Georgia game and fish [Vol. 11, no. 1 (Spring 1962)]

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Fishin' in Southwest Georgia Let's Stop Poisoning Our Water Facts About Georgia Trout

GEORGIA GAME AND FISH
Published twice annually by the Georgia Game and Fish Commission in the interest of wildlife and for fishermen, hunters, nature lovers, and conservationists.
STATE OF GEORG lA

IN THIS ISSUE

ERNEST VANDIVER, Governor

COMMISSIONERS

William E. Smith, Americus-Chairman, Third District

J. T. Trapnell, Metter First District

Flannery Pope, Dublin Sixth District

Richard Tift, Albany J. B. Langford, Jr. Calhoun

Second District

Seventh District

William Z. Camp, Newnan Harley Langdale, Valdosta

Fourth District

Eighth District

C. L. Davidson, Jr. Avondale Estates

Billy Wikle, Clarkesville Ninth District

Fifth District

Leonard Bassford, Augusta Tenth District

Jimmie Williamson, Darien, Coastal Area

FULTON LOVELL, Director
DIVISION CHIEFS
Clifford P. Palmer --------------- - - ---- Enforcement Jack Crockford__ __ ____ __________ Game l\'lanagement Bob Short_ ____ ___ _______ _Education and Information
Fred J. Dickson _ -------------- -- Fish Management Robert Busby______------- ------ - - ----- - -- License David Gould _______________ __ Executi ve Assistant Vennie M. Jones ------------- ________ Bookkeeping George Creal --- - -- ---- - ------------- - -- Personnel
FEDERAL AID DIVISION
Jack Crockford ___ __ --- - -- ------ - - - Pittman-Robertson Howard Zeller----- --- - --- --- - ----- - Dingeli-Johnson

Page Fulton LovelL ____________ _________ ___ __________ 3 Fishing in Southwest Georgia____ __ _______________ 4 Facts About Georgia's Trout_ ________________ _____ 6 Stocking__________ ____ __ ____ _____ ___________ ___ 8 All About Fish___________ _________ ___________ __ lO
Catfishin' ----------------- ---------- ----- ----- - 12 Let's Stop Poisoning Our Water_ ______ ___________ l 4 Fly Tying_____ ________ ___ __ ____ __ ___ ___________ l6 Chattahoochee TrouL___________________ _______ _l8 It's How You Fish That Counts_______________ __ ___20 Snakes ____ ____________ __ __ _____ __ _____ ____ ____ 22 Boating With David Gould_____ ____ ___ __ ________ _24 Fish Tags__ _____________ _______________________25
Short Ca~s & Pot Sho~ ----------- --- ----------- 26
Sound ManagemenL _____ _______________________ 28 Trout Schedule__ __________ __ ___ _______ ____ _____3l

EDITORIAL OFFICES-401 State Capitol, Atlanta 3, Georg ia

BOB SHORT Editor

TONY MIDDLETON Assistant Editor

NANCY BELK Circulation

FISHING EDITION

Vol. 11, No. 1

Published by the Georgia Game and Fish Comm ission , 40 1 State Capitol, Atlanta 3, Georgia , in the interest of Georgia wi ld life and for fis hermen hunters. nature lovers and conservation of natura l reso u rces . There is no subscription fee -th 1s p ublication is free a nd is p a 1d for by the purchas~ of fishing and hunting licenses. Please notif y us a t once of an y change of address. Con te n ts of this m a gazine may be reprinted wtth proper cred it. This pub lication welcomes pictures, draw i ngs, stories and a rticles dea ling with out doo r subJe Cts fo r consi d eration . N o contr ibutions w ill be re turne d u nless solici ted by authonzed party re presen ting Game & Fish CommissiOn and accom panie d b y sufficient pos tag e. Entered as thtrd clas s p ostoqe

POLLUTION CONTROL
.. . k ey to the future

Editoria l

Georgia nvers. lakes and streams function as a vital life-line in the econom y of the state.
Without water supplies for cities recreation, and industry. the entire fac e of Georg ia as we know it now would be drasticall y changed.
Water has many uses ; one factor alone- Pollutioncould destroy all of them.
Polluted water is nearly as bad as no water at all. Sometimes it is worse. What is pollution? It is unwanted waste from cities, industries and silt washed from the land. It threatens us with disease, it threatens job opportuniby causing a shortage of water, and it causes a daily shrinka ge of water area for hunting, fishing and allied recreation. Pollution inroads must be curbed and existing sources of contamination cleared up. Fail ure to do so will unquestionably limit the futur e development and advancement in all areas of our economy. Without clean, usable water for multiple use, we cannot expect progress. P ollu tion in Georgia stems from a variety of sources. Heading the list is industrial wastes from mills, plants, fa ctories and untreated sewage from cities and town s. All of the major rivers in Georgia are polluted to varyin g degrees. and some streams are virtually "wiped out" as far as additional water use is concerned. Unl ess this meance is curbed , additional water areas will be lost. Our water suppl y will alwa ys be essentially th e sam e.

FULTON LOVE LL
now or a hundred years hence. Population increases and industrial expansion are in-
creas ing ever y year a nd consistentl y cl aiming more and more water for use, and returnin g polluted wa ter to streams.
This is where our seri ous thinkin g and eff ort should he direc ted.
Surveys have indi cated ~hat huntin g. fi :-;hing and boa ting in Georgia accounts for an annual ex penditure of about 150 milli on dollars.
The most imminent thr eat of polluti on is in thi s area. Fish kills and di e-offs fr om polluti on a re far too common an occ urrence. Besides th e ac tu al kills of fi sh, vas t areas a re rendered biolog ica ll y unproducti,e thr ough changes brought about by co ntinual waste dumpin g. This waste dumpin g whi ch destr oys recrea tio n al use, also keeps o ut industr y whi ch re li es on clean wa ter for its use. What is th e answer ? Simpl y to clean up th e problem spots and exert strong contr ols on new so urces. Sur ely industri al. municipal. and recrea tional uses of wal<'r ca n exist together. l'nw arranted use and co nt ami nati on of water at the expense of hunt ers and fi shPrmen ca nnot an d should not be tolerated. The pro blem can J,e so l\'ed with all water ust' agencie:o; "mking towa rd a commo n goal for unpolluted streams. This is tlw key to the fu ture of fishin g. huntin g and co ntinu ed eco nomi c arh an cement in Georgia.

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Charles Tyson's 15-pound largemouth set a Semino le record.

in Southwest Georgia

Lake Seminole has just about ruined farming in South\\ est Georgia. \\' hen bass are hittin '- and tlwt' s ~bo ut ninety percent o f the time- farm folk s tradt> thei r h oe handle:o. for cane poles and spi nnin g tackl e and hea d fo r the water.
Hesults? Poor crop~ hut a he ap of fish. Lake Seminole, located \\'here the Flint and Uwtt alwuchee join to make the Apalachicola. is one of Georgia's newest and best. espe('ially for year-rou nd fishing.
\Iu ch of it s :H.500 acre:o. is in standing timJ,er, s h al lo '' fl a ts and wo od ed isl a nd:,.. Its a\'erage depth is around 15
feet-ju~t ri g ht fo r ha:-:---ancl natural lime si nk ponds fl oo d ed b y Jim \Vo odruff dam lea\t' plent~ of coo l. clear \\ a ter fur l1a ss to feed in.
Seminole is principall y a bass lake. J,ut lneam ami cra ppi e fi s hin g get s to he e xcellent du rin g certain period,_ of th e ) ear a nd str i ped b ass. loc al ly ralltd rockfi:-h. show up i n a ng le r:,; ' C'l t>els once in a w hi !P.
T he key to Semin o le's p o pularity with fi:-h e nnen is th e fact that hass start hitting earlier than they do in most C torgia lal.ts. Bass fi s hin g is u s ually beq during April a nd \l av. hut this doesn't rule o ut lar ge strin gs of Junkers ti m ing the remainder of the yea r.
Trol ling in dt>ep wa ter pa ys uff in midsummer anti tup \\' aler lurts. fi,_hPd with p a tien ce and skill, will proha ld y gd a l>ig <~lie ea rl y o f a s umm e r morning ur la te in th e aflt-' rn oon.
Se m ino le bass sclwol in lat e summ er and fall in a ll a rt as o f the lakt and ang lers wh o ar e lu ck y e nough to fi nd them cas h in o n p lent~ of artion.
Althou g h h a"'" seem to lw Semino le's top a s,.,e t. bream hard!~ mtl.'-t takt a b ack :-wat \\ h t>n it to mes to an g ling a dion. Durin g A pril. :\l ay awl Junt- s pa \\ nin g timea \\ tl l'ln o r a cr wkt'l fis hed on t he l>otto m of the lake is

likeh to lurt> somP hand-sized bream and shellerackers. Semirwlt>\ c rappie usually J,ite earl y compared to
otlwr Georgia lakes. february and l\larch a rc best month:"itl1 smne good fall fishin g coming in Octo ber and \o,emher. ~lore often than not. fish e rmen ('atc h th em in 15-:)0 fe e t of wattr in th e cyprus tr ee;;. alon g th e old ri\ er channds.
\lo:- t of tlw ~ trip e d l>a :";;. taken in Seminole ha\e co m e
from tlw Spring CrtP k arm uf the lake. (See map. )
Ju st north uf Lake Seminole on the Flint RiY e r is arwtlwr h o t fi ::; hing ;-;pot \\he re anglers usually find a
~oo d ly number of kt:-s. br ea m and crappie. A !thoug h hem y u;-;e by pl easure !JUater" restriets fi,.,hin g to ;-;lwllo\\
eo\ t>S a nd ft't'der "lr l'a ll1 :". Lake \Vorth i." perlwps better known for it" hrt'am and l>i g "lwllcracker fishin g .
Late \pril and ea rl~ \lay is tl1 e tim e to go ),r ea m bed hunting on Lake \Vorth. Crickets and worms. and sunw tinws poppiu' hu gs. work \\onders with Lake " ror th l>ream. S ometime s the bu g:; attract a bass or tw o . parti c ularh a round th e i;-;land s and at the mouth s o f Kincha fo o nee a nd -:\lue kalee creeks.
Bass hit best during April and ~Ia ) around th e man) g ras" i,_ Jand -- and up K inc hafonnee and :\lu ckalee. Shiners. minnows. artifitial \\ orms and top\\ at ers arc b est hait s during pea k l)a::.s period s and. o eca:-- ionall~ . "'jig" fishin g
turns up a health y bass. Lake Bl ackslwar is also on th e flint Ri\ er and. unlike
ih si,., tt r La ke W o rth. is \\idely known fnr it:- fast gro win~ bas" a nd lar ge br ea m and c rappi e. Blncksh ea r is J,arely mtr :10 Years old. haYin g h ee n con:"tructed by the Crisp Count\ Power Comm ission in 1tJ:30, but its r eputa tion as a fi::.hing lake ha:" gro wn e arh yea r until about a det"ad e ago wh e n it o; uffered a h ad casP of oyerhalance.
\n unpretedcnted fish eradication , h o \\enr. restored its fi;;h population- a nd its reput a tion- durin g the sum-

nwr o f I<> 5::. The Geor gia Game and Fi~h Co mmi ssion. \\ ith the help of several tanks of r otenone. compl ete!) wiped out the lake's population of g izzar d shad ami gaw the water back to game fish.
fish er) hiolot>-ists estimated that over 700.000 pound;-; of ,.had we re el iminated durin g the eradicati on program. 11} the following spring. hi ologi.,ts reports -.bowed a !waY) spawn and, "oupled \\ ith introductions o f white Lass and thread fin shad (fora gp fi sh ). fi shin g immediately i IIIJH O\ed.
IHacbhear is an excellent crappie lake and these finny fi g hters beg in strikin g ra ther early . Fe bruary and \larch are the hottest months, with encores in October and ~ovember. Bass anglers get th eir best li cks in April and ;\lay and sometimes October with fair to good fishing inbetween. The tailwaters of Blackshear is a good spot for white bass \vhen they beg in their spring run.
These three lakes are far from all the fishin g in Southwest Georgia. The Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers, .. mammies" o f Lake Seminole, have plenty to offer anglers.
l1etw een Rlachhear and Seminole on the Challahoochee. white and striped bass, largemouths, channel ratfish allfl blu egills are abundant and rarin' to bite.
Betw een Lake Worth and Seminole is found th e fa bulous coastal pla ins version of the redeye bass, locally called sma llmouths. These bass grow to lunker size and are tremendous fi ghters on li ght tackle. Fishing is best from October throu gh January when the river is low and clear. There isn 't much excitement after the spring rains for redeyes but where these spirited fi ght ers leave off th e largemouth takes up.
It's no wonder Southwest Georgia farmers find it har d to s ta~ with the soil. With all the good fi shing around. e\ en Eli \Vhitney would have left his cotton gin.

An a ft ernoon's ca tch of Lake W o rth pa nf ish .
LAKE BLACKSHEAR

Lake Semino le offers a vari e t y of species -bass, bream, crappie, catfish a nd striped bass.
LAKE WORTH

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THIS POINT IS 30 MILES SOUTH OF THIS POINT

Rainbow Trout
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Brook Trout

FACTS ABOUT GEORGIA'S

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Brown Trout

TROUT

Georgia has ovPT 800 miles in the cooL invigora tin g mountains in the northea~t sertion of the sta te.
With a few exception~, this is the on ly area wher e water is suitable for trout. A coldwater fish, trou t require cool. clear water with plenty of oxygen .
Brook trout require the coldest water- a tempera ture over 78 degrPes proves fatal. Rainbow trout are more
tolerant ~uccumbing in temperatures exceeding ns degrees
and brown trout ha ve a fatal temperature of 33 degrees.
Three species of trout are found in north Georgia streams-brook, rainbow and brown.
BROOK
The brook trou t, native "speck" ur "speckled tro ut," was th e only spec ie." pre<;ent when white man first settled Georgia. It ha~ been supplant ed by rainbow and brook trout in most stn~ams but is still very popular amo ng mountain fishermen.
The brookic apparently has difficulty competi ng with rainbows and browns in Ceorgia streams. Reason for this is that the tempNature of these streams has been warmed cu nsi tl erahly by logging, pollution ami silt caused by bo th loggi ng and farming.
Brooks are confined now princ ipally to small head-
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wa ter streams, particularl y th ose isolated by hi gh falls whi clr ra inbows a nd browns ca nn ot ascent.
In strea ms wh ere rainbows and brown~ have been stocked a bme such fall s, brooks disappeared. Onl y in the very coldest streams, where the rainbow has difficulty su r viv in g does th e broo kie hold its own.
RAI N BOW Ra inbow tr out is th e spec ies that domin ates north Geo rgia strea ms. It occ urs in more ~tre am s than either oth er species. P ound for pound, rain bo ws are considered the toug hest fi ghters. They seem to thrive best in r a pid cascad ing streams, oft en called ''white wa ter."
BROWN Brown tr out kn own as Ge rman brown or Loch Le, en, a tt a ins tlw la r gPs t s ize of a n y spec ies found in Geo rg ia. Eac h yea r ma ny indi vi du al l G-25 inches a re ca ught in tht heav il y fi shed strea ms on th e sta te's coopera ti\ e managPnw nt areas. Bruw n trout a rc a ble to withstand th e heavi es t fishin g p ress ure o f all three, the brookie is least able to withsta nd heavy fi shin g pressm e. As ma ny a ngle rs have fo und , brown trout ar e th e hardest of all to ca tch. Creel census reco rd s based on r ecovery o f ma rk ed fi sh hea rs thi s out.

Water tempe rature determines le ngth of time fo r egg s to hotch.

Trout fry hove yo lk sacs a t toched to their unde rsid es.

Here's what anglers ore seek mg - a full grown brook trout.

SPAWNING SEASONS
Broo k and brown tr out ar e fall spawners, spawning on a falling temperature, while the rainbow tr out is a spring sp awner- spawning on a rising temper ature after a long cold winter.
As spawning season approaches the mature trout seek out gravel riffles.
The female makes the nest b y excava tin g, with move ment of her tail and fin s, a hollo w in the gra vel and there she la ys her eggs and the male fertilizes them . Aft er com pleti on of the spawning act the eggs are covered with bo tt om materi al. and fr om there on left unattended.
The length of time it takes for the eggs to hatch depends on the water temperatu re. As a general rule it

takes 50 days for the eggs to hat ch if the tempera ture is .SO degrees. T he fry. newly-ha tched young, have a yolk sac att ached to their underside at fir st, later this is absorbed
J, y the body and then the young fish work their way
up thr ough the gra\ el and into the stream. The youn g eme rge from the gravel beds in winter or spring, depe nd ing on local conditions and species of trout.
Growth ra te varies with species of fish and environ mental condi tions.
Yearling trou t could be expected to vary from about five to seven inches. T hree-yea r-old fish should be about a foot in length. A seven tee n inch Lrown trout would bP about five years old. Trout older than six years are rarP in the heavily fished streams of north Georgia.

Georg ie 's leg io n of tro ut ang lers fi nd peace-and fish-in the northeas t Georgia mo untain streams.
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Fi sh Sta ck ing is success ful o n ly in ne w wat e rs, re introd uc ti on prog ra m s o r in wate rs where ex istin g popu lat ions have bee n removed.
menta Is of

... the truth\

T here's one basic fac t that needs to be understood if we a re to properly determine the role of stocking in today's fi sh m an agement programs.
Fish a re p r olific- much m or e p ro lific, in fac t, th a n m ost anim als in field a nd strea m .
T here a re n o accura te figures on egg prod uc tion b eca use a big fem a le lays fa r m ore eggs th a n a sm a ll fem ale of the sa me species. Ho wever , in gener aL a trout m ay lay 1,000 eggs. a bass 10.000 a bluegill 20.000. a wa lleye 50,000 a nd a big carp mi ght la y a m illion .
Cnder suitable conditions, a bi g percentage of these eggs hatch. On e study on a 1 1-acre la ke sh o wed that the number of fr y pruductd natur a lly b y four species (la rgemou th bass, bluegill , common sunfi sh , rock bass) was sligh tly over 50.000 per acrt'. The wat er wo uld support only a few hund red adult fi sh per acre.
Th Pre haw been insta nct's wht'r e the limited brood stuck present in the orig inal river was more than adequate to pruvi de all the yo un g fish needed to stock bi g impoundments. A good t'xa mple of thi s is Georgia's lake LaniPr. wlwr e fi sh fro m the Cha tt a h ooc hee Ri ver p opu latNI tlw lake with t'no ugh brood stock to start an excP II Pnt po pulat ion.
A hi g female bass in a one-acr e pond co uld produ ce eno ugh proge ny so th a t. if a ll <'gps ha tched and a ll fish sun i\ t'd for th ree gener atio ns. there would be enoug h fi ,.;h. at one pound each. tu replace tlw wat er in the po nd. and to ma kt' a heap. orw ac re in area. extt'nd in g o\PJ 700 ftet a buvP the pond!
Oln iuu:-h. fish arP pro lific. T h is is easih u nd t-> rstood if we \\ill think of co\\'s eac h having thousan ds o f ca h es each \ear. If tach cow had only 10,000 ca h- e,.;. ad d ing a truc kload of tah e,.; \\ ouldn't incna"t' tlw ra ttl e popul ation of a pasture \ ery appreciably.
T lwn-- \. an added ittm. Fish IH't'd food-a nd pl t' nt y of it. The ir fno : t"hains tt'nd to he long. The average ane of watn in Ct>orgia supports only about one hun dred
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fift y pound s of fi sh. This ma y range from a very few pounds per acre in some waters to a thousand pounds or m or e in so me sm all , hea vil y fertilized waters.
It's easy to see wh y. durin g the days of the hatcher y ''craze," many of our hopes were unrealized. We can understa nd. now. wh y much of th e stockin g was in effecti ve or even harmful. During those da ys the public \\ as quite willin g to accept the belief th at stockin g was the pan acea to all our fi shin g ills. Fishery worker s believed it, too . T lw j ob of selling the stockin g idea wa s an efit'c tiH one. It was later that Wt' learn ed more about fi shin g be in g pro lific a nd abo ut th e food needs.
T he job of " un selling" h as n ot been an easy one. F or irbtance. a ) ear of tw o a go the o wner of a farm pond had dec id ed to sta rt fis hin g it b ut he obsPrved an immense crop of bluegi ll fr y- ' 'milli ons of 'em ."
"' We dec-ided to let th em gr ow up before we startt'd the fis hing." sa id th e farm er.
T he m an had a well-ma11agt'd farm . He had onl y a lim it ed number of cows in h is pastu re. He understood abo ut ca rr yin g cap ac it y a11d over gr azin g on the la nd. But to him hi s pond was quite different.
T here's th e case, too, of sp01 tsmen bein g deli ghted when a sta te truck delivered bass fr y for dist r ibuti on in a ra th e r extensive secti on o f b ass wa ters in one co unt y. T he suppl y co nsisted of 5.000 fry , less than half of the potent ial o utput of one fem a le.
T ho ugh the re a re still exceptions, m ore and m ore ,.;por tsme n recog nize the fa ct th a t stocking h as limit a ti o n~ . In ~en era l. the public still loo ks on stockin g as a cur e- all onl y in sta tes whert' tlw to p fi sher y people h ave been d i~intp n ~ted in pu b lic t' nli ghtment fo r obvi ous reasons.
~lt~ c kin g d o te~ ha \ e maj or limitatio ns. But. it 's ont' of o ur nw>' t im portan t fi sh con ser va ti on too ls. Pr opt' rl ) used, "lockin g plays a n imp or tan t ro le in improvi ng o ur fi shin g .
Fo r wa rm watPrs we must rely on pl an ting small fi sh. Hai!-i in g game fish to ad ult size in h a tcheri es costs a for -

Hatchery reared trou t fr o m Lake Burton Beg in Grad ing Process.

.ab ou t STOCKING

tune. Rearing a bass to twelve inches would cost an estimated two to four dollars. Not over half the planted fish can he expected to be recaught. This raises the average price of eac h hass ereeled from four to eight dollars- almost eight times the price of a Geo rgia fishing license.
Planting warmwater fingerlings serves a good purpose in a number of instances:
l. To stock new waters, especiall y farm ponds and new public fishing lakes.
2. Reintroduction of fi sh in lakes depleted by fish kills.
3. Introduction of species not already present, where such introduction is desirable.
I. Restockin g of waters from which ex isting fi sh populations were removed through use of chemicals or draining.
The stocking picture for warmwater and coldwater fish differs rather decidedly. Trout can he raised to catchable size at a mu ch lower cost than would be needed to raise bass or other game fi sh to a size where they would be a ttr acti \e to anglers.
In numerous waters we can now ha\'e good trout fishing only by plantin g catchable-sized fish . In most Georgia trout strea ms. it is a case of ha vi ng put-and-take stocki ng or having no trout fi shin g at all. Of co urse, "uch stocking is justifi ed only on heavily fish ed walt'rs where a bi g percentage of stoc ked fi sh will bP retaken hy anglers.
In general, stocking with co ldwat er spec ies may he expected to be nefit fi shing under these ci rcu msta nces:
l. Stoc kin g su it ab le lakes wh ere trout L tvc no spawn ing areas.
2. Restocking lakes or streams with fin gt rlin gs after n~moval of ex isting fish populations lt y u~e o f rotenone or othe r methods.
3. Stoc kin g with ca tchabl e sized trout. This i:; th e onh
method o f prodding good trout fishin g in watf'r"- th~t

are heavily fish ed because usually th ey are not capable

uf ra ising enough fish naturally to suppl y the demand.

l nt roduct ions have bee.n buth beneficial and harmful.

For example, trout fishing has been created in many

waters by introducing trout: fishing in some waters ha s heen destroyed by introducing carp.

Often ~portsmf'n tend to want those species introduced which are not alreadv present. If these succeed. they

must ge nerally do so at th e expense of nati\e spec it,s. Carrying ca pacity is limited. If we add horses, sheep and

mules to a pasture, the pasture will nece::-:;a ril y :;uppurt fewer cows than it co uld support befor e the utlter S )JL>(ie~

wer e added.

(continued on page 29 )

Game and Fish Commission aides grade trout before releasi ng them into north Geo rgia Strea m s.

By HOWARD ZELLER Dingell-]ohnson Coordinator
The behavior and seemingly irresponsible actions of fish are a constant topic of conversation among fisher men. Why do fish react as they do under certain conditions? What are the best lures? Best times to go fishing?
These are a small sample of the questions passed around when fishermen meet. Chances are you will hear about as many answers as there are fishermen.
Professional fishery biologists will be the first to admit they don't know all the answers. On the other hand, basic scientific knowledge of fish as an animal group may help out on your next fishing trip.
COLD BLOODED VERTEBRATES
All fish, reptiles and amphibians are classified as cold blooded animals. This simply means these animals are more primitive than the mammals and do not possess special regulatory mechanisms to keep their body temperature constant. Their body temperature will be the same as the environment in which they live.
If the water is cold, body temperature is low and the activity of fish is greatly reduced. This lowered body temperature principally affects feeding, since less activity means that less food is required. The same phenomena is found when water temperature is too high. Aquarium experiments have shown, for example, that food consumption of largemouth bass is several times greater at water temperatures of 65 compared to a low temperature of 35 or a high temperature of 90.
This helps explain why bass fishing is best in the spring and fall, and slowest in mid-summer and winter. When fish are more active they require more food and con sequently bite better.
VISION OF FISH
All fish are notoriously near sighted. Vision is probably restricted to several feet even in very clear water. They have moveable eyeballs and the ability to move
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their eyes independently so that one eye may be looking up and the other down. They also have good VISion above the surface of the water, good enough to nab a flying insect by leaping out of the water.
Color vision in fishes is a highly controversial issue. Aquarium studies using color combinations have yielded some interesting information.
Most biologists agree that fish are virtually color blind and that most bright colors as viewed by fishes appear as shades of gray, brown, or green. Some species can determine shades of color. The color most easily singled out by fishes are green and yellow, according to a recent investigation.
SENSE OF SMELL
The sen e of smell is quite highly developed in all fishes. The nostril has no function in breathing, but leads to a small sac where the sensory tissue is located. Certain substances in very small amounts in the water may either attract or repel fishes. Pollution wastes may be readily detected and repel fish, whereas sharks and other species can smell an infinitestimal amount of blood in the water at great distances.
SE SE OF TOUCH
Fish have a highly developed sense of touch, similar to man. Sensory cells are located all over the body. The barbels or "whiskers" on catfish are highly developed and assist these fish in finding their way in muddy water.
HEARl G IN FISH
Basically, hearing in fish is the same as land animals. Sound travels much faster in the water than on land and fish are quite sensitive to sounds of low frequency .
Fish have no outer ear, and sound reaches the sensitive inner ear as vibrations picked up in .the water by the lateral line. This lateral line is readily seen along the sides of the fish extending from head to tail as a tube like

Pyloric caeca Intestin e

Dorsal fin

Body cavity lining

lateral line

Muscle tissue

Adipose fin

Gill

Two-chambered heart

Stomach
Pectoral fin Liver

Pelvic fin

modifi cation of the scales. It is connected directly to the nervo u system.
Voice from above are probably not heard by fish, but any movement or sound in the water stirs vibrations that are readily detected by the lateral line.
I TER ALA ATOMY
The figure outlines the main internal organs of fi shes. Organ systems are quite complex and well developed. Some factors will vary accordin g to species and especially food habits. Fish such as bass, crappie and pike, which are mainly fish eaters, have ver y short intestines, while other forms such as carp, had and suckers that feed on vegetati ve material have long coiled intestines.
FISHI G TIPS
In all the sensor y factors that influence behavior are lumped together, we come up with a few basic fishing hints that hold true:
l. Temperature: This is probably the most important ingle factor in catchin g fi sh consistently. If yo u are a scientific fi sherman yo u will want a thermometer in yo ur tackle box to help yo u in selectin g proper depth and

best times to fish. As a rule of thumb, fish shallower in the spring and fall than during mid summer. Fish will pick out the temperature they like best. Experiment with different depths if yo u don't have a depth recording ther m omete r .
2. Select your artificial lures on the basis of their action in the water and resemblance to natural food. Try to dupli cate natural movements of food organisms in the wa ter. Fish all artificial lures slowly. Color of artificial lures, although it may be significant in some waters, is overall probably not the most important factor in catching fi s h.
3. Be careful with sounds, especially splashing the water or thumping the sides of yo ur boat. Normal conversation is probably not detected by fish.
4. When fishin g surface plugs, wait a short interval after the plug hits the water before the retrieve. Chances are that near sighted bass didn't see the lure hit the water, but with his sensitivity to water vibrations he heard it and needs a little time to swim up closer and look it over.
All true fishermen know that even the best advice and conditions will not guarantee a catch of fish. The ideas discussed here may help to form a basis for a bigger catch and a better trip next outing.
11

allis in'

"I'll tell you what I don't like about catfishing,'' the man said. "It's those foul-smelling concoctions that cat fishermen dream up to catch fish. They're awful."
Awful or not. catfishing is becoming a very popular ~port in southern states. Only time will tell if it surpasses fishing for bass. the real prize of southern anglers. hut it is curuntly well on the way.
This sudden surge in popularity of the once-lowly catfish can perhaps he explained hest by examining the t~ pica! cat fisherman.
He's a man who enjoys catching fish ... a man who tried dragging lures across the bottom of a lake or tediously working a topwater plug for bass. He's a fellow "ho has drowned many \Vorms in a spot that loob like a plare for a big bream bed.
Sume anglers belie\ e that catfish offer little challenge. They say the) 're easily caught and ne\er put up the battle of a live!) bass or a tail-walkin' trout. Be this as it may. the catfish appeals to a growing legion of fishermen.
Catfishermen are a lot like trappers-always dreaming up new preparations designed to attract their quarry. It may he spoiled chifken li\'ers. frozen shrimp that have thawf'd. plain. raw meat or chicken innards.
These "baits" catch fish and what angler can argue with success?
In addition to thesf'. cheese (particularly the smelly kind l, blood-flavored doughballs. soap. beef, worms. cut fish and crawfish make mighty good baits.
On the more appetizing side, there are several prepara lions on the markf't for catfishermen. Thesf' vary in size and ron!Pnt. hut all <lrf' efff'cti\ e wlwn it romes to catrhing fish.

Earthworms make good catfish bait
The catfish himself is often as unpredictable as the man who fishes for him.
One ne\er knows what to expect when he performs an autoposy on Old Mr. Whiskers. Such th ings as bottle caps, small rocks, beer openers. aspirin bottles and grasshoppers have heen found in their innards.
To fishermen, this simply means that catfish will eat almost anything. But this isn't exac tl y true. Ca tfi sh won't t'at just anything. Sometimes, it seems they won't eat at all ],ut if a fisherman comes along at the right time "ith the right bait, lw can usually he assured of some good fishing.

High Falls Lake is one of Georg1o ' s better cotfishin' areas.

12

Catfishermen prefer the swi rling deep water behind power dams to search their quarry.

Ju,_t like in any type of angling. there are about as many methods to catch cats as there are fishermen. But one thing's for sure- the fisherman who consistently catches cats knows how. when and where to fish.
:\lost big catfish are taken on or near the bottom with a rig known as a "tight line." This apparatus is comprised of a bell-shaped sinker and two hooks, preferably 1\ u. 2s. One hook is placed on a dropper line about a fo ol or so above the weight. The other is joined to the line ahout eighteen inches above the first hook.
\\' hen the weight is on the bottom and the light is drawn ti g ht. the lower hook rides several inches off the huttom. the higher hook about a foot shallower.
Some anglers just bait their single hooks. weight them properly and cast tlwm into the water. The we ight pulb tlw hooks tu the bottom and thi~ often works just as efTer livel) as cluuble hooks.
Catfish, particularly channel cats. are produ cts of "'' ift water. They like lo travel around in the deep and here\ where the larger ones can be takt'n. The shallower tlw water. the smaller the ca tfish is a rule that seldom fails to hold trut'.
\lost Georgia str eams have good populations of ratfish. and th cv are found in abundance in alll principal lake;;, Channel ca ts hav e no boundaries. but white eatfish. uft<n called blue ra ts. are products of sou th Georgia. Flathead:< I speckled, flat and others) prd ' r north Georgia habitat an d are common!) caught in northern lakt's and streams.
(atfi,;h f<'ed V<Hifcriousl) in wal<~r lcmJwralur<'s from Ill lo 7.5 d<'grcts. Over 15 d<'grcts, they do little or 11u ft'eding and under 10 dt'gree;; th eir appdile;; al;;o >'<'<'Ill lo ,.Jatk ofT.

Channel cats are the most preferred specie" of Georgia ratfish. A recent rulin g hy the Game and Fish Commission ga\'e them game fish status.
The rhannel catfish may also beco me a good fi sh for farm fish ponds. Biologi:--ts have learned that. wlwn "locked in the proper ratio with bream and bass. they shuw phenomenal growth- sometimes as much as three and three-quarters pounds a year.
The Commission will use its facilities at Walton County fish hatche ry to propagate channel ca tfi ,.h for u:--e in puhlic waters and farm pon(k
This should add even mort' popularity to Old l\lr. Whi"k<'r:o-. the ra::;cal of the deep water.
Tam Hardin of Appling di splays a cat taken fr om Clark Hill Lake.
f
13

Let's stop

POISONING

Radiati on, Viral disea se s a nd inva s io n o f c h e mical s threat e n Georgia 's pure , fr esh wate r supply th a t is u sed by a ver 4 million in habitants, including childre n.
14

ny LUTHER TERRY. \J.D.
Su rf.!,cnn Gen eral , l .S. Pu hlic IIcalI lz SI'ITicc
\VIwn I entnl'd the Publi c Health ~en ice :-.o me 20 ' ear s ag o. I \\a" tau g ht ll\ tlw senior physi c ian:-; of our Corp" th a t \\ lwll'ver el:o;e in our em irunnwnt \\'as dang e rtill S to lwa lth. our \ratrr supplies \\'ert safe. One could go a m\\ he re in our countr y. turn on the tap. awl drink a ~ l a"s of \\ at e r \\ itlwut \\ o rry . Some of the wate r might ta :,te like meditin (' a nd "ome o f it mi g ht lw strangeh ('olored. J,ut it l'ouldn't harm you.
\ledi cal ,., id c nce. in tlw se da ys. sttmed to bear us o ut. Tvplwid ft\er. ('h olna , and the wat e rborn d~s('nt e rie s \\ ere di seases o ne read a bout in medical hooks or en eountt red o n trips abr o ad ; thr y we re not diseases nn e ex pec ted to tr eat in private pr ac ti ce. This is =-till true , incide ntally. There probabl y is not one practicin g plnsi rian in 50 \\ h o h as e r er tr eatt>d t) phoid or cholera within th e continenta l LT. S.
But three dangers one potential and two actual- are causin g us to rt -e xamin e our wat e r ':-. spotless reputation .
The potl' ntial dan ge r is radiation. So far , \\C know of no \\at er in the U nited States \\'hich approar hes a )e, el of radi a tion imm ediat ely dan ge r ous to health. W e art> kl'e ping ve r y close \\' a tc h . all(! must continue to do so as th e uses o f nucl ear e ne r gy incr ease=- in th e year s ah ea d .
r\ S('co nd dan ge r has to d o w ith the 'i ra! d i!-ea:,e!-. \\'1 a re b y no m eans sure th a t a t least some viru st's are no t sli pp ing thr oug h o ur pr e:o.< IIt \\a te r pm ilit:a tiun a nd d isinfec ti o n pr ocesses a nd e nteri ng o m wa ter main s. lie pa-

Here's an exam p le of po llut ion's serious e ffect s on water. Left, o polluted stream. Right, th e same st rea m before polluti on.

OUR WATER

!III" mar b e an exampl e. A count of 59,5/.'i cases o f lw p at iti ~ in the United S tat es throu gh Oct ober 11 thi s \ear- th e hig hest in hi:"t ory a nd fo ur tim es the u:"u a l a v e ra ~e -- is ex tre mel y di s turbin g.
T lw th ird dan ger is sonw thin g else- som ethin g new.
\{od ern man is li\ in g in a ne w kind of e nvironment I\ hicl1 ha:" been largely c reakd in th e incredibly s hort ti me of 20 \ear!". In thi ;;; b ri ef pe riod at least a ha lf million new chemical com pounds ha\e co me into existence. \\ 'c lllanufact ur e th ese s ubstances. we use tlwm , a nd whe n 11 f' are done with them. in a go od many cases. we di s l'harp,t th em int o our rin'rs and ~ tr ea m s or clump them o11 the g round and let th e m see p into our und erground 1\ater :-.upp lies. 1\nd th en , days or month s or years lat e r I in minute quantities. it is tru e I. we drink them.
Some of these :-ubstance:o come from your ho me. In I<J 17. th e hou scw iYes o f the nation used 375 million pounds of detergent s. Last ) ea r they used more th an :L2 bi ll ion pounds. T h ey a lso used more b leaches, powders and othn lwu:-.thold clea nse r,, mw~h of which wen t down tlw drain and into the neare:-t waterway.
Others of the new su bsta nces come from farmland:;.
Enq rainfall\\ a:-;lw!' ferti lizers, herbicit PS and pes ti c ides
off the nops and field,.. and into tlw !'!reams all(l ri\'ers . l ' nlikt~ mo~t o th er f(JI'l11s of pollution, the,..t ca mwt lw II aced lu a single so urce.
Still otlwrs <'OIIW fr om factories. All iudustrial pro dtwtion has inn<'a,..ed (J.S pn rcnt "inct 1017, and tht~ tlwmical indu"try's production ha:o. inncased llo ptr ce nt.

Use of plastics. one of the maj or types of chemi cal products, has increased from 277 million pounds in 1910 to over six billion pounds last year.
The most disturbing thin g ahout th ese new substances is that natur e ca nn ot handle th em as effic iently as s lw handks other impurities of n a tur a l ori~i n . Fish, plant s. m o uld ~. bacteria a nd ot lw r li\'i11 g orga ni ~ms in \\'al Pr ca n. in time , hr<'a k down any natural impurity and use it as food. But for man y of the man-made compounds. there seems to h e no orga ni sm that tan giw us a helping han d . On('e the:-;e s ub stances ;,!el into th e water. tllP) an~ diluttd. but th ey pers ist for lo np: periods of tim e.
(continued on page 30)

New Research programs by state and federal health officials will find fact s, keep water pure and useoble.

I}...I,.._:_...,r...---'
!i

I

15

Patterns and tying instructions on several Fly s for Georgia fishing ...

Fly fishing challenged anglers for many years as the wily, underwater inhabitant continues to try to outsmart those who are "after hi~ hide."
There are approximately 1.000 variou~ fly patterns, most of which are only slight variation~ of ~ome IOO typ es. The~e can he broken down and grouped into I2 or IS ba~ic patterns.
Here are 20 patterns of common flies which have proved to be good bait for Georgia trout, ba~s and bream.
Three ~uch patterns, the Gt>orgia .\lay. llaggs and Abernathy, are variations from old models designed to meet local needs. They have proved to Le exrPllent bait~.
Wet Fly
In dn fli es, the wings are parted and turned out, but the wet fly's wings are tied as they press again~! eac h other. The hackle of dry flies radiates from the hook. but it is confined to the under side o f WPI flies and used as a cover for the barh of the hook. Old r oo~ter necks are u~ed in making dry flies while so fter , more absorlJ ent hen necks are used for wet flies. Abo, wools and porous hair which are wat er absorbent are employed in making wet flies
, as well as heavy hooks and ~oft copper or
lead wire.
_____________ - ~ ~
usable section
/~---~

Tying the Dry Fly
~ GU?:ffu\.._ 0\1 ~0, -~
cl
Towa rd the po in t of the q uill fibers are very stiff, yet they become softer a t the base. When th ey are put toget her (Fig. I ) they fo r m the wing of the fly. In Fig. 2 the tyin g thread is wound around the wing, and Fig. 3 ill ustra tes the mos t important ~tep in givi ng a proper shape to the wing. Enoug h pressure must Le exer ted to keep the wing from collapsing Lut loose enough to le t it pull into sh ape.
_\fter pinrhing the har bs, the wings ,..hould look like Fig. -1-. Several more turn s of the thread should be made and exce~" thread cut off. The fly wing is then pickt-tl up and several turn.- of the tying thread are taken behind it ( ~ee Fig. 5). Figure 6 illustrates the fly wing.

Fig. I3 shows how a feather taken from the flank of a duck can be made into a servicea ble fly wing. This is a good method for quickly barbed winged flies. In Fig. H th e ma~~ of barbs are ~eparated and cross wound to form Fig. I5.
~~~
i) ~
h

Another type of wing ca n be madt> from the tip of the neck hackle. It is tied down as in Fig. 7. with the exce~s material trimmed off. Tying thread is then wound on each side of the wing.
In Fig. 9 the wing is parted ~]ight]y
giving the appearance of an insect. Hair from squirrels. monke ys or deer can he tied in the same ma-nner tnnviding for a floating wing.

T yi ng the dry fly is demo nstrated start ing with Fig. I6. The first step is to tie down the tail pieces. and in Fig. I7 where the hody is complete. wing pieces are cut from identical paired durk feathers. In Fig. IS the wing pieces are tied down a" werP done in figure s 1-(J. Figure I9 shows a
roo"ter ha,kle being tietl into the base of a wing, and in Fig. 20 the hackle i,_ wound
behind tht wing. "\fter several turn s the hackle is then secured with the tying thread and coated with a lacquer for the finished fly 0
In t) ing floating flie s materials u~ed p]ay an important role. Flie~ that are tied in a hulkv manner will float well at first. but when they !Jerome saturated. it is most diffi c ult to whip them dn while fi,.hing. A fly dre"s ing, wh ich is au oil covering that aids the fly in floating, is advisable.
The dre s~i ng i.; a lubricant de~igned to
keep down re~i~ta n ct betw een the line and guide. Abo, it keep~ the lin e floa t ing.

Above is a pair of duck pointer quills
which were taken from the left and right wings. In obtaining these quill~. the com plete dried wing should be procured ~o
that the quills can be matched. This is the reason why whole skins of ducks are sold for Lrtter matching of the feathers.

In Fig. 10 anothf'r version of the wing i~ ~ho\' n. This fly can easily he ""en by the fi,.h !Jecause of its bulk, and for that rea,on makes a good early 'ea,on dry fly.

figure" 2I-23 illu~trate a more eompli rated form of tyin~ the dry fly wing. Thi~

16

mak es for a more grace ful win g, but does not sta nd up we ll durin g fi s hin g. It is men ti o neJ he re for th e purpose of making dis pla y fli es to be u,..ed for decora tive pur poses.
Tying the Wet Fly

Figu re 25 ~ h o w s th e he n hac kl e !wing tied a~ on ly a fe w turn, of the h ack le an required. I n Fi~: . 26 th e h ac kl e i,; ri th e r
hunch ed or t rimmed. Th e wing is the n
tied after whic h a lacque r i" added to form a bon d . \\'in gs of we t fli es a re r ever~c d ~o th a t eac h wing pr c~~e;, a ga in"! e a ch otb e r. Thi s i~ a n aid u~e J in sinking fli es a" it
preve nh th e ca tch in g of a ir.
In general, we t fli es are tied on large r hooks th a n d ry oues, a n d are u ~e d ea rli e r in th e ~ea~on before t he r<'al fl y .~tart,; to
hatch.

, qu irnl ta il all ma ke good ~treanwr,. Huck tail i- good hut h a:- a teudo rw) to float. '" , Jwuld be u,.., .d ou flie ,.. f1lwd iut und,.r tlw ~ u1 face .

T ying we t flies i, il!u,.. tra tetl ~ tar t ing wi th Fig. 24. T he firs t ,tcp is t yi n g the
tail on a hook shank aft er which the body
ma terial is added. Lead or copper wire is \\OUrHI around the ho ok to help we igh t it down. Geor g ia trout do not ~eem to ta ke well to th e wet fl y unl ess it is fi sh eJ dn ~e to th e bo ttom.

The s tream e r fl y is a favor it e one for a ll ba,s fi,.. he rrn e n. K ip ta il, po lar hea r and

Ba~,., flie s ca n be ti e d with or without ,pinne rs. :\ long narrow s pinne r ,.,ee rns to work bes t a>' it is mnre easi ly co ntrol leJ.

Streamers- bass

Wet Fly - trout

~~ ~ ~-"'"~ ~ _

~

- I

1;1.)
--

~ ~ @ ,~ J('__J-~ 1( :J

W e t F ly- bass

Salmon Fly
bass & trout

GHOST SQUIRREL TAIL Hook Lim erick long shonk
NO WING Badger Roost er Hockle Ye llow & Red Hair
Bodg er Ro oste r Ho ckl e
Fox Squirrel

MINNOW MICKEY FINN

BODY Wh ite Wool
White Wool T i nse l
Yellow Wool T i nse l
Ye llo w Wool T i nsel

HACKLE

T H READ W hite Block Block Block

BAGGS GEORGIA MAY Hook round benr light wire
5 Mollord
6 Blu e Dunn Quill or whot e
Blue Dunn Quill Blu e Dunn Quill
9 Blu e Dunn Qu i ll
10 Mollord

COACHMAN GRAY DUNN

EV E. DUNN GRIZZ LY KING

Bl ue Dunn Hockte st r i p p ed
Pe ocock
Cream hair Yellow Gold
Tin sel Groy Gold
T i nse l Peoco ck
Str i pped Fibe rs

Blu e Dun n

Wood Duck

Dork Brow~
Light Brown Yellow & Grizzly
I Bo rred ~ock I Blu e Dunn
Grizzly

Gold Phe s Blu e Dun n Wood Du ck
Wood Duck
Wood Du ck

Wet Fly

BLUE DUNN JOCK SCOTT

ABERNATH Y BEAVER KILL

Hook round bend ex tra heavy wi re

11 Blu e Dunn
12 Tu rk ey Bro wn 13 Moltord 14 T urkey Yellow
Duck 15 Bl ue Dunn
16 Blue Dunn

Blue Dunn Si lk G. T i nsel
Groy W ool G. T insel
Yellow Wool
G. Tinsel Yellow Black
G. Tinsel Blue Dunn
Hack le Stripped Y. Ostrich Creom Hair

Blue Dunn Grou se Red Grous e Blue Dunn
Bl ue Dunn

BALTIMORE SPOA T or Round Ben Hook 17 Swo n Block
18 Yellow & Red Swon
19 Mollord

FUL LE R

Yellow
G. Tinsel Yellow
G. Tin sel Red &
G Tinsel

Block Yellow Grizzly

PROFESSOR EV E DUNN
Blue Dunn
Wood Duck Wood Duck Wood Duck Wood Duck
Blue Dunn GRIZZLY KING
Groy Red Red

Salmo n Fl y
SALMON HOOK
20 Boli-Duck Jungle Cock Engt osh Jo y

G. Tin ~cl Block Chinnel Red Floss Red Ho ckte

Eng Blue Joy Guinea

ABBREVIATIONS
Gold Tonsel G. -G. Ton Blue Dun n-B. D Grizzly 'l)o mmin ecker or Borrcd Rock Ro os ter Boli Duck - Du ck from Asoo or lndoo Bodger- Trod e Nom e Blo :k Bo'e Whole Borbctes Hockte l

Grouse Wood Duck
17

Chattahoochee
TROUT

\VIwn the l -. S. Army Corps o f E ng in eers construrt<d
its hu p,e power dam on the Chattahooc hee Ri, e r to form Lake Lanier, downrinr fi slw rmen Pxpected tlwir succes-. to die a quick death.
The dam m eant. among o the1 thin gs. colder wat er that i!' not co mpatiLIe with wa rmwat er fish su c h as bass. bream and crappie.
a nut the ne w dam may act u a lly lw a fisherman's ~~~am
in disg uise.
Game a nd Fish Commission hiologish think the old Chattalwoche<' from the dam to Boswell will support tr o ut.
Extensi,-e experimenting with rainb o w and brook trout in tlw Chattahooclwt' has lwPn eJH'ottraging.
The fabulous Chatt ahooclw P ston was bo rn soo n afl<'r Buford dam lega n o pe ra tion . It was th e n that fisher~ hiologish thou g ht of tlw White Hi,er in Arkan-.as whcrP

a -.imilaJ situation was the hirthplact' of a trenwndous trout fish<:>ry .
Armed with their thermometers, a crew of biologists began th e task of keepin g year around r ecord~ o f th e \1 ater temperature.
Finding tlw riYer cold enough to sustain trout life. the~ n c ommend a trail sto ckin g of a few th o usand trout to e itlwr confirm or d e ny tlwir s uspi cions.
Fortunat e ly. th e) were right. Trout C0l1LI) sun J\ <'
in tlw ChattahoocheP- t' \ e n a:o; fa r dn\\ n :- tream as Ho:-\1-e ll.
1\.nowin g: thi s. the) set ou t to answer a multitud e o f other questions that could be tlw undoing o f the proj ec t lwfore it actualh lwga n.
1-. there e nou g h food "? \\' hat about th e eri ti ca l month"' \\ lwn the \1 atPr tempe rature is warm and th e oxygen

Fi shery Bi o logi st s e xom1n e Chattahoochee Trout during gro wth rote study

Biol ogi st L eo n K1r k lond Re lea ses Broo k ond Ro 1n bo w T ro ut b e low Lan ier Dom.

---

t'ullttnt 1" lo\\ 111 "onlt' ,.pot~? 1~ adt>qtwlt :--p<t\\ 11111!-! <Ht' <l a1 ailablt 'r
The\ found th.tt then i,.. enout!,h trout food in the CIJ<Jttahoocl!l'e to adt>qua!PI~ ft>ed the fi~h . \h1in fund item~ indudt> aqu<Jtic in:;eds. thrt>adfin shad \\ hich ha\ e ('otne from Lakt> Lanier and a wid e \ariel) of Innd inseds \\hielt art> \\a,..lwd into tlw ri\t>r as tlw \\ater ri~e,.. and fall.-..
\s fm \\<tln temperatun. it \\a" found that it i,.. rtlatiHh constant fluctuatin1-!- lwt\\t'tn .SS and (JO det!,ree-.. Thi:; i:; ~ood temperature for the po\\ th rak of trout.
The major proJ,Jem with \1 hich biolot!,ists are tonct>nwd i.-. lack of oxyr:en in tlw \\aler during certain times- the nitical month.-.. \Vater llo\l'ing into tlw ri\t>J' comes from det>p portions of Lake Lanier \l'hich nwasure about 11 ()
fpf'!_

l)ullution J>lt',_tnt:-; an ;Hidtd proldtnt. <trHI ttdntit ian-.

an t'on,..tanti\ al \\ork to lind tlw lw'-'t ,..olntitll l,.._

lndit"ation" an tlt<lt trout nla\ 'I'"" 11 in thi :-; lt 't!,t'lldan old ri\ t'l. llltt <l qut,..t ion ari.-.t'"- a" to \\ lwthn natur<d lt'Jllodudion \\ill lll<tint<Jill tlw fi,..lwn. Thi,.. nwan ,_ that ngular and tontintwd ,.tot"!-. in;_!. of lin !-!<'rli ng li .-.lw ~ \\ hid1 \\ill gro\\ to tatcltahlt :-;izt \1 ithin a \ <'al,.. tinw lllU,..t lw

t'arriPd out. Onh tinw t'<lll an:-;\\ t'l thi-. <JUP,..t ion ,.jilt'<'

lllan\ fador-. otlwr than actual "P<l\1 111ng <ll<'a <lit'

i111 oil td.

Tht Conlllli-.:-;ion ha,.. -.tot"ktd rainl~tl\\. lllo\\ 11 <J ilt!

1Hoto

1

trout

in

tlw

ri\n.

and

i,..

far

enou gh

alon;..:

\lith

tlw tP,..t pro;,.:ram to re<lt'h "<'l'tral ('<llt'lu,..ion~.

Conllni~.-.ion lioloi-!-i"t llo\\ ani Ztlltr II'Jl<llt,.. tkll tlw

rainho\1 ,.Ito\\" m<n prorni,..t of ,..u1 \ i1 in!-! in tlw Chat-

tahoodwt than tlw othn '-JH'cit~-

'"Tiw lll-<1\\ n trout. a \\an ra~t'al \\ l1o i,.. dillittdt to

t'alt'h. offer~ a nal clwlltn;,?.P to an;,.:ler,.._ and mak es an

t'\.<'t'llt nt troph~ for fi,..llf'llllt'll. .. lw ~aid.

Zeller pointt>d out that brook trout appart>ntly haY en' t done as ''ell as the other two. but said that more time \ras 11l't>Of'd to test their durability .
( ltlwr '-JH'l'it~ of ga me fi,_h ,..uch a~ J,a,..s. nappit <Jild bream dit-out in this ~ection of tlw ri\ t>l a" tlw \\ atn i,.. too ('old for their sun i\ al. IHil tlw nd hor~t> ,..wln. <lll<ltlwr ndd \\ ater fi~h. tlni\ ts ;dHIIHlanth alollt!, \\ itl1
tlw trout. The Con1mi~sion 1s lookinp. into the poss ihilit\ of
nlea~ing ,..nwlt. a ~<Jitwalt'r fl,..h that i~ adaptablt> to frc,..h

11alt'r. into the ri\t'r <b a fOJ<Ii!t' fi,..h for trout to t> <tl.

\lthout!,h J,iolop.i,..t~ fttl snwlt 11ill add to th e t!,ro\lth

(continued on poge 25 )

Angler T ed Hall land s o b rook trout fr om th e Chattahoochee . Grand Old R1v e r will be ope n for f1 ~h in g du r1n g stol e tr out seoson .

-,- -
--- .,,...
.

It's HO
you fish
------llliiiiJalll&lliiiiJLIIA'IIt~.CAII:&Diru--~,.~,.,.,..-,-....,..___ _ ___
that counts

By TONY l\IIDDLETON It was late aftern oon in early sprin g, and Blu e Rid ge Lake was glassy calm as evening shadows crept over the wa te r. Fishing was nothin g to brag about , for dad and I had been out ever y aft ern oon for a t leas t a co upl e of weeks without too much success, except for an occasional "keeper" bass. We had gleefull y add ed these few small bass to our strin gt>r, but we were waiti ng for the tinw wh en the bi g bo ys would hit our top wa ter lurLs, It would be any day now- tha t we knew for sure- and we were determin ed to be th en' when tlwy finall y cha nged their minds. Dad was fi shi ng with a Spook. and I was tr yi ng m y luck with a Dalton SpeciaL He i~ a grent bt>liever in s urface plugs. and I have lea rned that the thrill of cat chin g a fi ~ h on th e top ca nn ot be equnled. But I had failed to master the must important face t of fi shing- kn owing how to "fish" a pl ug in a manner th at
wou ld fool tlw sty and wily fis h.
Enticin g a fi ~h to strike nn arti fi ci nl lure is difficult if th e an gler doesn't kn ow whnt he's do ing.
20

As W<' were rounding Morgantown Point, n shallow spot which jt>ts out about 200 feet before dropping off, dad cut the motor. and we started casting.
\Ve had onl y been th er e a few minutes when wham! We both hooked one at the same time. This was a thrill which we hadn 't encountered bt>fore, and we both were as excited ns a brand new fath er!
I watched dad work his lure in the water, and I lwd tri ed to muck him. so to speak. Sure enou gh it pai.d off!
He would fi sh the bait very slowl y. allowing the lure to remain m otionl ess for a m oment when he first cast.
I did likewise, and tlwn I reelrd in my slack line without moving the bait. As I began retreiving my plug. I sta rted twitchin g th e r od tip ge ntl y, causing the bait to sta rt a quiverin g motion. Then, the bi g one hit.
As I turned to tell dad to get the net. I snw that he had ho oked one, too. I was hoping th at we wouldn't both ge t ou r ca tches to the boa t at the same time, for someone needed to net the fi sh. As it turned out , dnd landed his fi rst a nd wns able to net mine.
" So n. it lo oks like the time lws co me wlwn the big ones nrt> ready. " d ad sn id nfter W<' had la ndt>d our cat ches. T hey were lwa uti es. a nd it loo kf' d like we were in for n good nft t> rn oon.

----~.....~"~- ~

Later. a friend. Haines Hill. invited me to go with him and try some tww angling techniques.
Ht> wa" a grea t helit>vt>r in using "go det>per " plugs, and was quite an artist when it came to \\orking th e lar ge lipped lure in the water.
We had decidt>d to tr y our luck early in the morning. and pickt,d a place where there were some deep cha nnels and goo d weed bed;;;.
It \Vas a warm mornin g. \Vt> ft>lt surt> that o ur pings. ri\er runt spooks. would he idea l for the wat er we had ,.eJeckd.
Be ing sonW\\hat of a no\ ice insofar as fishing with a 'go det>per" was tmtct>rned. I watched Hain<'s work the
little plu g hopin g to pick up a few pointers my:-;eli. And
J, t>lie\e me that I did! \\'e had only lwen fishin g a sho rt whilt> when Il aincs
hooked a tlu ee and one half pf> und !'!lla lh t~out h bass.
I co ntimwd to watch his stylt-'. li e cas t out from the boat. gan the lure tinw l'llOt;;.rh to sink, and retritTt>d slow!~ allowing it to skim across tlw lake IJOttom.
.\ s the day wort> on. our lu ck grt> w prop Pss inly \\or ~w.
\\'(' had thnp nice ,izcd has!' on ou r >'!ri nge r all caught in the early part of tlw mornin g.

\\7e decided to use a slow-sin kin g lur e. the tiny runt. and found our results proved to be very favorable.
The wate r here was shallow a nd so mew hat weelh. \s soon as our plugs hit the ,.urface. WI' would start reelin g tlwm lwrk tu the boat.
We had anchurl'd o ur !HJ<:lt in a bed of crappi<. and our afternoon tmned ou t to be a real field day.
ln thl' pa"'t I han found that if rt>gu lar tr olling or l"a:-tin g fails. good rt>"'ult,. are attainable by attaching a ktl'l sinker alw ad of a f!oatin g-di\ing ltHt' \\ hich is one to lw t.sed when fi sh in g shall ow or \\<'t><h wal<'l"' whne tlw undergrowth is dose to the surfa<"e.
If you do thi:-o. tn a kt' :-.ur e Lht' :-;i nkn i:-o h1 a\ \ cuoug h to sink th e lun. and thl'll tr) tr olling ,.!owl~ throu gh dt><'Jl \\alt'r. I kl\t' found this will oflt'n bring good luck huth in f11:-Jt and :o;alt watt r.
It has been Ill) t-'X Jwril'llt" l' to find that fi,.hin g \\ith artificial bait is a n ar t that requirP,. a litt!t- nwr e tha n nwnh pullin;.: a plug through thl' water.
\"' Ill\ dad once told tllt>. it is a ,.;kill \\ hi d t t"illl lw pnftdtd onh th rough pral'!in and a kn o\\ltd;.:, of plu!-!" <"<tnhi twd \, ith good an!-! lin g I<Thni<Jllt'".
21

Georgia
SNA KES
and their habits
......

In Ceorgia there are two familie,- of pui,o nou" ,nakt>-<, the ( :ohr:r-< (Coral :->nakeJ and the \'i per- (Co ppt>rhead>-. Hatt ler;; and \Y a te r \lo cca,in,;). The Coral ,..nakr-, :1 ~ec rc tiH?, rn ilt.! man nere1l fellow, i- our mo,.. t beautiful anti poi,onon~ -nake. It i- en co unt e re1l ,;u ~eldom that it i~ a rarity to hea r of 111e bitrng a per,..un.
The :\nwrican \'iper diffe r~ from hi;; Old \\' o rld c ou,..in~ Leca ue it po~'e"~~'" hea t ~e n ~ itiv e pir, between it- e)e" a nd no~tril,;. With th i,.. appe nd age it can de tec t, ~ trik e a nd lrit it,- victim in eurnplt-te da rkn e"" Heru cmber thi ,. when ~ou crawl arou nd in ca\C:', 1lark ledges or e\en a walk in the wood~ in th e dark. The pit" are u"ed 111 procuring. food. De fe n-e i- 'ccondan.
c
POISONOUS
\'iper,; have fangs elongated htdlu\' front teet h through wh ich poi-on i,.. IJit ten int o the victim. \Yhe n not in u-e, the,c fold IJalk into groove" in the top of the nwuth. The Cural ,..nake ha,.. rH>nmoving fang imilar to the non-poi,..orwu,.. "nakc,...
NON POISONOUS

The be t pr u tectio n from ~ nak es is a lert

ne---. \lw ay;; u-.e a large sti c k for pokinl!:

almut when walking un back trail~. Kn ow

what i" in fr ont uf yo u ! Hatt lcrs and Copperhead" wait a l(> ng ~ m a ll garne trail ~ for

a rabbit, llllHbe or ,q uirre l to come a lon g.

The nake "trike, these animals and let " th e m rnn their co ur~es. The animal dies and th e ,..nake follow ,.. it ~ ,..cent to the mea l in

tore at th e e nd .

Viper s hav e c haract e ri ~ tics that are com

mon in all three fa mily gro uP5. The line dra wing a Love ~ h o w s the turne d-up nose

a nd e nl a r ged neck ho lding the po i,on

gland. The e)e" of a \'iper h a\e elongated

pupib much like thu,e of a cat , owl or

other ni ght predators. All hav e fan g;;.

:)umetimes fou r fan gs are prese nt durin g

molting.

.\lost non-poisonou s snakes have an cion

ga ted round face. The burrowin g , nakes ~uch as the Adder and :)carle! Snake hav e

an exceptio11al diggin g modification un the

nose. The la c k o f po i ~u n ~ac b give mo,t non-poi::-onou;; ~ nak es a streamlined look .

Several u f th e nonpoi-onou::- water ~ nake~

a nd the puff added are exce pliuns tu thi,

rule. Their head attachment i, quit e large

and g ives th e appearance of a vipe r h ea d .

The eye:; of m o~ t non-poi ,o nuu ::- ~nake a re

round.

The Coral "nake is an except ion since it ha ~ nunc uf th e fea ture" of the poi,un

vipers.

The Co pperh ead ur upland \locca, in i,

Georgia, mo, t co mmon poi ,..onu us :; na ke.

1t is ex tre nreh a l.Jundant in th e mou ntain

area;;, prderin~ roc ky s la g area >-.

.

The Pig my Hattl t.- e xtend~ to Florida

and the coast. The Diamond and Canebreak

Hattler are confined to tire ,outhern part

of the state.

The Cora l :-uak e live" in the sout h ern pari of the ~tate> and pref.. r, ir, ,a ndy :,oil

and warm c limat e.

TimLer Rattlers ur Uanded Hattle"nake, are generally a north Gcon;ia >-rrake. It i~

mo,t aclive in the fa ll.

Tire Cotto nrnnuth j,.. our only poi,..uu

water :;u;rk,. ~ddom >-CC II above tlrl' BOO ft.

elevation level, it e xt e n1l ~ into th e lowPr

l'iedmout Plateau.

The Cora l , nake is one uf th moq beau t ifu I poi,;onou >-na k e~. They a re not agg re~ ,.. iv e " nake:- hJt ~ecret iv e. mild -tem pered fellow mean rin g fr om 30 to JIJ inche'. Bing a me mlll-r of th e co bra family, they are kin to the deadh \I omba, Kraih and Indian co bra. The Coral sna ke i ~ the only fix e d fan~ed poi ~orHu~ "n ak e in the Ame ricas.
CORAL SNAKE
"l;:tB SCARLET SNAK E :\ blac k h ead ;,.. the mo,..t noticeabl e di:-tin c tion be tw ee n the Coral >- llake and t he IIOil Pui~orwu -< Scarlet a nd ~triped King s nak e. :\II of th e~e ~ n a k e,.. are uativ e of th e ;;a me area. The Hatt lc,.. na ke::- a re Ceon.:ia '.~ large,..t ancl ,..malle,t poi-onou- ,..na ke. The Pigmy Battler ,..eldonr exceed,.. 20 inche,.. while hi ~ co u-in, tire ea, tern Diamondback. is our lar ~e;; t ::- nake, r eac hing nea rly 9 fee t. The l'i~m y a nd Di a mondback a re ju;;t Plain ornery , ,..,Pmin~ly out l oo kin~ for trou Lle.
PUFF ADDER (Hognose)

22

The Timber i, on-aggre~"ive and of a peaceable nature, hut is a ~avage fighter \\hen cornered. The ll ogno.wd (or l'u ff At I der ) , i ~ often confu~ed with Ratt ler,. T hi .~ ge ntle non-poi so nous snake when mo]e,.t!'d goes through a rout inc of spreading ih
head and issuing loud h i"""" If furtllf'r a un oyed it will strike or go into a death ro utin e by rolling over ou ir, hack and playing dea d.
The Coppe rh ead or upland nHH'Casin j, one of our mo~t common po i ~o nou < ' nakes. In Georgia. we have tw o 1mhspecies. In th e Tennes~ee drainage i~ found the \or th ern variet~; ~ outh of thP mountain<, t lw ~outh ern variety. The J\orthern ~nake tend, to bP of a darker color. In thP mountain area they
have m ix ed :,o that the true colors of neithl"r

ope nin g their mouth~ in d e fen se, a tra it t' ommou to vipers. ea rned th e m tht nam e of co tt on mouth be!':I the of th e whit e iu !Prior of th e moutth lining . .\l ature s peci me n " take on a nondP,.c ript black color, but the yo un g have a co lor patt ern sim ilar to th e copperh ead.
The m occa;; iu feed~ on a quatic li fe, ~ m a ll mammals, b irds and lizard-;. Th ey are oft en confused with the Brown walt' I snake, a nonpuisuno us snake with a poul'h ed head simil a r t o the viper.
Snake bite first aid

COPPERHEAD
SOUTHERN BANDED WATER SNAKE
are di stin c tiv e. Th e Co pperhead will try to esca pe if discovered but will fight sav agely if moles ted, often vibrati ng it s tail much like the rattler. In the mountains durin g the dry , hot ~caso n the copperlwad of te n co mes to wat e r for coolne~~. Durin{.!: thi s tim e he i~ oft en cunfw,ed with th e Sout hern Banded water snake a nnn poison uus wa ter snak e.
The '\Vat er .\locca ~i n i~ our o nly poi ,-o n ou s water s nake. It i' seldom fo un d far from wa ter, except in the fall whe n it h i-
:)

C.iviug fir~! aid to a snake bit e viCtim is dangero us if perform ed by an in e xpe ri e nced pe r,o n . If it i~ pos,ible to get th e vic tim to a do c tor within one- half h our do so without administering first aid.
~eve r al thin gs mu st he don e at the tim e of the accide n t. Fir st, determine if it i,; a poi ~o nou ~ snake bit e. Vipers have fangs. T he se u~uall y leave two large predomin ant pun cture mark s. In rare ins tan ces when th e snake is ~h edd ing it s fang ~, th ere will be two immat ure fan gs behind th e larger o nes, which leaves four large ho l e~. Also pr ese nt will be ~c ratches from th e ' llla ller teet h. A Coral snake does not have la rge movable fan gs so i ts bit e will be ~ imilar to any nonp oisono us s nak e bit e, a !'Cries of ~ma ll sc ra tches.
The seco nd thing to do is to det ermin e th e ty pe of s nake fo r a nt ive nom ~ hot s. Ea c h type o f , na ke mu ~t have a ~ pecial an tiveno m ~ hot prepared for it. A ~h ot pre pared for a DiamondLack will not wnrk for the Lit es of a Timber Rattler, Co pper head or :\loccasin.
T he third thin g to remember is not to let th e vi ctim take any kind of stim ula nt or ex erci~e that will ~ pee d up th e ci rc ulation of th e IJ]ood. K eep him warm with wraps since shock usually occurs.
A pp]y a tourniquet a bove the stricken area. DO ;";OT ti e it too ti ght. It shou ld be possiLie to insert a finger under it. The tou rni q uet should be o pen ed for a few ,econds e very fiv e minutes.

WATER MOCCASIN

BROWN WATER SNAKE
btmat e~ to hig he r 1-!:fO tliHI. T hey ar f' mo re ~hH?:gi~h than water 'nake" but are fierce fi1-!: ht ers when mole.'- lttl. Tlwir habi! of

Sterilize the cutting instrument with a flame or drinkin g whi ~ k ey. T he wound cau be cleaned with iodine, mercurochrome or whi~key. (2) Cut cro,se~ over the faug marks. Th ese should he one quarter ( 1/,) inch deep, \\'AHNING : LAH.GE VEINS, LICA.\IEI'\TS and TE:'-IDO~S must he avoided. A SEVERED TENDON COULD .\lEAN LO:)S OF ll~E OF A FII'\GER 0 1\ OTIIE I\ CO\II'LICATIONS. TilEY A l\E CLOSE TO TilE SUI\FACE AT \JUST JOINTS. (3) Apply suction to the

cut. lP If a ~ n ake IHte kit c up i~ not
available, suck at the c ut with th e mouth JF there are no cu ts or sores on the mou th or lip. A thin sheet of rubber make" a fin e s imple fir~ ! aid kit. S uc k at th e wound through the rubber. Kef'p moving
the tourn iquet ju,t. abov e the ~welling. T he obje ct i' to retard, not stop t he flow of blood to the heart.
The tourniquet mu~t never he too tight. (5) Other in~.:i~ion s ~hould ]Je made around the wound area and mort> suc tion up~ ap pli ed if available. As mueh of the ba.l blood as po ~s ihle ~hould be rt'lllo\ed be for e it ha, time to r each the heart. CET TilE VICTI.\1 TO A IJOSPITAL 01\ .\ IJUCTOH .\~ SOU\ A~ l'OSSillLE.
The effect of a poi~onous snake bite is mu~t ,rartling. One ~hould be prepared for a black dist:oloration of parh near the bite area. The vel' om a ffech the capulary wall~. di~~>lving them and lettinv; the blood e~ cape into the ,urrounding t i,~ue .<. The exact effect of sna ke venom ou the IJOdY is not uuder~tood. At pre~cut it i::. too complex for auah ~ is . The victim will ex pcrieuce difficulty with re~pirat ion and will have .'hoot in~ paiu, throu gh the ,tril'kcn area. A poisonou~ snake bite i~ very dan gerou~ to people with heart or blood con
dition~.

23

vvith
David Gould

How to BUILD A TRAILER

M os t St a t es requ 1re st op and d 1rectionol lights on trailers. D1ogrom for W1rmg Boot Trailer
H OI> .uDLfFT TUII'"SIC .. 4L
21

Every state in the Union, except \Visconsin, requires that at least one tail light be placed on the rear of a trailer. Most states, including Wisconsin, stipulate the use of trailer stop light s and directional lights. In all hut 10 :-;tales, the law even requires that a license plate light must appear on a boat trailer.
To obey state laws and to insure personal safety, an outboarder with a boat trailer shoulcl make certain that tlw mu~l practi1al and best functional electrical system is in:-talled between his trailt>r and his towin g automobile.
Georgia law requires that trailers under 1500 pounds gross weig ht he equipped with brake lights, directional li ght s. tail lights and a license plate light.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety specifies that enry IW\\ motor vehicle. trailer and se mi-trailer solcl and operated in Georgia be eq uippt>d with service brakes on all wheels uf the \'chicle with tlw exception of any motor cycle or motor driven cycle.
Opposite is a cliag ram of a trailer electrical system "ith circuits lettered accorcling to recommendations by the Boat Trailer Engineering Committee of OBC. For ea!->e of tracin g. repair and hookup with the towin g 't>hicle. eertain color:' for wired circuits based on the :-;tandard:-; of the American Trucking Association are also recommended ll\' 0 BC. The colors and letters are:
A- Brown- Tail and license plat e li ght circuit
B- Red- Stop and left turn signal circuit
C- Green- Stop and right turn signal circuit
ll- White- Ground to frame. \:-; a n example. the B circuit on tlw cliagram i~ shown appropriately in red. An optional means of circuit identification. in lieu of colored or lettered wires. uses lettered or l'nlored sleeves at the terminal encls of th e wire. Ll:-;e automoti,e "iring conforming to standarcls of tlw
(continued on page 29)

WANTED fish tags

lla\ e ~ou <'\ e r C<lnght a ha;;;; with a ;;nwll. white ta g protrudin g from it:; had, '!
If \oU ha\e and if )Oll retnmt>d the tag to tlw Ceor g i:1 Ca me and l'i,.h Co1 nn1i :;;;ion ~ otl ha\ <-' helped fi ;; h e r~ hiulugi;;t;; in tlwir ;;t'<IITh for information on the ha bib of fi:;h.
5<-'\ tral \ear~ ago. tlw Canw and Fi~h Commi;;~ion "'tented a fi~h-tagi-!ing program to find out more about tlw hal,it,. of fish. tlwir g ro wth rate in ce rtain lak es and ;;lre<nJJ,., wlwn and \\ lwre the) mit!rate and ma n) other thing:- hert'lo fore unkno\\ n.
Th e proi-! ra m cannot lit' a ~U <Te;;~ unl e;;;; th e ta g;; mt rt'<'o Ye red. lw('au;;;e all tlw inform<Jiion that ha~ bt>en reco rded \\ill never he u;;ea bl e.
lien's ho\\ the pro g ra m operates: \\'ith the aid of elec tri c s hockin g: mat hin es. whi c h s tun fi~h hut doe:- no t harm th em. biologi:;b ga th er bas:-. bream and cTa ppie from Geo rgia lak<-'s a nd :-.!ream:-. a nd tag tl w m. A reco rd i~ kept o f tlw size and age of the fish , wh en it was tagged and wlwr e. \Vlwn th e fish is cau g ht and th e ta g return ed. hi ologi:o.ts ca n look up tlw numbt>r in their fil es and tell ) ou immediat ely wh ere the fi sh was rel eased. how much it weig hed and ho\\' old it was.

Fi sh are caught with th e aid of elec tri c shock ma chines and ta gged fo r future exa minations.
'\ex t time \ o n la tch o nt o a nd c rePI a bass, brea m, nappi<-' or ca tfi;;h rt>gardle"'"' uf the :'-ize bParing a tag. lw a ;; porl ~ man. Hctum tlw tag. th e weight of tlw fi "h a nd a ~ca l e. if pn;;;;ibl e. to th e Came and Fi;;h Co mmi ;;sion in tlw State Capitol.

Lake Allatoana bass, togg ed severa l yea rs ago, tell s on important story a bout the lake.

A new type of tag adorns th1 s Lake Burton tro ut.

Chattahoochee Trout (continued from page 19)
rat<' of trout. th e\ admit that tlw ac tu a l introdul'!i on of tlw fi,.h depends on their ~ucce:-;; of hei-!i-!ing. lorro\\ ing or -.[palin g a <.upph fr o111 a not her ;;la te.
If tlw ;;nJtlt a rt introdll('C'cl and tlni\e in till' Ch:l t Iahood we. tlw Com 111i ~sio n fl'l'l;; that it m;J)' a n;;\\ <'r H' l anotlwr potential problem a:- far as trout arc comcrn<tl.
Oth ;r future plan:; of tlw Comm i:o .; ion inl'ludt~ tlw
<'\al n:1tion of tr ou t "'}wcie;; ... ttwkin g comhination;; in or dtr to find out tlw lw:--1 fi,.;h to "'!<wk. \\lwn and whcrP lo "'lock tlwm.
\ddition :d food ;;oU ITt';; for trout an !wing ~turlittl. and hiologi;;b a r<' eon;;idtrinj.! tl w po.-..-.ililit) of tr an;;planting tlw <ra~ fi,.h whi('h ;;nr\'i\ t' in th<' told. north C<-'orgi:J nwnntain "'!ream;; to th, ri\'C'r.

Tlw Conuni;;,.ion ha;; lwtn :1h lt> to dra\\ ,.,., tr;d !'ondu;;ion;; ;;inn tlw <'XJWrinwn tin g JHIIj.!ram lwgan. and it i,. ftlt tlw Clwtlalwodwt' \\ill ;;11ol! ofTn a lrtnw ndou;; I'!J;JI),.IIi!J' to I rout an~.d<'r~.
Fishery biologists remove trout from Chattahoochee for examination.

SHORT CASTS

\

and

P-T-5- OTS

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION ITEMS AND FIELD NOTES Compi led by Bob Short

It's Hard to Second Guess Nature
Stocking is an effort of man to increase a ga nw suppl) on a range by releasi ng game on it. This principle of game management was most prevalent in this country l etwee n 1J30 and l tJ.SO. \\hen many state ga mf' farm s poured pen-ra ised game into arPas wh ere exist ing game "upplics could not meet the hunting demand.
lmpress h e stockin g sta ti sti cs- co mpil ed by state ga me and fish d epa rtm ent s g a\e ' num eri cal ev idence" of s tocking as a n e ffecti ve ga me management too l.
But many of these stocking progams were unsuccessful a nd grPat numlwrs of bin-ls a nd animals wer e stocked wi th no visible Pvidence o f an in c rease in ga me s uppli es.
\Jan is no f Ood a t st>cund-guessing nature. It's im possibiP to beat her at her own game.
Na tur e herself often "mers tocks" tlw fi elds and
streams; large numbers of animals arc born into an

a rea each breeding sf'ason hut natural factors reduce th <' m to the ca rryin g capacity of the land.
,\ game habita t is capable of su ppo rtin g only so much game a nd no m o rP. Good ha bit at ean usua ll y support a largt> ga me populatio n: punr ran ge :-;u pports only a small
rrop. if a n y. It 's like g rowin g cattle in good and bad pastures. To
the cattleman. good pasture means good healthy stock. On the other hand . a poor pasture will g row poor cattle. lndiscriminatr stocking in inadequate habitat is often a \\aste o f time and money. lleleasing game animals or birds in unsuitab le areas dive rts mon e) from va lu able management programs.
But game stocking pays off under cer tain conditions: ( l l ''hen a good ga m e arra has bee n depopula ted h~ sPvere conditions: (2) ,,)wn areas are suitable for game species hut none exist and. (3) when an area IS overhunted and the breeding stock eliminated.

Hard Labor Creek Renovated; Better Fishing In Store
Visitors to Hard Lahor Creek State Park ncar RutIPd ge can Pxpcet better fi"hin g in the future.
Th a t's tlw word from the State Game a nd fi s h Co m-
mi ss ion . wh ose fi s her y biologisb rt>cently comple ted a reno \a tion pro~ ram o n the park "s Lake ltutl edge.
Incl ud ed in the prog ram was a complete s tuck ing of t he lake with se n ral specit>s of fi sh followin g erad icatio n o f t he unl 1ala nced p opulatio n . Bass, bream. channel ca tfi sh and threa d fin shad were new additions.
F ishe r y biologist" Leon Kirkland of \ladison explained
th at shafl. a fo r age fi sh. \\ Pre added to tlw lake"s popula-
tio n to provide add itional fo od for hun g ry bass. W hit t hass, a fi sh that has thrived in Lake A llatoo na
a nd o th er imp o undme nts. \\ e re al so planted. These finny fi ghters a rr kn o wn throug hout th e state for their an nu al !'pring spa \\ nin g run s, duri ng whic h an g lers have little trouble in cath i:1g daily li m its o f ~ () fi~h .
Tro tline". ~d hook s an d baskrt fi shin g haH' !wen outlawPd in a ll Pa r ks Ik pa rtnwnt lak es. according to Dirttto r Cha rles Col lier.
2G

Game and Fish Department Stocks
Deer in Fifty Georgia Counties
The State Game and Fish Commission has announced the completion of the most ambitious deer stocking progra m in history.
Commission Director Fulton Lovell said his agency released UOO Virginia Whitetails in 50 Georgia counties and four stat e management areas.
The deer were purchased by the state from Wisconsin and Texas and transported here by Game and Fish Department personnel.
" Within the next 10 years, we expect to find deer in e\'ery Georgia county capable of providing them with adequate food and other requirements," Lovell said.
The stockings resulted from a wide examination of suitable deer habitat in the state and animals were released onl y in areas where biologists felt they would survive and reproduce.
All of the counties included in the program will be closed for deer hunting for at least five years. This, Lovell pointed out, is a requirement of the federal government, which finan cially assisted with the program.
Georgia's best hunting areas will remain open, the Commission said, and will not be affected by regulations passed to protect the newly released deer.
Lovell pledged strict enforcement to prevent poachers and night hunters fr om shooting the deer before they become acclimated to Georgia.
Wildlife rangers will constantly patrol the release areas, Lovell said, to insure the deer of an opportunity to populate the chosen areas.
The Director requested citizens to report to the Commission any of the deer found dead, crippled or struck by autos.
The problem of free-running dogs is also one of great concern to the Commission, Lovell said.
One of eight hundred whitetail deer re leased by Game and Fi sh Commi ss ion toke s off to find a new home .

Dogs Take More Deer Than Hunters, Commission Says
l\lore deer are killed in Georgia h y free-runnin g do gs than are killed by hunters.
The State Came and Fish Commission says that the problem of do gs is the biggest faced by its deer herd m a n a ge r s.
"We are constantly faced with the problem of dealing with loose dogs." said Commission director Fulton Lovell. ''In some areas of the state, packs of wild dugs seri ously damage deer populations.
" It appears that these loose dogs multiply as fast as deer, even though our management program includes protecti on of deer both in and out of the season," Lovell said.
The director sa id February, March and April are especiall y dange rous months for deer, since does are carrying fawns that will be born in late May.
Georgia has no law requiring dogs to be penned or leashed.
The Game and Fish Commission feels that this co ntributes to the number of dogs roaming free in the for ests.
Since it lacks authority except on its game management areas. the Commission is powerless to co mbat roam ing dogs.
The Commission feels the problem must be eliminated, but suggests that a person who is not a law enforcement oflicer should not take the matter in his own hands.
Chief Enfo rce men t o ffic e r Clifford Palme r (R) and rangers Geo rg e Robinson, J . H. Hawkins and El be rt So lo ma n do nate ill ega l dee r to Aidmore Children' s Hos pital in Dec'Jtur.

27

Sound Management Means ...

B ETTER FISHING

. ' I )

It's as easy to have a good farm fish pond as a poor one.
This word comes from State Game and Fish Department biologists who have found, after several years of research on Georgia ponds, that good management makes I he difference.
Such things as proper co nstruction, fertilizati on and co rr ec t stoc king mean the differencP between poo r fi :-.hin g and full stringers.
Biolog is ts strongly reco mm end that every pond ow ner fertilize his water as nftf'n as necessary to insure proper nutri ents for fish life.
Sometimes. this may mean as many a" 12 applications per year.
Two grades of commercial fertilizer are recommended !JUt the a mount used per ane va ries with the analysis. Both D-D-2 and 20-20-5 art' accept a hl e. With n-D-2, I00

pounds per an e per application gets lwst result s. Onl y 10 pound s per acre per application are used with 20-20-5.
I11 fertilized ponds, biolog ists recommend 100 bass and l ()()() lm:-a m or s hellc ra ckers per acre. F or unfertilized pond s, only about one-hal f of that number is required since the food supply is limited.
It 's a f!:OO d idPa. biolog is ts agree, to eliminat e all o tht>r fi~h in impoundm ent befor t' ::- tuc kin g. This helps in... ur e fi~h population balance.
One word of ca ution: T he po nd s hou ld not be fish ed until the la s ~ hme ~pawned, \\ hi c h i.' usuall) about o ne \ear after ~locking.
It 's a bit more e .xpensi\e to manage a pond properly,
hut liologi,., ts fpe J th e ex tra e ffo rt is worth the cost
and trouhl e partic ularl y if a fell ow wants to enjuv e x< ellt nt fishing in,.,lt'ad nf wasted hours <n hi s pond.

Farm Pond Weed s, porticulorly in unfertile wate r, help destroy fish hobitot and contr1bute t o pond' s inability t o produce Iorge populations.

Stocking (co ntinued from page 9)

Prolific fi sh- such as carp-oft e n deposit as many a s 150,000 eggs onnuoll y.
~ t uckin g: i:-u't a cur e-a ll. F o r a while ib \alu e 1\ a:g:rea th tlH'rempha,;izcd. It-~ unl) one of the various fi~h mana geme nt tool s. Howe\t:'L it i:- still a \ ery important tool. Its \ alue \\ill depend on how inlt'Iligcntly th e tool is u ~ed. The need fur stocking sh ould J,e definite!~ esta llli:;hed Le fure a il) stockin g is d one. It should be es tal,Ji shed nut b~ th e ma ll \\ ho rais e~ fish. ur hy th e sp o rt ~men. but IJy cum petent train ed fish ery Liul og i ~b thr out-d' a stud) of th e habit at and the fi,-h population a lr ead y pre~ent.
T he American FishNi es Soc iet y's Co mmittee on hydro IJio logy ami fi sh cultur e ga \ e a co mprchensi\ e re port on ach an ce:-. in these tw o fi eld s a t a rece nt meetin g of the Society ill ~eatt l e. He re is o ne of the m a n y important ohse n atiuns gi\'en in the report:
~Iuch impnJ\'enwnt in the use of ha tcheri es and
hat chery products is still urgP ntl y needed. All tuu frt>-
quently a hatcher y prugram is operated as a di stinct and

,..,paralt fundiun of a game and fi ,..h a,!.!, t'Ill ') rallwr than a,.. <l In anl'h Ill tool of a Fi,..lwrie,.. \l alla t:t 'Illt 'lll I)j , j,..iun. llalt'lwr ~ "' ll] H'rintn dt nt,... "'Jlo rl ,..IIH' Il. fort,.. t rall ~t r ,.. <llld m a ll~ others \\ho h<nt no hllo\\led ;,:t of t 'l'o lo ;,: ~ tll fi,..h pop ulatioilS a n g i\t'll full c har ~t of fi,..h plant illi-!"' Fi,..h rl'lta,..,,d J,, ,.. ul'h indi,idual,; fn qu llth h<I\ t' 1~,..,.. han for ,..un j, al th a iI a palm tn t in C hi f'a~u . l'r.,dul'liH <IIIII cun,..qututh ,..ucce,..,..ful hat..Iwr ) prog ram;-; 1'<111 lw e \jl<Tll'd on I) \\here train ed fi,..IH'I ) J,iolo ~ i,..t ,.. art halldlin~ pl alltin~ pro ~ Iam ,.. and ale judi tio u~l ~ u,..in ~ halt'lwrit ,.. a,.. onl~ <lllL' plw,..e of a fi,..lwrit,.. mana gmtut pro!-! Ialll."
Carp, a product of Europe, c ro wds natcve fc sh population.

Booting (continued from page 24)
~oc iet y of Au tomoti \ e Enc,i nee rs. In insta ll ation. all wir in g and related de\i ce:- :;ho uld he mec hanica ll y an d elec tri ca ll y sec ur P. l)p,ices, lamp~ a nd so fort h requirin g periodic se n ice shou ld lw rPadily SI'ITi cable a nd ac -
ce:;~ib le .
T he edge" of a ll metal members thr ough \\ hi ch ca ld e is pas,.ed should he deb urred and rolled. o r bu,...lwd wi th s uitabl e g rommt:-- I rubber C) ~ lets I. Tuhin g: o w~ r the l'a hll's ma) bt~ su h,;titult>d for g rommets if proper!~ ,..ecurcd. Cleats for retainin g: cables and hanwss should lw rigid ly a ttal' hed to the body or fr a me mLm l1e r a nd tlw spec ifi e cable or ham ess.
All par ts of tlw t' leetri ca l system should Ill ad tquall'h prolt'Ct ed ag:ai nst ('Orros ion. \\'irin g: slwuld I)(' ,;o loca ted as to afTon! prull'ction from road sp l a~ h. :-to iH ~s . a l,ra sioll. g rea;ot. oil a nd fuel. \\' irin ~ exposed to ,..u"h ('O IHiiti on,..
s hould be fmther pro tec ted by use of hcmy- wall ttwr -
mopla,..tic insulati on cahl e.

\\'irin ~ ,..lwuld be ,..ccured \\ ith l'kat~ at inlt'n al,.. llot ~ rt alt'l' tiian 1:: iuclw,.. to ,..lop ,..idt'\\ i,..,. lllO\ enwnt and P~'~'' ent rul,!Ji n;,!.

It is nt'tlll111ll'ndtd th a t tiii' t't llllleclor Ill' luealt'd ill,_i.J,. tlw trunk of tlw aiiloiiiObilc lwtau,..t tht trunk lid \\ill ,.. hu t m <'I' tlw l'ahle IPadiu !-! to tlw tr ai l(r \\ itlwut l'au,..iil;.! dama ;.!t'. If it i,.. d,,..irt d to lota tt the t'Ullllt't'lor ill an 1'\ po,..ed lolatioil ou (,..j.J,. of till' au( tllll t,J,ile. t'ollllt 't'lo r,.. \\ ith appropriall' nwuntin ~ llall ;.!''"' <Hid a ap to prolt'd tlw l'oll lad s from dirt a11d road ,..plas h ,..Jwu !d lw Usl'd.

\ l'autiouan nolt': \ lain lla,..l wr" for autouwl,ilt turn

0

0

,..i;.! nal ,.. \\ill Illll ~tand tht additioual load uf trailn tum

"ii-! ll<Ik Tlw fla,..htl unit \\hi, II i,.. ;.!t'I]('ra lh lot alt'd 111'-

hiud
dut~

00

"''''lll'

tlw da,-IJ!H,ard :-lwuld lw rl'pland l\ pt if nur111al opratioll of llll'll ,..i
\\it II tlw trailt-r li ~ ht~ ,.,,niwttd .

\\ ith a "ht<n'

~ n a l ~ dew:-; OO JJ,.,"' dn

lll>0l0 t\

fla,.. lw i,.. an "' ailaldt fur all makt~ of aut"m'.J,ilt:-

throu;.!h ;~ulo parts outlt-ts.

Poll uti on (continued from page 15 )
The Public Health Sen ice maintains a consta nt watch on the interstate rivers a nd stream!' in our country. Health '' orkers r ow out in boats, go to tlw end of ci ty piers. or walk along heaches and shores a nd collec t water sa mples: the water is then tested for diiTerent impurities and poisons and for radiation. T he individual states supple ment these tests in their ow n waters and a number of cit y health departments and other agencies also tes t water.
The durability of some of toda~ 's new sub stances was drama! icall y demonstrated by one incident not lon g ago. Headquarters for our na ti oual wa ter -quality netw ork is at the Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center in Ci ncinnati. One day a water sa mple from St. Loui s produced a peculiar mark in a routine infra-red test
procedure. A week later the sa me mark appeared in a
test mad e from water se nt in from New Orleans.
This put our Taft Laboratory water "detec ti ves., into action. They tracked the su bstance to a factor y in St. Louis- it existed in no other place. The chemi cal had traveled hundreds o f miles in th e l\lississippi River with out undergoing any change, a nd showed up in one liter of water taken from the bi llions of gallons of water which pass New Orleans e\ery day.
The eq uipm en t th at has worked efficientl y to purif) drinking wat er does not alway s rem ove today's new co ntaminants. You ) ou rself ma y have noticed that sometimes th e water you draw fr om the tap foams in yo ur drinking glass, almost like beer. The foam sometimes results from detergents that ha ve passed throu gh upstream sewage treatment plants and your city's water purifica tion equipmen t. No one kn ows how many other chemi cals pass through, since most of them are not obligi ng enough to foam. taste. smell or add color.
\Ve hm e also found that when d iffere nt su bstances are poured into the same stream they sometimes get together and form weird new com mand:-; which defy analysis. Chemi sts refer to them by the unappetizing term, "gunk. "
A town in Alabama a few ~ears ago h ad a n especiall y bad problem with " gunk. " A textile mill had been operating there for years and, although it discharged some waste into the river. the town's water supply had not been affected. Later. a plan t that manufactured pesticides opened. It too used the river. also in a way that did not affect the water qualit) . Still later, a bleachery was es tabli shed . This indu str~ was equally careful abo ut disposi ng of waste.
As far as any scienti st co uld telL the wast e disposa l pr ac tices of all three indu str ies '' ere entir eh safe. Bu t soon aft er the hleac her y ope ned. people lwg~n to compl ain abou t taste a nd od or in their wat er. l\lorem er. the ph ysicians of th e town no ted a n increase in pati Pnts su fieri ng fr om nau :-ea a nd di ges ti'" di sord ers.
When wat er sampl es we re >" lud ied more int ensively. it was found th at di scharges from tlw three indu stries had co mbined to for m a new. a nd ha rmful. chemi cal. Once the cau se was found , the industries cha ngPd th eir di sposa l practices and the water in thi s town is nuw appare nt!) safe a nd pal a table.
30

An y program which provides adequate protecti on for our water supply must be based on three things.

First. we must put to great er usc what we already

know about wat er pollution control. How can we hope

to control ne w impurities unless we first do a better job

of treating city sewage and controlling those kinds of

industrial pollution which we already know how to

handle? \Ve have a vast amount of practical knowl edge

ab out pollution control. Yet 5,100 U. S. towns and cities

and an estimated 6.000 indu stries today lack adequat e

sewage and waste trea tment facilitie s. .:\lany haY e non e

at all.

.

During the past summer, the Congress enact ed new leg islation which will strengthen our hand in pollution co ntrol enforcement and also provides indh idual cities more finan cial aid in building sewage-treatment plants. This is the Federal program , it can work well only if the stat e. local co mmuniti es and industries fulfill th eir r es p o ii s i b ilities.

Seco nd. we must continu e and increase our surveillance o f wat er. l 1nless we know what is go ing into our ri,ers. streams and lakes, we cannot do an adequate job of keeping them clean. This means establishing waterquality crit eria and measuring the usability of wate r aga iu st them.

Third. we must increa se our resPa rch activities. The new Federal \Vat er Pollution Control Act provides more fund s for research. and e\ery cent of these new funds i~ needed. We mu st be able to identify the wastes going into our streams. \Ve mu st know what th ey are doin g to the publi c health, to the countrys industrial growth , to agric ulture, and to our prec ious fish and wildlife environ ment.

Some of this research will take strange forms. Already our st' ienti sts are workin g on new and strikingly different " ays of rleansing waste waters. Under trial are some nwthod s such as distilling and fr eez ing. similar to those being used for taking the salt out of sea water. Other ex peri ment s are quite different. One fa scinating possibilit y ~uncle r ser ious study and working Yery effectively in the l a l~tHalory ~ is electrolyzing of sewage. It breaks water into hydroge n and oxyge n. leavin g e\erything else behind. and tlr en puts these tw o elemeuts togetlwr again as newand dt a n ~ wat e r.

I see no reason. sc ieutific or economi c. why we cannot protect our water "uppliers and our air, as we now protect our food. I ra nnot believe. as a phy sician and as a gm ernmen! ad ministrator. th a t the water s uppli es of thi s countr~ cannot he kep t safe. clean and su itahlc~ not only fur health a nd eco nomic growth but for important rec reat ion an d conse rvation ,alues as well.

It ,,ill cos t mon ey. it will require a grea t deal of r esarc h. will call for the support of en' r~ citizen and e\er~ local an d Stat e gm ern ment. But it is a jnh whi ch can be done and I am sure \\ill lw done. Our chilization.
'' hich has worked so man y miracles, ca n surely protec t itself aga inst its own poisons.

( Editor's No te: Th is story is reprinted from This ll ' tcl. ma p;a::ine with sperial permissio n from Dr. Terry, Surgeon General. U. S. PuUic 1/calth Service.)

1 1 11~1111rl r~m~~~~~~~~ ~~l!illl1 ~r~r11111
3 2108 04554 0468
1962 TROUT SCHEDULE

BLUE RIDGE MANAGEMENT AREA

ROCK CREEK ( EXCEPT MILL CREEK '

7' " Directiom from A tlanta : Go to Dahlone g a, trav<'l :3 mile ' on t '. S. l lighwa y

#19. turn ldt on Camp \ \ ' al"<~ ga Hoatl, go

miJ.., to Th rc<' - \:otch

Gap, tum right and go 3 1 0, Illlln to Coop<'r, Cap. t11T11 lett .1ntl go I

miles to llightowPr Gap.

May

__ Saturdays, Sundays-5-6, 12 - 13, 19 -2 0, 26 -27

June

Wedn esdays, Thursda ys, Saturday-6-7, 13 -14, 20-21, 27-28, 30

July

Saturdays, Sundays-!, 4, 7-8, 14 - 15, 2 1-22 , 28 29

Au gu st

_Wednesdays, Thursda ys-1-2, 8 -9, 15 -16, 22 -23, 29-30

Se pt ember Saturday, Sunday, Monday- !, 2, 3

MOONTOOTLEY CREEK
Directions from Athlnta: Go to Dahlonega, tmnl :3 m il<, nm t h on 'U.S. #19, turn left on Camp \\'ah." ga Hoad, go 7 1:, nii le, to Thn- .\: otch Ga p , tnrn right a nd go 3% miles to Cooper's Gap, tum kit and go S miln tn \Vinding Stair Gap, turn right and go 3 mile, to l'hl'cking 'tation.
May ________ Wednesd ays, Thu rsd ay s- 2- 3, 9-10, 16 -17, 23 -24 J un e ________ Saturdays, Sundays-2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 Ju ly ______ Wednesdays, Thursdays-4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25 - 26 Augus t _____ Saturdays, Sundays-4 -5, 11-12, 18-19, 25 - 26

JONES CREEK REFUGE OR
LOWER BLUE RIDGE AREA
NIMBLEWILL CREEK
Directions from Atlanta: Go about 9 mile, "'"'t of Da hl01wga on II igh\\ ay # .52. tnrn ri g ht at Grizz le's 'tore, go 3 milt , to :\nnhkwill Church, tnrn right at church, and go 2 milts to Jones Cr..c k C h ecking Station.
May ______ Saturdays, Sundays- 5- 6, 12-13, 19-20, 26 -27 June _______ Saturdays, Sundays- 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24-30 Ju ly ________ Saturdays, Sundays-!, 4,14-15, 21-22, 28-29 August_ _ Wednesdays, Thursdays-1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23

JONES CREEK

Direc tions from Atlanta: Go about 9 miles \\'P't of Dahlonega on Hi_ghwa)

#.52 , turn righ t a t Grizzlt's S tore, go 3 milts to 1\:imhlewill Churl'h. tnrn

right and go 2 miles to Jone' Creek Chel'king Station.

May ____ Saturdays, Sundays- 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26 - 27 June ________ Saturdays, Sundays- 2 -3, 9-10, 16-17, 23 -24

July August September

Wednesdays, Thursdays-4-5, 11 -1 2, 18-19, 25 -26 Wednesdays, Th ursdays- 1- 2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 , 29-30 Saturday, Sunday, Manday-1, 2, 3

MONTGOMERY CREEK

Direc tiom from Atlant a: Go about 9 mile' "'"'t of Dahlmlt'g.< on lli ghwav #.52 , turn rig ht at G rizz le's Store, go 3 miln to :'\nnhkv. ill Chur..h. turn right and go 2 miles to Jom~s Cretk Clwcking S tat ion .

May June July Augus t

Wednesda ys, Thursday s-2-3, 9-10 , 16-17, 23-24 Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturday-6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, 30 __Saturdays, Sundays-!, 7-8, 14-15 , 21-2 2, 28 -29 Saturda ys, Sundays-4-5 , 11-12 , 18 - 19, 25 -26

CHATTAHOOCHEE AREA

CHATTAHOOCHEE AND SPOIL CAN E CREEK

Dinl'tion' from Atlanta: Travel :3 10 of ,1 m il e north !rom Hoi H'rh town o n Hi ghway #7.5 , tht'n cro>S the river bridg<. tnm right and tr,,~ l ' S mi l<> north to Chattahoochte Hiver Clucking Station.

May June July August September

Saturdays, Sundays-5- 6, 12- 13, 19- 20, 26-27 Wed nesdays, Thursdays, Sa turday- 6-7, 13-14, 20 -2 1, 27-28, 30 Saturdays, Sundays - ], 7-8, 14-15 , 21-2 2, 28 - 29 Wednes days , T hursdays-1- 2, 8-9, 15-16, 22 - 23, 29 -30 Saturday, Sun day, Monday-!, 2, 3

DUKES CR EEK

Direl'ti o n' from Atlanta: Tra v<l '3 10 of a mil< north froHI Hoh<'rhtown 011 HiJ!h\\' a~ r7 .':), tlun l'fO,, rJ\('f hndgt, t nnl kft. tra\"('] :~ . 2 Jnilt...; \\'f' ... t
to Dukes Cr<'f'k Chel'kin~ Station.

May June July August
Se pt ember

Wed nesdays, Thursdays-2-3, 9-10, 16 - 17 23-24 Sa turdays, Sun days-2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23- ' 4
Wedn esdays, Thursday s-4, 5, 6 11-12. 18 - 19, 25-26 Saturdays , Sundays-4 -5, 11-12, 18-19, 25 -26 Sat urday, Su nday , Manday-1, 2, 3

SMITH CI!EEK AND McCLURE CR EEK

Dirl'ctions from .-\tlant;I: Turn right in HoiH"rhtown 1111 Unicoi Park lloa<l.
tra\'<1 :3. 1 miJ,., <';"t to lua<l of t'nicoi St.ll< l'.>rk l..1k<' to Smith Cnk Ch,.cking Station.

May June July
August

Wed nesdays, Th ursdays-2 -3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 Sat urdays, Sun da ys-2-3, 9-10, I 6-17, 23-24
Wednesdays, Thursda ys-4-5, 11-12, 18-19,25-26 Sat urdays, Sundays-4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25 -26

CHESTATEE AREA

DICKS AND WATERS CREEKS

Dn<'<t """ IHIIH Atlant.I: From I ),ddoii< 'ga, tra vd north I "i mi l1' on 11 ighw,ly .:;-1~. turn lttt and go 2 1S 111i lt~, tu Clu( J...iug Statiou.

May Jun e July Aug ust Sep t e mber

Saturdays , Sundays-5-6, 12 -13, 19 - 20, 26-27 Wedn esdays , Thu rsdays, Saturday-6-7, 13- 14, 20-21, 27-28, 30 Saturdays, Sundays- !, 7- 8, 14 - 15, 21 - 22, 28 - 29 Wedn esdays, Thurs da ys- 1-2, 8 - 9, 15-16, 22 -2 3, 29-30 Saturday, Sunday, Manday-1, 2, 3

BOGGS CREEK AND C HESTATEE RIVER

DIT<'ttioll' !rom Atlanta: F rm n l) ,ddon<'ga trav..J north 1 .'5 1,~ 11>ilcs on ll i~h wa ~ .ti'l ~J to Tunwr, Co rn (' I' (:J H('king Sta t ion.

May June July August September

Wednesdays , Thursdays-2- 3, 9- 10, 16-17, 23 -24 Satur days, Sundays-2-3, 9 - 10, 16 -17, 23 - 24 Wednesdays, Thu rsdays- 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 Saturdays, Sundays- 4-5 , 11 - 12, 18 - 19, 25-26 Saturday, Sunday, Monday-!, 2, 3

LAKE BURTON MANAGEMENT AREA

WILDCAT CREEK

Dir<'dion -= Go to Cla rk,.,,ill e tak e Hi g hway itl97 pa't Lal'ra.I's Camp

I'"'' .>IHl

tl H' lir-t cn< k , go to th<' top o f tlw fir't hill, turn ldt, trav<'l to

che<king sta t ion wlur( permit' may bP 'l'l'llT<'cl for \Vil<l cat Cr<>!'k.

May June Ju ly August September

Satu rdays , Sundays- 5-6, 12 -1 3, 19-20, 26 - 27 _ Wednesday s, Thursdays, Saturday-6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, 30
Saturdays, Sundays- 1-4, 7 -8, 14-15, 21 - 22, 28-29 Wedn esdays, Thursdays- 1- 2, 8-9, 15-16, 22 -2 3, 29-30 Saturday, Sunday, Manday-1, 2, 3

MOCCASIN CREEK

Dir<Ttiom: Go to Clark<'will< take Jlighway itl97 pa't LaPrade's Camp and Jl'"' th< fir't cr<'e k . go to th e top of the first hill, t11m ldt , tra\'<'1 to tb('cknlg ' tati on \\'IHrt ptnnit"' n1a~ IH' 'f'c ur<"d for \1 otca,in Creek.

Ma y June July August September

Saturdays , Sundays-5-6, 12-13, 19 - 20, 26 - 27 Sat urdays, Su ndays-2-3 , 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 Wednesdays, Thursdays-4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 Satu rdays, Sundays-4-5, 11-12, 18 -19, 25-26 Sat urday, Sunday, Manday- 1, 2, 3

DICKS CREEK

Dir<'dloll" Go to Cl:uk<'"i ll< tak< Jl ighwa)' #197, tra\'!l p a't tlw L>ke Burton Fi,h llat dH'ry to th .. li"t ('T<'<'k wb!'T(' pnmits may h < M'l'llr('d from th<" Stat<' \\'il<llife Hanger.

May

Wednesday , Thursdays-2- 3, 9-1 0, 16-17, 23-24

W ARWOMAN AREA

TUCKALUGE CREEK AN D FINNY CREEK

Dind iom !rom Atlan ta : Go to Clay to11 011 II i~: hwa y ::t2 :3. tum right on llighw;~~ it76 ;11ul go o11ly on< hlol'k. th<'n t11rn lett 011 \\'arwom.m Ho;~d :m<l go to :3'." mil<'' to Cll<'<'king St;~tion whi .. h IS loeat<-.1 at Finn~ Cnk.

May June J uly August

Wednesdays, Thursdays-2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 Saturdays, Sund ays-2-3, 9-10, 30 Saturdays, Sundays-1- 4, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29 Wedn<sdays, Thursdays-22-23, 29-30

WALNUT FORK AN D HOOD CREEKS

Dinttiom from .-\tlant;~: Co to Cla,toll on llighwa~ # 23, t11rn right on
II ighwav :!:/(; a11d go on I) on<' hlol'k. tll<'n ill I'll l<ft on \\' ;ITwoman Road and go ) 1_ mil<' to Cll<'l'king St,llion at Finn) Crl'<'k.

May J u ne
J ul y August Septe mber

Saturdays, Sundays-5 -6, 12-13 Sa turdays , Sundays- 16-17, 23-24 Wed nesdays, Thursdays 4-5, 11-12 Wednesdays, Thursdays-1-2, 8-9, 15-16 Saturday, Sunday, Mondoy-1, 2, 3

SARAiiS CREEK

Dlrt'(tloll' lro111 :\tlaut.1. Co to Cl.1~tnn on llighw,l\ .:!2'3. turn llJ,!I1t ou lli).!h\\,1\ ~7(i .11HI go on}~ o1w I.lo(.'k, tlwu turn ]('It on \\',trWolll.lll 1\ 1,1d and J!O ) 1 _ lllJIo, to <:htTk.Jng St.JtloH lo\ .1ttd at 1:11111~ <:r<'l'k

May June July August September

Saturdays, Sundays-5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27
Wed nesdays , Thursdays-6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28 Wedne sday~. Thursdays-4-5, 11-12, 18-19,25-26
Saturdays, Sundays 1-5, 11-12, 18 -19, 25-26 Saturday, Sunday, Monday -!, 2, 3

31

A 6'~'~
GROWTH RATES OF FISH VARY-THE BETTER THE FOOD SUPPLY, THE BETTER THE GROWTH.

AGE of FISH

THESE BLUEGILL$ ARE THE SAME AGE. THE TOP ONE WAST AKEN FROM A WELLMANAGED POPULATION, THE LOWER ONE FROM AN OVERCROWDED FARM POND .

THE YEAR MARKS OR ANNULI ARE PROBABLY FORMED IN THE SPRING AS THE FISH BEGIN HEAVY FEEDING

CARP
BL ACK BASS
SUN FISH
WH ITE BASS

"LIFE EXPECTANCY" l S YEARS 8 YEARS 6 YE A RS 4 YEARS

CATFISH CAN BE AGED BY TAKING SECTIONS OF THE FIN SPINES OR BACK BONE AND MICROSCOPICALLY EXAMINING THEM .

OUTER EDGE

2nd ANNU LU S

0 R YEAR

....J,ad,..._..-,._,

MARK

lst ANNU LUS

FOCUS OR CENTER

THI S SCALE WAS TAKEN FROM A BASS IN ITS THIRD -YEAR. THE FISH WAS 16 IN CHES LONG AND GREW ABOUT 8 INCHES ITS FIRST YEAR AND 6 INCHES DURING THE SECOND YEAR.

GEORGIA GAME AND FI S H C0MMI SS ION
412. STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
ATLANTA. GEORGIA

SEC . 3 4.66, P . L. & R.
U. S. P O STAG E
PAID
A TLANTA . GA . PE RMIT N O. 155