Advertisement
Trout Fishing
The lower Toccoa River’s waters flow from the depths of Lake Blue Ridge in north Georgia, creating a cold, clear tailrace river that has long sustained an outstanding trout fishery for a 15-mile stretch all the way to McCaysville. My long-time fishing buddy, George Montecino, and I have avidly fished the lower Toccoa River since…
Zach Baker, of Maysville, caught a unique golden-colored rainbow trout while fishing a public stream in north Georgia. The fish is likely the product of hatchery-raised strain, known as West Virginia golden trout, that was first developed in the 1950s. The color mutation of a regular rainbow trout was developed using selective breeding at Petersburg Trout Hatchery…
Any avid fisherman would know that catching a rainbow trout in warm water is not common. There just aren’t any trout in middle Georgia, right? This being the reason why Troy Harrell and his son Michael, of Roberta, were shocked to reel one in from the Ocmulgee River near Lake Jackson. Early Sunday morning on…
Editor’s Note: Chad Doughty was in September 2023 convicted and sentenced to life in prison for molesting a family member. https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/man-given-3-life-sentences-plus-30-years-prison-after-molesting-young-family-member-da-says/3I7OVPBYTVHHVJFNLC7HZQ3G4M/ The DNR press release below was written in 2014 when the fish was caught. Catching a big fish is awesome, how about if the first fish you catch that day is a new state…
So I’m pretty embarrassed about this, but I feel like I should share it as a cautionary tale. You can never be too careful, even when the conditions are perfect… My day started around 6 a.m. when I headed up to Island Ford on the Hooch. I haven’t gotten to get in the water since…
If you’re one of the many Georgia trout anglers whose ideas of Peach State trophy trout streams involve private water, fat trout, pricey guides and hefty access fees, it’s time to think again. Dukes Creek, in the Smithgall Woods Conservation Area near Helen, blows those assumptions out of the water with plentiful trophy rainbow and…
Blue Ridge native Hunter Barnes had seen this fish before. He had watched it for two weeks in the tailout of a big run while guiding on the Toccoa River tailwater. A college student and wrestler at UT Chattanooga, Hunter spent the summer guiding, and in one stretch of river he watched a resident mallard…
We’ve got a couple of impressive new records to report this month, a big Toccoa River rainbow trout and the coveted West Point flathead catfish record. Last year at this time, GON was reporting on trout populations devastated in the Toccoa River tailrace by warm-water discharges associated with construction at Blue Ridge Dam. A lot…
Trout anglers showed up in force Nov. 10 to voice varying opinions when the Toccoa River Watershed Coalition (TRWC) held a public meeting on its proposal for special regulations on the Toccoa River tailrace. The proposed regulations would restrict anglers to single-hook, artificial lures, a slot limit and reduced creel limit on a large section…
Atlanta area trout fishermen may have been thrilled with the news that the brown trout below Buford Dam are reproducing so successfully that there is no longer a need to stock them in the tailwater. However, those big browns are still very tough to catch. From previous catches and shocking surveys, we know the…
Trout Recipes
Ground Venison Stuffed Mushrooms Most Georgia deer hunters have an ample supply of ground venison on hand. This is tasty way to utilize just a small portion of that ground venison, and it makes a great appetizer or snack. 16 large portabella mushrooms 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons red bell pepper 2 garlic cloves…
Juicy Lucy Venison Burgers The Juicy Lucy Burger originated in Minnesota, of all places, and is a matter of statewide pride. Here, the recipe has been adapted to the South by replacing ground beef with venison. Be sure to use venison with at least 20 percent beef fat for best results. This makes four burgers.…
Slow Cooker Venison Stroganoff When it comes to wild game cooking, way too many hunters only have a few basic recipes. Deer chili. Venison spaghetti. Deer burgers. Digging the slow cooker out of the closet will open a whole new world. Try this easy recipe that will have your family and friends bragging on your skills.…