You can win prizes, for fishing….yes, fishing! Register for the 2nd Georgia Bobberthon fishing tournament and you could find yourself winning some fun prizes. Bobberthon is a tournament at which registered anglers have approximately two months to catch tagged bream in any of four public fishing area lakes. The angler then must register their tag(s). These first few steps guarantee a reward – but then even more prizes are available at the Grand Bobberthon Tournament!

Boaters and anglers that frequent the Morgan Falls Dam portion of the Chattahoochee River near Sandy Springs should expect to see construction for replacement of the existing boat ramp beginning today, Mon. May 9, 2011. The new ramp should be completed in early June. The area, including the new fishing pier (completed in March 2011) will remain open during construction.  Lighter boats, such as kayaks and canoes, can be launched from the shore at the Morgan Falls area.  The concrete boat ramp at the National Park Service Johnson Ferry Unit is available to boaters with heavier vessels and will still allow for access to the same parts of the river.

Your chance at fun and prizes awaits you if you choose to participate in the 2nd Georgia Bobberthon fishing tournament!  Bobberthon is a tournament at which registered anglers have approximately two months to catch tagged bream in any of four public fishing area lakes. The angler then must register their tag(s).  These first few steps guarantee a reward – but then even more prizes are available at the Grand Bobberthon Tournament!

Can you think of a better way to spend a weekend than fishing with a kid? Join the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division for a weekend of family fun at their new “Hook and Learn” program at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) on April 8-10.  This is the first in a series of Advanced Hunter and Aquatic Education week-end long programs offered by WRD focusing on hunting and fishing skills and conservation knowledge.

Anglers that frequent the Morgan Falls Dam portion of the Chattahoochee River should be excited about the completion of a new fishing pier.  The pier, built by Georgia Power as a recreational improvement for Morgan Falls Dam, will provide great additional angler access below the dam according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division.

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 26th.

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 these prospect guides that detail 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 more than 25 anglers with a 2010 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 or length 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.