Jimmy Carter Governor Joe D. Tanner Commissioner Department of Natural Resources George T. Bagby Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs BOARD OF NATURAL RESOURCES James Darby Chairman Vidalia-- 1st District William Z. Camp, Sec. Newnan-- 6th District Leo T. Barber, Jr. Moultrie-- 2nd District Dr. Robert A. Collins, Jr. Americus-- 3rd District George P. Dillard Decatur-- 4th District Rankin M. Smith Atlanta-5th District Leonard E. Foote Marietta-- 7th District Henry S. Bishop Alma-- 8th District Clyde Dixon Cleveland-9th District Leonard Bassford Augusta-- 10th District Jimmie Williamson Darien-- Coastal District Wade H. Coleman Valdosta--State at Large EARTH AND WATER DIVISION Sam M. Pickering, Jr., Director ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION R. S. Howard, Jr., Director GAME AND FISH DIVISION Jack Crockford, Director PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION Henry D. Struble, Director OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH Chuck Parrish, Director OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES James H. Pittman, Director PUBLIC RELATIONS AND INFORMATION SECTION H. E. (Bud) Van Orden, Chief FEATURES Knife Care Bob Wilson 2 Bonanza-- Black Sea Bass . . . T. Craig Martin 7 Camping Fever Nancy Hurt 10 Largemouth Bass Aaron Pass 15 Alligator! Allen R. Coggins 16 Reciprocity How to Make Spinners T. Craig Martin 21 Mike Sawyers 22 DEPARTMENTS Sportsman's Calendar 24 ON THE COVER: Oscar the Alligator, by Jim Couch BACK COVER: Amicalola Falls-infra-red, by Bob Wilson Outdoors ip georgia June, 1973 Volume II Number 6 Outdoors in Georgia is the official monthly magazine of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, published at the Department's offices, Trinity-Washington Building, 270 Washington St., Atlanta, Georgia 30334. No advertising accepted. Subscriptions are $3 for one year or $6 for three years. Printed by Williams Printing Company, Atlanta, Ga. Notification of address change must include old address label from a recent magazine, new address and ZIP code, with 30 days notice. No subscription requests will be accepted without ZIP code. Articles and photographs may be reprinted when proper credit given. Contributions are welcome, but the editors assume no responsibility or liability for loss or damage of articles, photographs, or illustrations, Second-class postage paid at Atlanta, Ga. Staff Writers Dick Davis Aaron Pass T. Craig Martin MAGAZINE STAFF Phone 656-3530 H. E. (Bud) Van Orden Editor-in-Chief Bob Wilson Managing Editor Art Director Liz Carmichael Jones Staff Photographers Jim Couch Bob Busby Linda Wayne Circulation Manager EDITORIAL WATER IT CAN BE FUN IT CAN BE DANGEROUS When we're thirsty, we drink it by itself or mixed with something else. When we're hungry, we catch fish out of it. When we want to play, we swim in it or we ski on it. There's no doubt about it, water can provide us with a lot of recre- ational activity during the summer months. But, if we're not careful, we can end up at the close of the summer season as nothing more than a statistic. That's what happened to 19 Georgians last year who were careless in their appre- ciation of water. A new boat owner showing his craft to some friends who didn't take the time to put on life jackets; a fisherman who couldn't swim and stood up in his small boat one time too many to make a cast; swimmers who failed to take a quick survey of the area before diving unknow- ingly into new waters; the boat driver who failed -- to watch the skier until it was too late they all contributed to those statistics. We can all imagine how much fun these sta- tistics could be having this summer if they had been a little more careful last summer. Water recreational areas are found all over Georgia, and there are new areas being developed daily. The outdoors is a great place to spend the summer months, and the rewards are great if we will take but a few moments to be sure that fun and safety on the water go together. With water glass raised on high, I'll drink to that. ^^y %cZ^ (&/i*v/ Knife Care By Bob Wilson Photo by Bob Wilson Shame on anyone who would treat good blades (and some lesser blades) and oil stones in such a fashion. A few quick openings and hard closings will result in dull, nicked blades, and possibly a broken stone. Look in your tackle box. Rummage around in your hunting or camping gear. You're looking for a knife-- an axe will do if you really don't have a knife. Got one? Good! Now look at it. Is that a little spot of rust? Is it really as sharp as it ought to be? Just where was it that you had it stored? Let's take a quick look at some of the common problems facing knives and see what can be done to overcome them. A knife or axe is a simple cutting tool-- never more, but all to often somewhat less. Proper sharpening, correct use, a little maintenance, and proper storage will result in a blade which will have a long life and will do its job safely and quickly. To start from the beginning, in case you missed the article "Sportsmen's Knives in the April issue of Outdoors in Georgia, spend as much as is necessary to get a quality knife (or axe) and as much as you can afford to get one you can take pride in. A good knife or axe will leave the factory sharp, with the edge correctly honed. Depending on the treatment it has received between the factory and you, it may or may not still be sharp and free of nicks. In any case, after a bit of use even the best blade will be dulled. Unless a cutting edge has been misused or neglected, it only takes a few minutes to hone it. If the blade must be reshaped, it will take considerably longer and will require more care. The moral here is to keep a blade in good shape, sharpening as often as necessary, and you will save time and effort in the long run. Knives and axes are sharpened by grinding away metal in order to thin, and possibly smooth the cutting edge. A number of devices can be used for this purpose, but only a few are acceptable for all applications. Old- fashioned grindstones, emory wheels, files, carborundum "stones," steels, and Arkansas oil stones are all used by different individuals with varying degrees of success. Old-fashioned grindstones are hard to come by but are very useful in sharpening axes and gardening tools. Such stones should be turned very slowly towards the cutting edge being sharpened. Modern emory wheels driven by high-speed electric motors have probably ruined more blades than anything except rust. Heat generated by high-speed grinding "burns" the metal, leaving it brittle and without temper. In the hands of a skilled craftsman, an appropriate set of files can put a very good edge on a blade in short order. Again, the file teeth should move toward the cutting edge of the blade. Those few craftsmen who do use files to sharpen fine knife blades frequent- ly use a very fne grade of emory paper to polish the edge after it has been formed and smoothed by their finest fie. Corborundum "stones" are fine for quickly sharpening axes when the blade doesn't need re- shaping, but it is sinful to touch one to a fine blade as it will leave a ragged edge. A sharpening steel is slightly better than a carborundum stone, and is handy for a quick touchup in the field-- but they do leave a ragged edge. The best device for sharpening good blades is a rock. Not just any rock will do, however; a very special rock called novaculite and found only in a small area of Arkansas is what is needed. Arkansas oil stones are found in a variety of grades, from hard to soft. The hard ones are usually a dark color and the soft ones a cream and brown mottled color. As the name implies, these stones are used with an oil, which keeps the small particles of steel from becom- ing embedded in the pores of the stone. A specially blended honing oil is best as it can be washed out of the pores of the stone if an accumulation builds up and dries; if a honing oil is unavailable, cooking oil or light machine oil may be substi- tuted. All right, so you've got your dull knife, an Arkansas oil stone (preferably with hard and soft sides) and -- some oil you're ready to go, but exactly how? Slather on some oil and take a few swipes at the stone (soft side) with one side of the blade Photos by Bob Busby I A soft Arkansas oil stone and homing oil are required to keep knives corectly and safely sharpened. Simply lay on a track or two of the oil and spread it over the stone. ! B^^ -,> . ! . ' . I , ' . Starting with the hlade held across the stone at one end, and at a 15-30 angle to the surface of the stone, and applying moderate pressure, you are ready to begin sharpening. A sweeping motion down the length of the stone so that the whole length of the edge contacts the stone is the object. Imagine that you arc slicing a very thin layer off the stone. For best results, a blade must -- be sharpened for the job it is to do just as they are designed for different purposes. For very light work, such as filleting fish, -- a very thin edge is best hone -- at 15 or less for very heavy -- work, a sturdy edge is necessary hone at 30. For general use, a hone angle of 17-22 will prove best. If you find it difficult to maintain a constant angle while honeing, commercially available devices such as the one shown below will hold the blade at a constant angle. Photo by Bob Busby and then some with the other side of the blade; just make sure that you \ keep the angle between the blade and the surface of the stone the same all the time. Seriously, lay the stone, soft side up, on a flat surface on which the stone will not slide around. Lay down a track of oil the length of the stone and spread it out on the stone with the blade to be sharpened. Next, lay the blade flat across the stone at one end of the stone with the edge pointing down the length of the stone. Tilt the top of the blade up until the blade is at an angle of 1530 with the surface of the stone, and, using a moderate amount of pressure, sweep the blade down the stone in an arc so that the whole edge contacts the stone. Repeat this proc- ess for 10-20 strokes (depending on how dull the knife really is), and turn the knife over for the same treatment on the other side. As the blade becomes sharp, take fewer strokes before working equally on the other side of the blade, and use less pressure. Once the knife is sharp, really sharp, it is ready for the hard stone. A few strokes, usually no more than ten per side, on the oiled hard stone will polish the edge to smooth per- fection. The only improvement that can be made now would be to use a leather strop for razor-like polish. When you are finished, test the edge by slicing slivers of paper, or shav- -- ing hair off an arm do not run a thumb or finc/er down a sharp blade. A couple of commonly encoun- tered difficulties in sharpening knives are difficulty in maintaining a consistant, correct angle while honing the blade, and a bent "wire" edge on the blade after honing. The ability to hold a blade at the correct angle during the honing process is acquired through practice, patience and concentration. A number of manufacturers offer mechanical devices that attach to the back of the blade and insure a consistant honing angle. These devices speed the sharpening process greatly, and get you accustomed to a correct honing angle. A "wire" edge is caused by the metal at a sharpened edge being folded over as a result of excessive pressure. If you do get a wire edge on the blade you are working on, take comfort in the knowledge that the blade is sharp. All that is neces- Shaving hair with a blade may tend to dull it quickly, but it is much safer than slicing a thumb or finger. A fine, well-sharpened blade will be is sharp as a razor and will slice before you feel it. // your homing technique is correct, surplus oil on the stone will collect evenly along the length of the blade. If you are maintaining a constant angle the oil will take on a dirty appearance within a dozen strokes. Photos by Bob Busby iTj&WH^tiu sary is to turn the blade over and gently hone the "wire" off and polish the edge. What about caring for a knife or axe other than an occasional sharp- ening? A light coat of oil on the blade after each sharpening and each excursion will keep it rust-free. If you do get some surface rusting, a gentle polishing with fine steel wool and oil will remove it. An axe han- dle should be lightly sanded and given a light coat of linseed oil from time to time depending on the amount of use and storage condi- tions. Knives and axes should be stored in such a way that their fine edges do not come into contact with hard surfaces which might dull or "turn" an edge. Some knife collectors even advise storing knives in drawers with individual compartments for each. Some also advise against storing knives in their sheaths due to the possibility of moisture in the leather. Almost every outdoorsman knows that knives are not meant for prying, scraping, throwing (except for those specifically designed for that), and a number of uses -- or misuses -- to which knives are sometimes put. A good blade, available commercially from such manufacturers as Buck and Gerber is not really expensive, even at $10 to $30, considering the quality and durability. With proper care, such knives will last a lifetime, and with very little effort they will al- ways be sharp enough to do the work at hand safely and efficiently. ; . Knives with two blades are often sharpened with one blade for heavy work and another, razor- thin, for light work. Good stones with both soft and hard sides are readily available at sporting goods stores. Use the soft side to sharpen a blade, and then the hard side to smooth and polish the edge. Photos by Bob Busby ! Bonanza Black Sea Bass By T. Craig Martin When you're in the mood for some pure meat fish- ing, for pulling in fish unlil your arms and back ache, till the cooler overflows in finny abundance, till your filleting knife loses its edge in contemplation of the task before it, then you're ready to face the black sea bass. The "blackfish" you catch won't be very big-- about eight pounds is the maximum, one to two pounds the average -- but you'll catch enough to feed your family and most of the neighbors within a couple of hours after you've found a good hole. Finding that hole can be a problem, though. The best nearby blackfish spots are off our coast, over theSapelo Reef live bottom and the artificial reefs placed by the Department of Natural Resources. The natural reef probably is your best bet, but it's about 16 miles offshore from the nearest access point. And even when you get into the area, you're apt to find that the marker buoys have disappeared, so you'll need a recording depth finder to locate the reef. Unless you have a well-equipped and seaworthy craft, it probably makes sense for you to go out on a charter boat. The costs aren't really astronomical. One charter captain operating out of the Colonel's Island Marina, for example, charges $125 a day for a group of four. For this sum you get a knowledgeable skipper, a 30-foot Hatteras boat, bait, and tackle. Other charter boats cost about the same. If you wish to take your own boat out, however, Outdoors in Georgia has a nautical chart that will help guide you. It's free, and we'll be happy to mail it to you. Catching these tasty little critters doesn't require any sophisticated gear; your freshwater casting or spinning gear will be fine, although you'll have to use rather heavy weights to reach the bottom. Photo by T. Craig Martin Once you find a good blackfish "drop," you can keep hauling them in until your arms and back give out, or until all your cooler space is full, whichever comes first . . . Here skipper Lee Card watches as Billy Prosser cranks up a double. The charter boats supply gear that is rather stiff for these small fish, but their tackle must be versatile enough for many applications. Since the rods are stiff, they utilize 8-ounce bank sinkers to get the bait down to the 70-foot depths frequented by the sea bass. The currents over the reef aren't severe, however, so with lighter gear you won't need that half-pound of lead dragging along as you struggle to raise the fish. A IV2- or 2-ounce sinker is plenty if you don't mind a slight lag while it wends its way to the bottom. The rest of the terminal tackle is simple: a wire leader with a 2/0 or 3/0 hook, and another similar hook on a dropper line. Largish chunks of cut bait -- menhaden, portions of other fish caught, whole shrimp, anything will do. Your quarry is a chunky fish, mottled brown or -- -- An unidentified angler with a fine blackfish. They aren't very big fish 2 to 3 pounds is a good size on our coast but they are great eating. \ blue-black. Occasionally one will have brilliant blue markings interspersed in the black background. Watch that dorsal fin! The spines are sharp and hard, and can deal you a fine wound if you're not careful. Sea bass f lets are delicious, but even the smaller fish can be scaled or skinned and cooked like you would any freshwater bass. Centopristes striatus, by the way, bears no formal relation to the freshwater Micropterus species which share its name. Photos by Bob Busby REEF WHISTLE BUOY // you're lucky enough both to have a recording depth finder and to locate the Sapelo live bottom, this is how it will look. On this chart, the left is the offshore side, which shows up as a rather smooth, level surface. The reef shows as a very uneven surface, and this is why the fish like it: they can find both food and protection in its nooks and crannies. The reef covers the area between the two lines on the chart. The next long dropoff is about where you'll find the whistle buoy off Sapelo Island. Sea Bass Lisbon Style 4 small bass, 3A to 1 pound each 1 Vi teaspoons olive oil (or drawn butter) 2 tablespoons chopped onion 4 large ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped 1 clove garlic, minced or crushed 1 tablespoon chopped parsley V* teaspoon powdered marjoram Vi bay leaf, tied to long thread Vi teaspoon salt % cup dry red wine V2 cup light cream 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon flour Clean and scale the fish, then cut them into three or four pieces each. Discard the head, tail, and fins. Heat the oil in a heavy, ovenproof skillet, then saute the onion, tomatoes, garlic, parsley, and rosemary gently for five or six minutes. Bury the bay leaf in the vegetables, then lay the bass pieces on top. Combine the wine and cream and pour it in the skillet. Cover, and cook in a pre-heated 325-degree oven for 20 minutes. Transfer the fish to a warm platter, then remove the vegetables with a slotted spoon, allowing the juices to drain back into the pan. Arrange the vegetables around the fish on the platter, discarding the bay leaf. Bring the juices to a gentle 'simmer in the pan. Knead the butter and flour to a smooth paste, then drop bits of it into the juices, stirring until each has dissolved before adding another bit. Let the sauce simmer for at least five minutes after the last bit of butter and flour has been added, then pour it over the fish pieces. Serves 4 to 6. Sea Bass Chowder 4 pounds of fish, cleaned and scaled 1 Vi quarts cold water Vi teaspoon salt V2 lemon, cut in thin slices 1 tablespoon butter 4 potatoes, cut in Vi inch cubes 3 medium-size onions, chopped coarsely 4 cups chopped tomatoes, with all juices 2 tablespoons dry vermouth 1 cup medium dry sherry 1 V2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons butter Put the fish in a deep pan, cover with the cold water, bring it to a boil, skimming the froth, then reduce it to a simmer. Add the salt and lemon slices, and continue simmering 15 to 20 minutes. The fish need not be completely done, but should flake off the bones in large pieces. Discard the bones and skin, and reserve the flesh in a warm bowl. Spread one tablespoon butter on the inside of a deep kettle or saucepan, put in the pieces of fish, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes, then strain the cooking juices over them. Cook 20 minutes at a gentle simmer, or until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the vermouth, sherry, and lemon juice, cook two or three minutes longer, remove from the heat, stir in the butter, and serve in soup bowls. Serves 6 to 8. - '' '. ' #*5b:*- fab ,*>'tL*i By Nancy Hurt Photo by Ted Borg With June's warm weather, camp- ing bugs have emerged from their wintertime cocoons and swarmed Georgia's campsites, spreading their infectious camping fever to epidemic proportions. Camping fever victims are scurrying to Georgia's mountains, lakes, streams, and even to her swamplands. They come in all shapes and sizes, some with backpacks and others with plush camping trailers, with fishing rods, bicycles, boats, hiking boots, water skis, tennis rackets, -- or golf clubs all equipped for out- door fun. There is no immunity to camping fever, but luckily, Georgia has just the remedy for those who have been bitten by the bug. From the north Georgia mountains to the Okefenokee Swamp, there are state parks, national forests, privately owned campgrounds, and lakes with adjacent camping areas maintained by the U.S. Army -- Corps of Engineers enough to sat- isfy any camping appetite. So whet your appetite and see what Georgia has for you! For those who love to rough it, primitive camping sites can be found almost anywhere you choose. How- ever, most designated camping facilities provide several basics for your camping convenience. Most state parks, national forests, and Corps of Engineers campgrounds have tent and trailer campsites, sanitary facilities, drinking water, and picnic tables. Georgia's state parks also offer elec- trical and water hook-ups, and many have trading posts and laundry facilities. Lakeside campgrounds operated by the Corps of Engineers provide boat launching ramps. National Forests and Georgia State Parks charge fees between $1.00 and $2.50 for use of camping sites, and will accept no advance reservations. State parks and Corps of Engineers' lakes are open year 'round. National Forests are open between May 1 and October 31. In many state parks, pioneer camp- ing areas for organized groups with adult supervision are also designated. On the other hand, group camping consists of a self-contained facility, including sleeping quarters, dining room, kitchen and recreational areas available to organized, non-profit groups for a time period between two days and two weeks or less. Reserva- tions can be made through the park superintendent. For those who want the comforts of home in the lap of Georgia's out- of-doors, there are furnished rental cottages and mobile homes in her state parks. Rates for these facilities can be made through the superintendent of the park which you wish to visit. For the mountaineer - at - heart, camping heaven is bound to be in those north Georgia mountains. Nestled in the rugged terrain are eleven state parks and the Chattahoochee National Forest, with good fishing, breath-taking scenery, and a variety of activities to remedy any case of camping fever. In the heart of Georgia's moun- tains is the Chattahoochee National Forest. Spanning 700,000 Georgian acres from the South Carolina line near Clayton to Lafayette in the northwestern corner, this area alone 10 includes 17 designated camping areas. Camping areas are clustered around the forest's clear mountain lakes. Blue Ridge Lake hosts two camping areas. Morganton Point campsite, near Morganton, and Lake Blue Ridge campsite, near Blue Ridge, offer boating, fishing, and swim- ming. Rabun Beach campsite on Lake Rabun, near Lakemont, and Lake Russell, near Cornelia, offer an enticing agenda featuring swimming with a beach and bathhouse, hiking, boating, and good fishing. Conasauga Lake, Georgia's highest lake, also of- fers these activities. Dockery Lake, near Dahlonega, offers fishing and boating, and Lake Chatuge, near Hiawassee, adds swimming to that list of activities. The clear waters of Lake Winfield Scott, southwest of Blairsville and near the Appalachian Trail, invite you for a dip, and a beach and bathhouse are nearby. Paddleboats and horseback riding offer a change of pace, and hiking and fishing are yours for the asking! Also on the Appalachian Trail above Cleveland is Unicoi Gap campsite with its rugged hiking trails. The Pocket campsite also offers a challenge to the hiking buff. Mountain streams can lure any fisherman to cast his line, and Georgia's streams are no exception. Deep Hole, Cooper Creek, and Mulky campsites, all north of Dahlonega, offer fishing the way it's supposed to be! Andrews Cove and Desoto Falls, near Cleveland, have the same menu. If you tire of fishing, you can hike to the five tumbling waterfalls of Desoto Falls. Downstream from Desoto Falls is Waters Creek, famed for its trophy trout stream. Secluded camping and excellent trout fishing can also be found at Tate Branch and Tallulah River campsites, northwest of Clayton. Near the Chattahoochee National Fish Hatchery at Dahlonega is Frank Gross campsite where, needless to say, there is always good fishing. Hidden Creek, near Calhoun, offers camping beside a stream which runs cool and clear for a day or two, and then vanishes. The Chattahoochee National Forest also encompasses several state parks. At the foot of the Appalachian Trail is Amicalola Falls State Park. Surrounding Georgia's highest waterfall (739 feet), this park offers good lake and stream fishing, boat rentals, and pioneer camping. Black Rock Mountain State Park, in Mountain City, lures the hiker to its dark granite cliffs and a view of four states. Cloudland Canyon State Park, near Rising Fawn, boasts a leg- endary lead mine, a well-kept secret of the Cherokee Indians. Both of these parks are of special interest to the nature lover, each having hiking trails and pioneer camping areas. Red Top Mountain State Park, located on Lake Allatoona near Car- tersville, offers water sports such as swimming, fishing, and boating, and miniature golf. And speaking of golf, Victoria Bryant State Park near Royston, offers a 9-hole golf course, as well as swimming and fishing. Vogel State Park, near Blairsville, has a lake and beach for waterbugs. It also offers horseback riding, minia- ture golf, and nearby Neel's Gap, Lookout Point, and Brasstown Bald Mountain, Georgia's highest point. Moccasin Creek State Park, also in the national forest, is located near Clarkesville on Lake Burton and allows fishing, boating and skiing. Panning for gold is a favorite pastime at Blackburn State Park near Dahlonega. And after a long, hot day, visitors can swim in Blackburn's lake. Fort Mountain, near Chatsworth, where mysterious ruins still stand, offers hiking, swimming, fishing, boating rentals, and miniature golf. Lake Hartwell hosts two state parks, Tugaloo near Lavonia, and Hart near Hartwell. Located in the hills of northeast Georgia, both offer a wide range of water sports and pioneer camping. Tugaloo adds miniature golf and a children's playground. Hart State Park also is available for organized group camping. As a lake maintained by the Corps of Engineers, Lake Hartwell has sev- Photo by Bob Busby 11 YEAR ROUND RECREATION State Park w? El II* Si w o o uj X f-i -j* I! Ix- 15 iJ _ _o 5-S ZX . I fa a 2 52 E -- . a. 2: c2 I o oz O < O < "o TM S .1 a. M0*1 < 3 0. iZ Alexander H. Stephens 35 2 15 1 X Amicalola Falls 25 25 25 2 X X XX XXX X X* X 1 Black Rock Mountain 70 35 35 3 X X XX X X 1 Bainbridge Blackburn 35 35 35 1 X X XX X Bobby Brown 80 48 48 2 X X XX X X XX Chebaw 43 43 43 2 X X X XX XXXX Chatuge X Cloudland Canyon 46 26 46 2 X XX X X Crooked River 56 56 56 2 X XX XX XXX Elijah Clark 200 150 150 9 X X X X X XX Fairchild XX Fort Mountain 117 28 14 4 X XX XX X X Fort Yargo 35 35 35 2 X X X XXX Franklin D. Roosevelt 140 70 70 4 X X X X XXXXXX General Coffee 50 25 25 2 X X X X X X George W. Carver 16 X XXXX Georgia Veterans 75 75 75 2 X X XX XXX Gordonia Alatahama 25 25 25 1 X X X XX XXX Hamburg 30 X X XXX Hard Labor Creek 105 105 105 4 X X X XX XXXXXx Hart High Falls Indian Springs Jeff Davis John Tanner Keg Creek Kolomoki Mounds Laura S. Walker Lincoln Little Ocmulgee Magnolia Springs Mistletoe Moccasin Creek Nancy Hart Panola Providence Red Top Mountain Reed Bingham Reynoldsville Richmond Hill Seminole Stephen C. Foster Tugaloo Victoria Bryant Vogel Watson Mill White Water Creek Yam Grandy 56 56 56 X X X 108 108 108 4 X X XX 125 100 100 5 X X XX 35 60 60 60 1 X X X 15 1 X X 35 35 35 1 X XX 90 90 90 3 X X X 1 X 65 40 40 2 X X XX 100 75 75 2 X X X X 70 70 70 2 X XX 100 75 75 2 X X X X XX XX XXXX XXX XXX X XX X XXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXX XX XXX XXXX XX X X X XX XXX X X 450 187 187 3 X X X X X XX XX 100 60 60 2 X X X XX XXXx 1 X 50 30 30 1 X X X XXx 50 50 50 2 X X X X X XX 78 78 78 2 X X XX X X XXX 130 130 130 4 X X XX XX X XX 25 25 25 1 X X XXX X X X 85 85 85 2 X X X XX X XXX X X XX 30 30 30 1 X XX XXX 12 IN GEORGIA STATE PARKS ess a "* oJtz oc So ! 3 ae -- m - oe -- ui as oc XXX XX X X X X X X XX X X X IX XX XXX X XX X XX X X X XX XX X XX X X X X X X X X ' X X X X XX X X X XX XX a. E 6 1 l SI o ca 11 U! 11 t- oc X X X 15 X 10 X XX XX X 5 X X 15 X X 19 XX 15 X X X 12 XX X X X 15 X X 1 X X 10 XX X X 5X 5 X 7 XX X XX XX X XX 5 XX 5 XX X XX X X X X X X 10 X XX X X 10 X 9 X X 10 X X 25 X XX X X Special Features State Park Museum Gold panning, museum Pool Fishing pier & pool Beach, museum Beach Tennis courts, beach & bathhouse, fort Pool Beach w/bathhouse Landing strip, museum Bathhouse & pool Museum Beach w/bathhouse, horses w/stables, mini-bike trail Beach Beach & bathhouse Museum Museum Beach Beach w/bathhouse Pool, Indian mounds, museum Pool Pool 2 pools, fish hatchery Beach Boat marina Beach w/bathhouse, arboretum (botanical garden) Located near Ft. McCallister Museum Beach Pool, baseball memorial Beach w/bathhouse, pavillion over water Largest covered bridge in Georgia Pool, baseball diamond Alexander H. Stephens Amicalola Falls Black Rock Mountain Bainbridge Blackburn Bobby Brown Chebaw Chatuge Cloudland Canyon Crooked River Elijah Clark Fairchild Fort Mountain Fort Yargo Franklin D. Roosevelt (general Lottee George W. Carver Georgia Veterans Gordonia Alatamahha Hamburg Hard Labor Creek Hart High Falls Indian Springs Jeff Davis John Tanner Keg Creek Kolomoki Mounds Laura S. Walker Lincoln Little Ocmulgee Magnolia Springs Mistletoe Moccasin Creek Nancy Hart Panola Providence Red Top Mountain Reed Bingham Reynoldsville Richmond Hill Seminole Stephen C. Foster Tugaloo Victoria Bryant Voael Watson Mill White Water Creek Yam Grandy Compiled by Suzanne Bass 13 eral campsites operated by the Corps. Lake Allatoona, another Corps of Engineers lake, has two state parks, Red Top Mountain and George Washington Carver, in addition to ten camping areas maintained by the Corps. These campsites, scattered around the lake's edge, offer a per- fect location for all boating bugs. Old Highway 41 and Sweetwater Creek Recreation Areas have swimming beaches, and all campsites per- mit water skiing. The shore of Lake Lanier, the nation's most heavily used Corps of Engineers' lake, is sprinkled with campgrounds. Twenty-eight camping areas maintained by the Corps are havens for water skiers and skippers alike. Most of these areas are designated as primitive camping areas with no facilities. Others, such as Shoal Creek camping area and Shady Grove Park, offer any kind of camping you might choose. Water lovers will also find the perfect remedy for camping fever in Georgia's Piedmont region. In most parks, private boats are allowed; boat ramps, docks, and rentals can be found in several parks. Clark Hill Lake, sharing its resources with 12 Corps of Engineers camping areas and 4 state parks, makes the most of its assets. The coves of Keg Creek and Mistletoe State Parks, near Appling, are bait for any fisherman. Bobby Brown State Park, near Elberton, and Elijah Clark, at Lincolnton, offer a full calendar of activities. Together they offer anything from biking to boat- ing, from miniature golf to museum exhibits. High Falls State Park, Jackson, and John Tanner State Park, near Carrolton, offer water sports galore. Newly-developed Hamburg State Park, near Mitchell, has centered its activities around a 225-acre lake. Alexander H. Stephens State Park, in Crawfordville, hosts a museum and Liberty Hall, restored home of the vice president of the Confederacy, as well as fishing, swimming, and group and pioneer camping. Facilities for the handicapped are available at Fort Yargo State Park, where a por- tion of the park, Will-A-Way, is spe- A cially designed for them. block- house, still in good condition, stands as a reminder of the past. Fort Yargo offers water sports as well as miniature golf and a children's playground. Indian history has woven its way into several of middle Georgia's parks. Creek Indians of past centuries used the mineral spring which flows in Indian Springs State Park, near Jackson. Today, water enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of water sports, and pioneer and group camping in Indian Springs. Creek Indian legend extends into Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, which is located around King's Gap, a famous Indian trail and one-time pioneer trading post. F. D. Roosevelt, near Pine Mountain, offers swimming, fishing, dream and fishing boat rentals, miniature golf, and pioneer and group camping. Nearby are Callaway Gardens and Roosevelt's favorite summer home, Little White House. If Georgia's state parks can't quite quench your middle Georgia camp- ing thirst, try the Oconee National Forest. Encompassing about 100,000 acres of rolling hill country, the for- est's Oconee River and Lake Sinclair, camping areas offer boating and fishing. In addition, swimming with a nearby beach and bathhouse is available at Lake Sinclair campsite. All that remains of once prosperous -- Skull Shoals ruins of Georgia's first paper mill, first cotton gin, and first -- textile factory are within hiking dis- tance from the Oconee River camp- site. In the coastal plains, several state parks are rich in history and heritage. Varied outdoor recreation opportunities are offered throughout the area. Magnolia Springs State Park, where springs fill a beautiful pond and provide clear water for boating, fishing and swimming, is located near Millen where Fort Lawton, a confederate prison camp, once stood. Indian history still haunts Reed Bingham State Park, near Adel, where today the camper can roam its lake and hike its nature trails. Richest in Indian history is Kolo- moki Mounds State Park, where mounds have been set aside as na- tional landmarks and excavations indicate Indian occupancy as early as 800 A.D. Kolomoki Mounds State Park, near Blakely, has everything from hiking to water sports, reserved shelters, a museum and all types of camping. Several of south Georgia's parks are located on major lakes. Lake Blackshear, whose shores host the Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park, near Cordele, is a favorite of the fisherman or any waterlover, and offers everything imaginable for the water enthusiast. And for the land- lubber, there is miniature golf, tennis, picnicking, and even an airplane landing strip for flying bugs. Chehaw State Park, near Albany, offers fishing and boating, as well as miniature golf for the family. Like- wise, Little Omulgee, near McRae, offer a full calendar of activities including a golf course and tennis, hiking, water sports, and group camping. Both are former Indian hunting grounds. A special park for the naturalist is Gordonia Alatamaha State Park, in Reidsville. This park, named for the plant which was originally found along the Altamaha River, offers swimming and fishing, as well as pioneer camping. Crooked River State Park, near Kingsland, offers water sports and an extra advantage in its coastal neighbors, Jekyll Island and the Golden Isles. Near the Okefenokee Swamp are two state parks, Stephen C. Foster, near Fargo and Laura S. Walker, near Waycross. For wildlife enthusiasts, these are two state parks which hold extra appeal. Laura S. Walker offers pioneer and group camping, miniature golf, and various water sports. Stephen C. Foster offers much the same agenda, adding a museum exhibit. Lake Seminole, boasting some of the South's best fishing, hosts five Corps of Engineers camping areas and two state parks. Seminole State Park offers pioneer camping, a children's playground and of course, good fishing. Campsites maintained by the Corps of Engineers offer anything from fishing to bait and supplies, from water skiing to beach and bathhouse. This lake is a favorite for families. Camping on Lake Walter F. George, near the Alabama line, is available at White Oak campsite. Cotton Hill camping area will add camping facilities in summer '73. There are as many places to camp and things to do as there are modes of camping. So the next time the camping bug bites you, try Georgia's cure. It works every time! 14 Wildlife Profiles: Xcargemou th ,ass By Aaron Pass Art by Liz Carmichael Jones The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is the undoubted and undisputed king of Georgia fishing. Going under a wide variety of aliases, such as green bass, green trout, Oswego bass and black bass, the largemouth has had as much effect on sport angling in America as any other fish due to his popularity and wide distribution. The original range of the largemouth was from southeastern Canada south to Florida and west inclusive of the Mississippi drainage. Held in high regard by most anglers, largemouth bass have been transplanted west to such an extent that distribution is now virtually nation- wide. The largemouth is the largest mem- ber of the ubiquitous sunfish family which includes the breams. The largemouth grows much larger than the other sunfish, with the world record being 22 V4 lbs., and 10-15 lb. fish not uncommon. This large gamefish is usually attired in various shades of green with a dark lateral band running the length of the body. Key distingu- ishing features of this species are a large mouth extending back well be- yond the eye, a separated dorsal fin and an absence of scales at the base of the soft dorsal fin. The largemouth's habitat prefer- ence is not unlike his smaller cousins: relatively shallow, weedy waters are preferred due to abundant food and protective cover. The bass move to deeper waters when hot weather or heavy disturbance makes the shallows intolerable. Found in almost all clean waterways in the state, the largemouth is most often found in still water. Farm ponds and large reservoirs both produce largemouth bass as do the oxbow lakes and sloughs in south Georgia river swamps. The main in- gredients necessary for bass are forage, cover, and a place to spawn. Largemouth bass spawn in late spring when the water approaches 60-70 F. and spawning occurs in nests in shallow water. The male bass sweeps clean a depression about 20 inches in diameter and attempts to lure a female to the spawning bed. The female may lay only a few hundred eggs at one time but she, or other females, may utilize the same nest repeatedly. The eggs are sticky and adhere to the bottom. The male stays near the nest until the eggs hatch (usually about a week, depending on water temperature) and continues to guard the young fish (fry) for a short time. These fry remain in a school until they are about an inch long, then they disperse and forage for themselves. The juvenile bass begin feeding on zooplankton and progress to small insects and crustaceans as they grow. An adult bass seeks meatier morsels and may dine on large crus- taceans, frogs, small fish and even small mammals if the opportunity presents itself. The largemouth is popular as a sport fish and has been so for a long time. Anglers have always sought a new and better way to catch the aggressive largemouth. Legend has it that a Kentucky watchmaker designed the first bait casting reel to catch bass which were beyond the reach of conventional tackle of the mid-1800's. New and revolutionary lures have come and gone and the bass has grown more wily and the bass fisherman more ingenious. It is this apparent intelligence that makes the bass such a challenging game fish. True, a bass will give an aggressive battle climaxed with head shaking leaps, but it is the fickle cunning of the largemouth which makes him a true fisherman's challenge. 15 All;igaior. We give you now Professor Twist A conscientious scientist. Trustees exclaimed He never bungles, And sent him off to distant jungles; Camped on a tropic river side, One day he missed his loving bride. She had, the guide informed him later, Been eaten by an alligator. Professor Twist could not but smile You mean, he said, a crocodile. "The Purist" by Ogden Nash By Allen R. Coggins The American Alligator (Alligator mississipensis) once was found throughout the southeastern United States and up the Mississippi River Valley. But like so many other critters, the alligator has found it hard to adapt to the changes which man has brought about in its environment. Only in those few areas of suitable habitat which man has not yet changed has the gator managed to survive. Unfortunately, we humans are still encroaching upon those few remaining unspoiled dwelling places of the alligator. More devastating than the reduc- tion of suitable habitat has been man's active pursuit of the gator's valuable hide. Federal and State legislation aimed at protecting the species has helped considerably, and many of the once dwindling populations are coming back. If man acts quickly enough to recognize the importance of this species, and sets aside adequate hab- itat, it may have a chance. Photo by Bob Wilson The alligator belongs to a group of related animals collectively known as the Crocodillians (Order Crocodilia). This group also includes the crocodiles, the caimans of Central and South America and the gavials of India. The alligator has a broader snout and body than his cousin the crocodile, and he lacks its sinister, closedmouth smile. In contrast to the crocodile, the gator's teeth are cov- ered by his lips. The teeth are in sockets and grow back readily if knocked out. Alligators are generally black on top and creamy tan underneath. The young may have light markings which fade as they mature. The alligator is the largest reptile in North America, and he is well adapted to his amphibious habitat. Underneath his dry, leathery skin are boney plates which give him a formidable coat of armor. His favorite haunts are river swamps, lakes, marshes and bayous. He is often seen basking himself in the sun for hours at a time while waiting to pounce upon some unsuspecting prey. His prey consists of just about anything in the way of meat, but he is especially partial to birds, fish, raccoons, rabbits and other tasty mammal morsels. Males range from 8 to 10 feet in length, with females being slightly smaller. Prior to the turn of the cen- tury, 20 foot gators were not uncom- mon with the average being probably around 14 feet or so. Most of these big fellows are gone now, but hope- fully today's protected 10 footers will 16 become tomorrow's 20 footers. Males may weigh up to five hundred pounds while females seldom exceed 300 pounds. The average life span is something on the order of 50 to 60 years, but the old 20 footers may live considerably longer. The gator's hearing is comparable to that of humans. Its ears are located on his head and are equipped with flaps of skin which close off the ear canals when he is submerged. His nostrils are equipped with similar flaps, as is his throat. This makes it possible for the gator to open his mouth under water without strangling. His eyes are quite interesting, in that they have two types of protective coverings. The eyes protrude above the animal's head, but can be dropped down into protective boney sockets if Photo by Art Rouschenberg danger threatens. The top set of eye lids are leathery and open up and down in much the same way as ours do. The underlying lid, called a nictitating membrane, is transparent and moves vertically. Some birds have a similar membrane which apparently protects their eyes from wind during flight. The nictitating mem- brane in the gator protects its eyes underwater. A man could easily hold even a good sized gator's mouth closed with one hand, but it would take much more effort to keep the jaws open. The jaws have thirty to forty formidable teeth and since the gator's food is gulped in large chunks, the teeth are used primarily to tear and crush prey. The alligator has an equally pow- -- erful weapon on the other end of his body his tail. This very muscular structure has an impact comparable to that of a hundred pound sledge hammer. Reptile reflexes are relatively slow in comparison to that of mammals, but given the advantage of surprise, the gator is very adept at de- fending himself or procuring living food on the hoof. Prehistoric reptiles, called Thecodonts, first appeared in early Triassic times, about 225 million years ago. Thecodonts were relatively small animals, overshadowed by their mam- mal-like reptile neighbors. They eventually gave rise to the now extinct flying reptiles and dinosaurs, and the crocodillians. The latter group has always been specialized, semi-aquatic carnivores (meat eaters). As the only surviving descendants of the Thecodonts, the alligators and crocodiles are the closest living relatives of the dinosaurs. The survival of the crocodillians has probably been due to their con- tinuous occupation of swampy habi- tats, similar to those in which they evolved hundreds of millions of years ago. Their survival is also due to their ability to withstand long periods with little or no food, and to the fact that they are opportunists. They will eat almost any animal material, living or dead. Not only have they remained in swamp habitats, but they are partially responsible for having kept it in eco- logical balance for these many millions of years. They prey on rough fish, turtles and other forms of life which, if not kept in check, would soon take over the swamp and change it drastically. Were it not for the alligators, other species would run rampant. This would probably have a detrimental effect upon the entire ecology of the swamp. Gator wallow holes are natural reservoirs in times of drought. Many species of plants and animals are dependent upon these pools of water for survival during the long hot summer. Their constant movement along water ways (natural drainage ways in the swamp) assures the free flow of water, thus lessening problems of flooding during periods of heavy rain. If the gators didn't keep the water ways open, plants would soon encroach upon them and close them for good. The alligators have a slight advan- 17 Photo by Fred K. Parrish tage over other reptiles. They have a baffle plate in their heart which as- sures a flow of fresher blood through their systems with a consequent larger oxygen supply, food supply, and higher waste removal capacity. The amphibians and most other reptiles have three-chambered hearts, which causes unoxygenated "bad" blood to mix with the oxygenated "good" blood. This is a relatively poor system in comparison to that of the warm blooded birds and mammals which have four-chambered hearts. A four-chambered heart means that good and bad blood will not mix. The alligator is fortunate in that this special dividing plate in his heart cuts down on most of the mixing which would make him a more slug- gish animal. The Thecodont, ancient ancestor of the alligator, gave rise to the dino- saurs and flying reptiles. The dinosaurs had three-chambered hearts, the birds have developed four-chambered hearts, and the old gator is halfway in between. It is good that evolution chose to make him a reptile. In respect to his heart and circulatory system, he has made a good reptile, but he would have made a lousy bird. The alligators are scavengers. They clean up large and small carcasses which would normally take a longer time to decay and return to dust as nutrients. This job could be done entirely by flies and buzzards, but it would take longer. Were the gators not around, there would be more flies This gator nest, which is composed of decaying vegetation, is built just above the water table, and the female buries her eggs in its top. Capillary action will draw moisture upward toward the warming sun and this, plus the heat of decomposition of the nest material, will incubate the eggs. and other scavenger species which would throw off the ecological balance of the swamp. Such an ecological change would have far-reaching effects. The increased fly population could conceivably cause an increase in the spread of disease in humans and other animals in and around the swamp. The home range of alligators may vary considerably. The female's territory may be from five to forty acres depending upon the availability of food, number of individuals in the area, time of year and individual preference. During the time that the female is guarding her nest, her territory is much smaller. The males have been known to travel great distances, as much as twenty miles, in search of mates. April and May is the mating sea- son for gators. During this time the bulls can be heard for many miles across the swamp as they bellow out their sweet love chants. This may be -- beautiful music to other gators, but to us mammals, it's rather eerie. The bellows have another significance they are territorial cries. They mean in no uncertain terms, "keep out of my territory, or else." All too often, the warnings go unheeded and two bulls collide in full combat. The winner takes the territory and the lady while the defeated meekly slithers away in search of another mate. There is a second method of attracting a mate which involves powerful glands located under the neck and in the cloaca. The cloaca is a pouch located between the hind legs. The glands secrete a scent which is detectible by the female for many miles. Once mating has taken place, the female begins the difficult task of constructing a nest in which to incu- bate her eggs. The nest is generally two to three feet high and up to seven feet in diameter. It is composed of dry grasses, peat moss, sticks and other dead vegetation. She builds her nest on high ground to avoid flooding. The materials are packed firmly into place as she crawls back and forth across the nest. About a month or so after mating, the female digs a hole in the top of her nest mound and deposits her eggs. Unlike snake eggs which are oblong and leathery, gator eggs resemble chicken or goose eggs and are hard shelled. Sometimes two or more females lay in the same nest, thus caus- ing confusion as to how many eggs are contained in a clutch. It is now known that the clutch may vary from 30 to 50 eggs, but generally averages about three dozen. After the female has laid her eggs, she remains nearby to guard them. They will take 65 to 85 days to hatch. Raccoons, skunks, snakes, bears and many other animals relish gator eggs, but the female is well equipped and ill tempered enough to handle almost any marauder. The natural decomposition of the vegetation within the nest produces some heat. But, it is primarily the heat of the sun which incubates the eggs. This is accomplished by direct sunlight and by evaporation from the vegetation. The nest is constructed just above the water table and as water rises by capillary action the resultant steam heats the eggs. During the night this heat is held by the vegetation. The eggs themselves are also known to produce some heat. Should the nest dry out, the female will leave the water to climb across it. Water from her body and from pouches in her mouth moistens it. As a young gator forms inside its egg, much of the calcium of its shell is absorbed to make bone cells. As a result, the shell thins making it easier for the gators to break through into the outside world when the time is right. As the young hatch, they utter rather high keyed clucking sounds. 18 When their mother hears this, she climbs up onto the nest and digs them out. Once all of the viable eggs have hatched, the mother gator grunts an age-old beckoning and her "gator- lings" follow her into the water. The young gators are as vulnerable after they hatch as they were before. After hatching, they have a new crop of enemies which include fish, birds and other gators. At birth, the young resemble adult gators except for their length which is about 9 inches and the light colored stripes or bands on their bodies. They will not feed for at least two or three weeks after hatching since their stom- achs will still contain yolk. When they finally do start eating, their diet will consist of insects, small fish, crustaceans and about anything else they can sneak up on, outrun or over- power. Young gators grow about one foot per year until they reach sexual ma- turity. This will generally take about six years. Growth slows after this point is reached. There is some difference of opinion among the experts as to how long a mother gator will stay with her newly hatched young. It appears that some don't stay around at all, while others may remain for up to a year. Ma- ternal behavior appears to be a heriditary response. Both types of behavior have their advantages and disadvantages. If the adult gator remains to watch over her young, the young have a better chance of survival. Her young females will also mature into protec- tive females giving their young more of a chance of survival. On the other hand, in staying with her young for a long period of time, the mother gator becomes easy pickings for poachers. This was more of a problem before Federal and State legislation curtailed most poaching. If the female is killed, her young stand no more of a chance of survival than they would had she left them. Nonprotective females leave their young to fend for themselves. The young have less of a chance of survival, but their mother has a greater Maternal instinct in the crocodillians is learned behavior. Here a female guards two of her vulnerable young; female young who survive also will display protective behavior. These "gatorlings" will lose their light colored bands as they grow toward maturity. chance to produce other broods. It may be that both methods are equally effective. In any case, the chances that a hatched gator will live to sexual maturial is about one in 30. The American Alligator is an endangered species, but with a little help from man, it now has a chance to reinvade a few of its old haunts. The last sure stronghold of the alli- gator is the Okefenokee Swamp in southeastern Georgia. The gator's ex- istence is threatened in the Florida Everglades due to commercial interest and a dangerously fluctuating water table. It is also threatened in Louisiana by the oil industry, by seepage of salt water into the swamps, and more recently by open seasons on the animal. The waters of the Okefenokee are unpolluted and rise entirely within the swamp. This area is also owned and protected by the federal government. Therefore, the American Alligator will grow and flourish there for as long as man sees fit to protect this, one of his most interesting fellow creatures. Photo by Bob Wilson v-N -^ .\r \\* \ - v-.\ ' ~ -< flfetoMi ... .>. *^x .; f *" ' ^t 19 T E N N. C N. .1 R Lake Chatuge aA, V) Tugaloo Lake Yonah Lake ATLANTA Barllelts Ferry Lake Goat Rock Lake MACON Lake Walter F Geo F L O R I DA reciprocity u Mutual dependence, cooperation" Webster's "The term is used in international law to denote the relation existing between two states when each of them gives the subjects of the other certain privileges, on condition that its own subjects shall enjoy similar privileges at the hands of the latter state." Black's Law Dictionary By T. Craig Martin Although few Georgia fishermen have much reason to be interested in the international recriprocal agree- ments between "states," many of our anglers make frequent use of similar agreements between our state and those that border us. A series of rather complex treaties entitles Georgia citizens to use portions of border waters that actually are within the confines of neighboring states. Under these agreements their citizens gain "reciprocal" rights, that is, they can use our share of these streams and lakes. Occasionally, however, anglers misunderstand or misinterpret the terms of these agreements and the ensuing conflict leaves no one happy. To help avoid such conflicts, Out- doors in Georgia provides this summary of the rights Georgians enjoy under the reciprocal fishing agree- ments now in effect between Georgia and her neighbors. In our July issue, we will discuss similar agreements covering boating and the new Georgia boating laws passed by the State Leg- islature. ALABAMA The agreements with our neighbor on the west include impoundments on the Chattahoochee River that winds its way between the states. The major lakes included are Walter F. George, Bartlett's Ferry, Goat Rock, Oliver, Seminole, and Columbia. Georgians may sportsfish (also hunt waterfowl) on any portion of these impoundments, but not in tributary streams within Alabama borders. They may fish from either bank. They must hold valid resident licenses; Georgia visitors holding non-resident licenses are not covered under these agreements. No license is needed by fishermen under 16. The creel and possession limits on these waters are the same as on Geor- gia waters, although there is a limit of 50 yellow perch (Georgia has no specific limit on these, fish although the aggregate limit includes them). FLORIDA Two agreements govern Georgians fishing in Florida waters. One allows them to fish in any section of Lake Seminole, another covers the St. Mary's River. Neither of these agreements covers tributary streams. Creel limits and other regulations on the Florida portion of Lake Seminole are the same as those on the Georgia portion. The St. Mary's agreement covers sportsfishing only, and embodies slightly different creel limits: 70 bream (50 is the current Georgia limit), 40 crappie (50 in Georgia), 15 pike (not covered in Georgia's regulations), and 30 yellow perch (not specifically covered in Georgia's regulations). A legal Georgia license is the only permit required under either agreement. NORTH CAROLINA Our agreement with North Caro- lina covers only the portion of Lake Chatuge located in Clay County, A N.C. properly licensed Georgian may fish with rod and reel or hook and line in this portion of the lake, but he may not fish from a boat that is anchored to the North Carolina shore, and he cannot fish from that shore. Georgians are governed by Georgia creel and possession limits on all of Lake Chatuge. SOUTH CAROLINA This agreement covers the Chattooga, Tugaloo, and Savannah Rivers and their impoundments. Properly licensed Georgia fishermen have access to all portions of these waters (excluding Carolina tributaries), but they must abide by South Carolina's regulations while fishing in her waters. One major difference between Georgia and South Carolina law is that they require fishermen 12 years of age and older to have a license, while we set the limit at 16. So Georgians 12 and older must get Georgia licenses before venturing into South Carolina waters. Another South Carolina regulation prohibits the possession of a rifle while on the water, and firing one within 100 yards of an impoundment. Creel limits vary also. In their waters one may catch 10 trout of any species (8 in Georgia); 10 bass of any kind, including not more than 2 striped bass (Georgia allows 1 5 black bass and 5 stripers); and 30 of all other species, including bream, white bass, crappie, etc, (Georgia allows 50 bream and crappie, 30 white bass, etc.). Their total possession limit is 40, ours is 50. Enforcement of creel and possession limits on these and other interstate waters is somewhat sporadic, but the limits can be enforced. In the interest of sportsmanship and conservation, Georgia anglers should abide by the lower limits wherever they fish. 21 How to Make Spinners Spinner making equipment isn't elaborate. Two pairs of pliers are the only devices needed. The types of beads, blades, bodies, clevises, hair and hooks to be used are a matter of personal choice. By Mike Sawyers Photos by the Author Fly fishermen have long known the advantages of "tieing their own." While spinner mak- ing isn't as widely practiced as fly tieing, it offers the same advantages. Home-made spinners are inexpensive to cre- ate and the individual angler can add a little something here and there that he feels will make the lure more attractive to the fish. You don't need a machine shop to start spinner production. Once you acquire the needed parts, two sets of pliers will put you in the spinner making business. One pair of these pliers should have edges for wire cutting. It is possible, however, to purchase a manually operated mechanical device to help put the finishing twists on your spinners. A variety of mail order catalogues offer pages of beads, swivels, clevises, wire, blades, bodies and other parts for making spinners and other lures. These parts come in various finishes or you can paint them the desired color. An easy way to start is to take a look at your favorite factory-made spinner. List the parts you see and order similar ones from one of the suppliers. Though most commercial spinners come in pre-established weights such as onesixteenth or one-eighth of an ounce, you can make spinners of any weight by varying the types of bodies you use. That way, you will have lures suitable for every depth of water. Additional weight, which often disturbs the lure's action will be unnecessary. The initial outlay of cash is usually not as great with spinner making as with fly tieing. There just isn't as much equipment needed. As with fly tieing, once you get into production, the cost per finished spinner will continue to decrease. The pleasure of landing a fish on a creation of your own is just as evident with spinners as with flies. And, because the cost per spinner is low, it won't be such a traumatic experience when you have to leave one of the lures dangling from a branch on the other side of the river or attached to a log at the bottom of the lake. 22 ^^~~- .. 4 A piece of wire about twice the length of the finished product allows you more leverage for making the loops and wraps at each end of the spinner. A wire with a diameter of .018 or .020 is strong enough for most types of fishing. Once the treble hook is slipped onto the wire, the initial wraps can be made around the shaft. Spring steel wire which is heavily tin-plated is the best wire for spinner making since it comes off the coil in straight pieces and requires no additional straightening. The combination of bodies and beads can be varied to please individual taste. The angler can change the weight and the colorof the spinners by the type of parts he uses. Next comes the most important part of the spinner. The clevis is a small loop that fits on the shaft and holds the spinner blade. Although some spinners will work without a clevis, most types require a clevis to achieve the proper action. ' "* - / A pair of ncedlenosc pliers will help make the finishing loop a simple process. One twist around the ncedlenosc and then a wrap or two around the wire shaft and the spinner is nearly finished. The remaining wire is snipped off with the wire cutters and the spinner is ready for use. Natural or colored squirrel or deer hair can be added to the hook as an attraclor. 23 Catching fish, such as these brown trout, on your own creation is a real treat. FISHING REGULATIONS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS All fishermen 16 years of age or older in the State of Georgia are required to have a valid current State fishing license in their possession while fishing in fresh water, with the exception of landowners and members of their immedi- ate family who may fish without a license on their own No property. license is required for fishing in saltwater. Residents 65 years of age, or over, blind persons, and totally disabled veterans may obtain a permanent honorary fishing license free of charge by personal or mail application to the Game and Fish Division's office in Atlanta. LICENSE FEES Resident Fishing License $3.25 Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing . . 7.25 Non-Resident Fishing (5 day trip) 3.25 .... Non-Resident Season Fishing License 10.25 SEASONS All streams, lakes, and ponds of Georgia are open to fishing through the entire year with the exception of the mountain trout waters of North Georgia. See trout regulations for details. Sunday fishing is allowed. DAILY CREEL LIMITS Bream (Bluegill, Red Breast, and other species of Bream) 50 Crappie 50 White Bass 30 Largemouth Black Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Red- eye Bass, and Spotted Bass or Kentucky Bass 15 Striped Bass or Rock Fish 5 White-striped Bass Hybrid 10 Chain Pickerel or Jack 15 24 Brook or Speckled Trout, Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout White Shad, Hickory Shad Sauger, Walleye Muskelunge Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish 8 8 8 2 No Limit No Limit POSSESSION LIMITS It is unlawful for any person to possess at any one time more than 50 fish in the aggregate (total) of all species named, except channel and flathead catfish. No more than a total of 15 largemouth, smallmouth, redeye or spotted bass can be possessed. No more than 8 trout of any or all species can be possessed at any time. SPECIAL POSSESSION LIMITS There will be a special creel limit of 25 warmouth, bream or sunfish taken from the Suwannee River and the Oke- fenokee Swamp. On Lake Blue Ridge there will be a creel limit of 15 walleye. SIZE LIMITS There is a minimum size limit of twelve (12) inches for largemouth bass on all public waters in this State. It is a violation of this regulation to take or have in possession largemouth bass less than 12" in length, taken from public waters. There is a minimum size limit of 12 inches on all redeye bass taken from the Flint River. There is a minimum size limit of fifteen (15) inches for striped bass (rock fish) in all waters (fresh and salt) of this State. It shall be a violation of this regulation to possess striped bass less than 15" in length, taken from these waters. GENERAL TROUT REGULATIONS CREEL LIMITS Eight (8) trout per day (regardless of species) except as otherwise provided in Special Regulations. Possession limit eight (8) trout (regardless of species). FISHING HOURS Fishing on trout streams open during the regular state trout season (March 31 -October 6) will be permitted from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. No night fishing on these streams is permitted. Trout fishing at night is permitted on all impoundments except Dockery Lake, Rock Creek Lake, and Edmundson Pond, where fishing is permitted from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Night fishing is permitted on "year- round" trout streams. FISHING METHODS 1. Fishermen may take trout only with rod and line. Trout fishermen are restricted to the use of one rod and line and it must be held in hand. ANY 2. Live bait-fish May Not be used in trout stream in the state. Seining of bait fish is not allowed in any trout stream. 3. Trotlines, set hooks, jugs, nets, and bows and arrows are prohibited for fishing in all trout streams. 4. On those streams designated for "artificials only," only artificial lures may be used. It is illegal for anyone fishing an "artificial only" stream to have any bait other than artificial bait in his possession. Artificial bait as used in these regulations shall mean any bait which is man-made, in imitation of or as a substitute for natural bait, and shall include artificial NOT flies. included and expressly prohibited are fish eggs, corn, or chemically treated or processed foods. 5. While fishing specially regulated waters with a mini- mum size limit, it will constitute a violation to possess trout of less than the specified minimum size. TRIBUTARIES CLOSED AH tributary streams to Lake Lanier, except the Chatta- hoochee and Chestatee Rivers, to Lake Hartwell, except the Tugaloo River, and to Lake Clark Hill, except the Savannah, Broad, and Little Rivers, are closed to fishing for a distance of three (3) miles upstream from backwater from December 1 to April 1 of each year. MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT Lakes Lanier, Hartwell, Clark Hill, Burton, Rabun, Seed, Tallulah Falls, and Blue Ridge shall have a minimum size limit of 14 inches on all species of trout from December 1 to April 1 of each year. TROUT STAMP A current state trout stamp affixed to the back of a valid -- state fishing license is required to catch and possess trout. (See License Requirements elsewhere in this brochure.) The trout stamp is required to fish in those lakes where trout are the only or the predominant species. These lakes are Dockery Lake, Amicalola Lake, Lake Trahlyta, Unicoi Lake, Rock Creek Lake, and Edmundson Pond. On all other lakes or reservoirs where trout are present, the trout stamp is required only if trout are in possession of the fisherman. CLOSED STREAMS The following streams will be closed for renovation and restocking during the 1973 trout season: Chattahoochee River WMA (Upstream from Henson Creek) . Chattahoochee Dick's Creek WMA Lake Burton Tuckaluge Creek Warwoman WMA Coleman River (Upstream from USFS bridge #54) WMA Coleman River Mill Creek WMA Coleman River Tate Branch WMA Coleman River WMA Mill Creek on Blue Ridge is permanently closed to fishing (water supply for Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery). MANAGED STREAM SCHEDULE Management Arag BLUE RIDGE Sire om Jones Creek June Sat.. Sun. Montgomery Ni.nblewiii Sot., Sun. Wed.Thu. Sat., Sun. Noontootley Every Day Rock Creek CHATTAHOOCHEE Chattahoochee Wed , Thu. Sat, Sun. Sal Sun . Wed. Dukes Sat, Sun. Wed., Thu. CHESTATEE Boggs D,ck> Sol . Sun. Wed.Thu. ~ Sat, Sun. Waters Sat., Sun. LAKE BURTON ~~ Moccasin W, Ideal LAKE RUSSELL WARWOMAN Middle Brood Finney Sol.. Sun Wed.Thu Sat , Sun. Sol Sun , Wed ~~ Sal.. Sun. Sarahs ~ Sot., Sun. Walnut Fork Hoods Creek Wed, Thu. Wed . Thu July Sot .. Sun Wed 4lh Sat Sun. , Wed., Thu. Sat., Sun. Wed 4th Every Day August Sot ., Sun. Sat, Sun. Wed.. Thu. Sat., Sun. Every Day Sat. Sun. Wed , Thu Sat , Sun. Wed. 4th Sat, Sun. Wed Thu. . Sal , Sun. Wed.Thu. Wed.Thu. Sot., Sun. Sat., Sun. Wed 4th Sat., Sun Wed.Thu. Sot, Sun. Wed 4th Sat , Sun Wed Wed., Thu. Sat., Sun. Wed.Thu. Sal . Sun Sot . Sun. Wed . Thu. Sat , Sun. Wed.Thu Sot , Sun. Sal., Sun. Sat., Sun Wed.Thu. Sot, Sun. Sot Sun. , Wed Sat , Sun. Wed , Thu. Sat , Sun. Sat., Sun. Sol . Sun. Wed, Thu. Wed., Thu. September Sot ., Sept. I Sun.. Sept 2 Mon Sept 3 , Sat. Sept 1 Sun. Sept. 2 Mon., Sept 3 Sat., Sept. 1 Sun., Sept 2 Mon., Sept. 3 Sat , Sept 1 Sun , Sept 2 Mon , Sept. 3 Sat., Sept 1 Sun, Sept 2 Mon.. Sept 3 Sat , Sept I Sun., Sept. 2 Mon , Sept 3 Sot. Sept. 1 Sun , Sep! 2 Mon., Sept. 3 Sal, Sept. I Sun, Sept 2 Mon., Sept. 3 Sat, Sept. 1 Sun . Sept 2 Mon . Sept 3 Sat., Sept. 1 Sun., Sept 2 Mon., Sept. 3 Sat., Sept. 1 Sun , Sept 2 Mon., Sept. 3 Sal., Sept. 1 Sun , Sepl 2 Mon , Sept 3 Sot Sepl . 1 Sun . Sept 2 Mon Sept , 3 Sal., Sept I Sun , Sept 2 Mon., Sepl 3 Sat., Sept 1 Sun., Sept 2 Mon., Sepl. 3 Outdoors ip georgia Send check or money order to: 5/73 Outdoors in Georgia Magazine 270 Washington St., S.W., Atlanta, Go. 30334 Check one RENEWAL Paste your last magazine address label into space indicated and mail with payment. CHANGE OF ADDRESS Paste recent magazine label into space indicated, show change on form and mail. NEW SUBSCRIPTION Fill out form at right jnd mail with payment. GIFT SUBSCRIPTION Show recipient's name and address in form, indicate gift signature and mail with pay- ment. Attach recent magazine add ess label here for renewal, change of add ress, or inquiry. 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