is fair.  Fish in the rivers with a big jig.  But the best bet is to find clearer water down lake.  Shallow to medium diving crank baits fished from the mid lake area down to the dam have been productive.  Short pockets and rocky points will be best for the crank bait bite.  A chartreuse colored Spro Little John or Little John MD will catch fish right now.  A jig and a shaky head will also catch fish on the same rocky points and on the docks in the short pockets.  A ¼ ounce black and blue Strike King jig with a pork trailer are a good bet for quality fish this time of year.  The light weight and the pork trailer allow the jig to fall slower.  So, plan to slow down and keep the bait in the strike zone if possible.  Use a 1/8-ounce Weedless Wonder lead head and a Zoom black or June bug U tail worm and focus in 12 feet of water or less most days.  On warm days go shallow and look for dark colored rocks on a sunny bank.  A shaky head will also pull a fish from brush piles for an extra bite or two throughout the day.  There are also a few deep fish to be found with the Lowrance electronics.  These fish can be found on deep structure in the mouths of the creeks.  Once located, drop a gold spoon through them.  Keep an eye on the water temperatures with the Lowrance Heat Map overlay on the map.  Make sure that there is deep water nearby.

LAKE JACKSON IS FULL, 50’S

Bass fishing is fair.  Covering water cranking should continue to produce a relatively shallow bite in select areas and times.  Bass will return to the deeper winter holding areas.  A chunk rock 15-foot bottom and deeper is a good depth range to target for the deeper fish.  Concentrate on points, humps, and bluff banks on the main river channel or appropriately deep water.  Locations with deep rock or wood will be more likely to hold concentrations of fish.  Sun on rocks, wood, docks, and stained water will draw fish shallow when located adjacent to deep water.  On a warm afternoon, compact diving cranks like a Bandit or Shad Rap, should be fished shallow in stained water and on any rocks.  Use a fire tiger Rapala DT10 on a chunky 7 to 10-foot bottom.  With the weather fluctuations just get out there and fish the moment.  Fish a slower falling 1/4-ounce Net Boy jig on deep water docks and bluffs.  Also, fish 1/2 to 3/4-ounce Net Boy football jigs slowly through the deep-water holding areas.  Use a brown jig in the clear water and a black/blue jig in stained water.  Use a brown or green pumpkin Zoom Super Chunk Jr. on the natural color jig and a green pumpkin or black Super Chunk Jr on the black/blue jig.  Shaky heads will also work on the docks and deep-water structure.  Rig them with trick, finesse worms, and Senko’s.  Shorter Finesse worms or shortened Tricks will get more hook ups when the bite turns slow, short, and subtle.  Spoons are also picking up deep bass relating to bottom and bait.  Stick to clear water for best results in spooning.

FLAT CREEK PUBLIC FISHING AREA (More Info HERE)

Anglers have been reporting an increase in fish activity since last month.  Bream fishermen are reporting great success fishing from the bank since they have more shoreline access due to the low water level and therefore are closer to submerged fish attractors.  The bass bite has been picking up during the afternoon hours just before the sun drops behind the tree line.  Anglers both on the bank and in watercraft have reported 4-6 lb. bass being caught.  Here’s a list of what the anglers are reporting to have had good success using for each of the following:

Bass: Bass are holding near brush piles.  Low water levels make it easier to find this fish habitat.  Try throwing a lure like Yum Dinger’s Black/Blue Laminate worm.

Bream:  Red Wigglers continue to produce bream.

Channel Catfish: Anglers last reported using chicken livers, live baitfish, and cut baitfish.

Crappie: Anglers last reported using live minnows and crappie jigs to produce catches.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The 2023 Atlanta Boat Show will be at the Georgia World Congress Center, Building “C”, January 12-15, 2023.  Meet Ken Sturdivant, Captain Cefus McRae, Captain Josh Thornton, Captain Mark Smith, Erica DeLana, Greg Showmake, Rene Hesse, and Rick Burns.  They will be in the “Let’s Go Fishing” Center with the Bass Tub.

The Georgia Wildlife Federation Fisharama/Buckarama in Perry, Georgia is February 10, 11, 12, 2023.  Southern Fishing Professional angler Ken Sturdivant will be hosting fishing seminars.

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Emilia Omerberg, Fisheries Biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

LAKE WALTER F GEORGE

The crappie fishing on Lake George is still hot! Jigs and minnows towards the southern end of the lake have been very productive. Use sonar to fins areas with flat bottoms and submerged structures. Also try fishing around docs. Remember that the lake is really a river channel so be aware of submerged obstacles and shallow depth when boating. The hybrid striped bass bite is also hot right now. Try fishing near the island off Pataula creek or towards the southern end of the lake near the dam.   

LAKE BLACKSHEAR

The water is back up on lake Blackshear but very stained after all the rain in the last few days. When fishing for bass try shad colored lures. Try using darker colored lures that will match the prey in the muddy water. When the stain lightens up go back to using more natural-colored lures. The crappie bite continues to be pretty hot. Focus on the channel and use sonar to track these tasty fish. Fishing near smoak bridge or the railroad tracks is also a good bet. Minnows are the bait of choice right now, but jigs are also popular. Some good channel cats can be caught out there as well with any smelly bait. One angler suggested his family secret as chicken breasts soaked in Kool-Aid or Jell-o mix. Trolling the channel is your best bet for catfish. Good luck out there!

FLINT RIVER 

Fishing the flint is a mixed bag right now and will be even more so after all the rain. Crappie and bluegill can be caught using minnows worms and jigs and are fun especially for kids or if your planning your evening meal. The shoal bass bite will start to pick up here in the next month or so and fall sampling suggests a great year. The hybrid striped bass and striped bass bite below Warwick dam is also a popular destination. Please because of water being released form the dam because of all the rain. Water levels and rise quickly with little notice and can be very dangerous.   

BIG LAZER PUBLIC FISHING AREA (More Info HERE)

In general, the weather is cold and the bite has become less consistent.  Anglers have to be more patient and persistent to have a good day fishing.  However, winter weather means less anglers are fishing; thus, less fishing pressure for the dedicated angler. Largemouth bass fishing is slow this time of year. Fish plastic baits at a slower pace now that water temperatures are cooler. Plastic-worms fished around the deep water by the picnic area and around both fishing piers may produce a few good bites. The Crappie fishing has been poor, and they are difficult to locate. However, their spawning season will start soon and then the bite should pick up. Until the warmer temperatures arrive fish for crappie in 10-12 feet of water with minnows and jigs.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Bert Deener, Region Supervisor and fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts) 

Happy New Year! This week’s much better weather had several great reports, but the number of people fishing was low again this week. Hunting season is winding down, and folks will be thinking about wetting a line again soon.

River gages on January 5th were:

  • Clyo on the Savannah River – 6.9 feet and rising
  • Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 4.6 feet and rising
  • Doctortown on the Altamaha – 7.4 feet and falling
  • Waycross on the Satilla – 6.8 feet and rising
  • Atkinson on the Satilla – 5.1 feet and falling
  • Macclenny on the St Marys – 2.6 feet and rising

Full Moon is January 6th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website HERE. For the latest marine forecast, click HERE.

SATILLA RIVER

A Blackshear angler fished the upper river on Thursday afternoon and hooked a big bass (his biggest to date) but lost it at the boat. I talked another Blackshear angler who fished the river on Monday, and they only caught 2 bowfin. The fish he was seeking wouldn’t bite. I would expect the crappie bite in the lower river to be best this weekend because of the slug of water working its way down from the upper reaches.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

The dark, shallow water in the swamp warms up much more quickly than most other waters. With the warm temperatures this week, the bite fired up. Matt Rouse and a friend fished in the fog Tuesday during the middle of the day and caught 88 fish. Some were pickerel up to 23 inches, but the vast majority were bowfin. Their biggest bowfin was 9-lb., 11-oz., and they had a couple in the 8-pound range, as well. They trolled Dura-Spins for all of their fish, and color didn’t matter. They caught fish on every color they tried, but crawfish and rainbow trout colors worked best. A Waycross angler fished for 2 hours on the east side Wednesday morning before the storms blew through and caught 14 fish (13 bowfin and a pickerel). He trolled Dura-Spins and did best with crawfish and jackfish colors. The prize of the day was a 10-lb., 2-oz. giant bowfin that he landed on a crawfish-orange blade.  The latest water level (Folkston side) was 120.58 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

Crappie fishing was good from the several folks I talked with this week. Casting lures and pitching jigs worked well. I rang in the new year on Sunday afternoon with Chad Lee. We went to one of his favorite ponds and caught 21 fish, including bass, crappie, and bluegill. I caught a slab for our first crappie by swimming a green pumpkin-colored 2-inch Keitech on a 1/32-oz. chartreuse-red eye Zombie Head. Chad had the next several bass by fishing a minnow under a float. Late in the afternoon we got on a school of crappie, and Chad caught them with a chartreuse pearl tube on a Zombie Head, and I caught them with a 1/32-oz. popsicle Specktacular Jig. Both of us fished our offering under a float. We even had a 10-inch flier inhale the popsicle Specktacular Jig on one of our last casts. That was a fun blackwater pond! Paul Williamson fished with a friend on Tuesday at a Waycross area pond and had a great catch. They fished mid-day with little success, but the fish started busting bait late in the afternoon, and they put it on them the last hour of daylight. They ended up with 26 fish – mostly from trolling 1/32-oz. chartreuse-red eye or pink-blue eye Zombie Heads with 2-inch Keitech Swimbaits. Their best colors were shad, sight green hologram, and electric shad. Another angler spider-rigging Tennessee shad 1/16-oz Specktacular Jigs tipped with minnows on Tuesday caught a few crappie, but the monster bass he fooled with the miniscule offering was the story. It tangled up about all of his poles, but he landed the 6-pounder.

DODGE COUNTY PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Eastman, more info HERE)

Bobby Knight broke his own lake record crappie this week with a 2-lb., 5.6-oz. slab. Another angler fishing on Thursday at the area caught 11 bass weighing 22 pounds (biggest was 4 pounds). He was keying on bass chasing schools of shad. He also caught a 1.75-pound crappie.

PARADISE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Tifton, more info HERE)

Crappie fishing has been really good on the area. An angler fishing Friday fooled 17 crappie with live minnows under floats. His fish were between 1/3 and 3/4-pound. Several folks caught them with jigs this week, as well. Chartreuse and shad hues are very consistent on the area.

SALTWATER (GA COAST)

The weather was much better this week, and the water warmed from the super-cold snap last week. The best report I got was from Jay Turner. He and his son and a friend searched several creeks with no success, but their 4th stop was magical. For about 2 hours they caught fish on almost every cast. They were tripled up much of the time. They threw their crappie gear in the boat, and they were glad they did. Those small outfits with 1/16-oz Zombie Heads and 2-inch Keitech swimbaits were the ticket. They had keepers mixed in, but about 2/3 of their fish were throwbacks. They also had about 10 redfish mixed in their catch. This is the time of year when scaling back the lure size is usually the key. I used that same 1/16-oz. Zombie Head and small Keitechs (I usually use the 3-inch) last winter with great success for trout and redfish. Sometimes I even scaled back to 1/32-oz. heads. For the latest fishing information or live shrimp in the Brunswick area, check with J&P Bait and Tackle on Hwy 303 (912-282-9705).

NORTH GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of John Damer, Fisheries Biologist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts) 

RESERVOIR REPORT

Lake Lanier Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Phil Johnson, 770-366-8845 via www.southernfishing.com) — Lake is down 2.7 feet and in the 40s. Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. Can you say cold? I have to admit that I haven’t been on the water since the extreme cold weather came in so I can only report from the days prior to the Artic door opening up. The cold weather should definitely move the bass more into their winter homes and hopefully we will have a shad kill this year which is something that hasn’t happened in a few years The bass have been scattered throughout the water column from five feet to sixty-five feet and a variety of baits are working. The deeper docks as well as steep rock are holding fish for a worm and jig bite. For the deeper fish a Spotchoker or a Georgia Blade spoon have taken the most fish. I work both of these baits on twelve-pound fluorocarbon with fast action tip rods. With the Spotchoker I prefer a seven foot four inch medium heavy rod with a fast action tip. The long rod helps me to make longer cast to maximize the time the bait stays in the strike zone on each cast. With the Georgia Blade spoon I prefer a six foot six inch medium heavy rod with a fast tip. The lighter tip seems to prevent the spoon from burying up in structure as hard. I like to set my reel up so that it will drop the bait at maximum speed on the fall but not backlash when the spoon hits the bottom. Look for the fish to be more in the true winter patterns when it is warm enough to get back on the water as the shad should be more balled up in the creeks. They ae going to be biting so Go Catch ‘Em!

Lake Blue Ridge Walleye Report: (This report courtesy of Fisheries Region Supervisor Anthony Rabern) –Anthony said he is getting some really good walleye reports from one of his contacts fishing Lake Blue Ridge.  This angler reports that most of his fish are coming from around 90 feet on jigs and live bait. 

Lake Allatoona Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — Lake is down 14.8 feet and in the 40s. Bass fishing is fair. The bites have been slow and soft. So prepared to junk fish by mixing things up with a single swim bait, small jigs and a finesse work on a Weedless Wonder head. The fish are holding in 12 to 15 feet of water and are not too hard to locate off points and mouths of the creeks. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan technology to make this easier. Schools are shad staying put. The jig bite is good and will take off soon. Fish the SPRO McStick on a 10 foot Sunline fluorocarbon line on the bluff walls and a slight breeze will be the ticket. The 1/2 on a spoon and drop shot Big Bite 3.5 jointed jerk minnow are working for fish that are suspending a little deeper. There are still plenty of fish on the main lake rock banks and points to be caught on a 3/16 Shaky Head tipped with a Prizm Krawler 6-inch Robo worm to catch numbers. And use the Drop Shot. The Drop Shot fish are biting smaller shad shaped baits better than worms. A couple of good choices of these baits are the Skinny Bear Shad, a Live Shad by Robo Worm or the Zoom Tiny Fluke. Shad colors are producing best.

Lake Weiss Bass and Crappie Report: (This report courtesy of Mark Collins Guide Service and www.southernfishing.com) — Lake is down 3.2 feet, heavily stained to muddy, and 55-57 degrees. This winter starts the 3-foot winter draw down, instead of 6 feet. It has really changed the fall fishing because the fish have a lot more water. Bass fishing is fair. The fish have moved back to the old creek and river channel ledges, Carolina rigged plastics, Texas rigged Senko worms and Jigs are producing well right now. The ledges in Little River and the Chattooga River are producing the best. Crappie fishing is great, and they have moved off the ledges and suspended in the creek and river channels, 10 to 15 feet deep. Keep an eye on the water temperatures with the Lowrance Heat Map overlay on the map. And make sure that there is deep water nearby. Long line trolling with Jiffy Jigs in 1/16 ounce in colors JJ08, JJ13, JJ24, JJ41 is the way to catch these winter fish, They can also be caught on a float and fly technique, fished 8 to 12 feet deep.

West Point Lake Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com ) — Lake is down 7.1 feet and in the 50s. Bass fishing is fair. Use a Strike King football jig or a Texas rigged Zoom Mag 2 worm in June bug, Bama Bug and green pumpkin. Jackson Creek and Beech Creek have some good fish that are biting but just make sure to cover all the depths. Jigging spoons have been working down lake fishing is fair because of the clear water conditions. Use a ¼ ounce Shaky Head rigged with a finesse worm in green pumpkin. Keep an eye on the water temperatures with the Lowrance Heat Map overlay on the map. And make sure that there is deep water nearby. Also use a Carolina Rig in 15 to 22 feet on points and roadbeds. Try Rainbow Creek road bed, Wedhakee Creek or the road bed in Whitewater Creek. Also make sure to use a long fluorocarbon leader. Lucky Craft Pointer 100 are working also but the bites are slow. Most of the fish have been hitting on the pause after a retrieve. Make sure to throw multiple cast to one spot as fish are being picky.

Lake Hartwell Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com ) —  Lake is down 3.9 feet and in the 50s. Bass fishing is fair. Using a spinnerbait fished on the main lake shoreline and into small pockets or small cove is the best bet. Keep an eye on the water temperatures with the Lowrance Heat Map overlay on the map. And make sure that there is deep water nearby. Flipping under docks with a jig and pig would be a way to also get a few bites. PP need to work the docks that are near deep water. Also look for docks that have brush on them and fish with a shaky head worm. Use a zoom watermelon or watermelon candy worm dipping the bait in the JJ Magic can really help. Keep a Fish Head Spin ready with a pearl fluke trailer. Also probe the ditches close to these type areas as many fish are now relating to those typical winter areas. Look for bait in the area. If there is no bait, move on. The Davis Shaky Head with a Zoom Finesse worm has been producing some bites as well, so don’t hesitate to throw the worm out there if the bite slows. The cold nights we have been experiencing pushed fish out deep. A spoon fished around the timber edges in ditches from 40 to 55 feet has been productive also. If the spoon fish are not biting in the timber, try the worm and jig.

SMALL LAKES REPORT

Yahoola Creek Yellow Perch: (This report courtesy of Jack Becker) — I got out before the rains hit this week and made a trip up to Yahoola Creek Reservoir in Dalonega hoping to catch yellow perch. Water temperature was 47.4 F. They tend to be small in this body of water, but I enjoy catching them on ultralight tackle using 2 or 4 lb. test line.  I found that SMALL perch, fire tiger, and chartreuse-colored crankbaits all worked great. Beetle Spins with a blue & white or chartreuse & black twin tail grub trailer also work good. I was targeting woody structure in 15-20 feet of water. I fished half the day before the rains came in and brought home 16 perch & 1 nice bream. There are no size or possession limits for Yellow Perch, so you can keep as many as you can catch! Even though they are small and a little difficult to clean, I like their mild flavor, which rivals walleye in my opinion. They are perfect for making fish tacos. Yahoola Creek Reservoir is electric motor only and is a popular place for kayaks. Gas motors must be removed from your boat.

North Georgia Small Impoundments: (Report courtesy of Fisheries Biologist Jackson Sibley and Rocky PFA Manager Dennis Shiley) — With the mild weather and rainy days, the largemouth bass pattern seems to be in a shift. Surface water temperatures are still rising across much of the region, meaning bass and other cold-blooded critters are in a period of increased activity. Your best bet at targeting bass in small impoundments is likely dependent on the waterbody’s forage base as well as its size and depth. In deep shad-dominated impoundments such as Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area, the warming water has broken up the threadfin schools, making it tougher to target bass with the traditional wintertime offerings of suspended spoons and Alabama rigs. In farm ponds and other smaller impoundments with forage dominated by bream and insects, expect bass to be active in the shallows and among vegetation around midday. Small jerkbaits and flukes can be productive in these areas or consider tying on a popper in a light rain situation. For the fly angler, Clousers and wooly buggers are solid bets. 

TROUT REPORT 

Mop Up With These Winter Bugs: (This report courtesy of Jeff “Dredger” Durniak at Unicoi Outfitters ) — From earlier this week: Heavy rains are on their way today, with a big cool-down behind this major storm front. That should put us back into our normal winter mode of high, cold trout streams.

Here are two patterns we like in high, cold, and often stained winter waters. They sink quickly, are easily spotted, and offer enough calories to entice bigger trout. They’re both easy to buy or tie, as well. Check out the Angler Management blog for more! Some fly anglers make fun of junk flies such as squirmies, eggs, and mops. Let them laugh. I’m usually too busy catching fish to care about their opinions. I hope these tips will make y’all just as happy and carefree while dredging winter’s cold, icy waters for some hefty bows and browns. Good luck in the new year! Stop by our shop if we can help you further.

Stocked Streams Report: (From Fisheries Biologist John Damer) — A few streams in North Georgia were stocked with trout before Christmas, and I’m sure some of those holiday leftovers are still around.  Want to know which streams were stocked? Well, did you know we regularly update the Trout Fishing page on our website with the latest stocking info?  You can also sign up for automatic updates sent directly to you every Friday.  Sign up now in anticipation of the spring stocking season, which will be here before you know it! 

Trout Plus Some: Check out Unicoi Outfitter’s regular “trout and more” fishing reports HERE.

Parting Trout Note:  Want to do more to support trout fishing in Georgia?  Consider upgrading to a Trout Unlimited license plate this year. Aside from being a great looking tag, each purchase or renewal of a Trout Unlimited license plate directly supports Georgia’s trout conservation and management programs. Hatcheries and wild trout efforts both benefit from the trout tag.