It is time for pre-season trout stocking and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan to stock more than one million trout in Georgia streams, rivers and small lakes by the end of the year. Many streams will be stocked by the end of the month and in time for opening day for seasonal trout stream fishing – Sat., March 27.
A student from North Charleston recently took top honors as the overall winner in South Carolina’s 2010 Reel Art contest, a competition held annually by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources sponsored by Sportfish Restoration Funds and Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund.
Aimlessly casting a line and hoping for a bite is history thanks to Georgia’s online fishing prospects. Anglers of all skill levels can benefit from the newly-enhanced fishing prospect guides which detail the state’s 31 reservoirs and 18 rivers and include maps, local weather forecasts, best bets and species-specific techniques, all in one convenient location - http://www.gofishgeorgia.com (select “Fishing” and then “Fishing Opportunities”).
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division recently awarded 32 anglers with a 2009 angler award for reeling in an outstanding catch (or catches!) last year. The angler award program recognizes those who catch fish that meet or exceed a specific weight for that particular species. “Presenting angler awards to those who made some great catches last year is a great time to not only applaud the award recipients, but it’s also a wonderful time to recognize the great fishing opportunities available to everyone in the state,” says Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management Chief John Biagi.
The crisp, swift-flowing waters of north Georgia’s rivers and creeks offer an abundance of trout angling opportunities this winter. Home to some of the southeast’s finest trout streams and three species of trout - rainbow, brown and brook trout - Georgia claims nearly 4,000 miles of streams, and more than half lie in the northern part of the state in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Challenge-hungry anglers should visit the state’s major reservoirs now for cold weather striped bass action. This time of year, five to 15-pounders are common, with the occasional thrill of a 30-pound or greater catch. Striped bass are abundant in many reservoirs across the state thanks to the stocking efforts of the Fisheries Management Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. Stripers prefer water temperatures less than 75 degrees and tend to concentrate over river channels and around submerged islands where threadfin shad and blueback herring are abundant.
The brief Georgia winter provides a great opportunity to get excellent results for crappie fishing, and several reservoirs across the state offer rewards for anglers willing to brave the bitter cold temperatures. “Anglers searching for crappie need to concentrate on cold weather ‘hot spots’,” says John Biagi, chief of Fisheries Management for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. “Crappie fishing brings a lot of action which means it is an excellent time to engage the entire family and/or to introduce someone new to the fun aspect of the sport.”
Saturday, March 27 is Youth Turkey Hunt Day in South Carolina not Sunday, March 28 as indicated in the recently released 2010 Spring Turkey Brochure.
An estimated 50,000 hunters will take to the woods during the upcoming turkey season, generating an estimated $30 million in direct expenditures for South Carolina’s economy.
While Woodlawn Elementary School (Chatsworth, Ga.) may have captured the highest overall score at the 4th Annual National Archery in the Schools Program State Tournament on Feb. 12 at the Perry Fairgrounds and Agricenter, all of those who participated showed exceptional skill. The tournament, coordinated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division, is an annual event open to all state schools enrolled in the National Archery in the Schools Program.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division recently selected George “Rip” Masters as the 2009 Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor of the Year. This award is presented annually in recognition of an instructor who displays outstanding volunteer efforts in educating sportsmen and women on wildlife conservation and the importance of safety while hunting.
Successful hunting trips require a combination of skill, patience and most importantly, preparation. As turkey season rapidly approaches, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division encourages preparation first, hoping that hunters will brush up on important turkey hunting safety tips before hitting the woods.
Turkey hunters across the state are practicing their yelps and clucks in preparation for the upcoming turkey season. Opening day is Sat., Mar. 20 and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division anticipates that the 2010 season should be good, and harvest levels should be similar in comparison to the past several years.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ Heritage Trust Program recently conducted prescribed burns on about 125 acres of Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster County.
Brushy ditch banks and weedy field borders may not be attractive to some people, but many of South Carolina’s favored farm wildlife and game species depend on these areas for their very survival.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (GAWRD) and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will hold two public meetings in March to discuss the Lake Chatuge sport fishery. Fisheries biologists from both agencies will provide management updates and will also give the public an opportunity to comment on proposed hybrid striped bass stocking in Lake Chatuge. Those interested are encouraged to bring these meetings to the attention of others that also may be interested in participating.
The 13th Annual Johannes Kolb Archaeology and Education Project will be March 8-13 and March 15-19 at Great Pee Dee Heritage Preserve, a 2,725-acre preserve in Darlington County owned and managed by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
Twelve youth hunters from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ Take One Make One program, with the help of club members from Sandhill Hunting Club and members of the QDMA Coastal Branch, enjoyed a sunny day of squirrel hunting with dogs, some delicious southern cooking, and a lot of camaraderie on Feb. 20 near Cottageville.
Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area, located near Cordesville in Berkeley County, opens to adult/youth public fishing March 3.
Aiken County’s Crackerneck Wildlife Management Area and Ecological Reserve will be open to the public on selected Saturdays (6, 13 and 20) during the month of March. Scouting, some non-consumptive uses, and fishing will be allowed. No weapons will be permitted during March.
