Georgia Fly Fishing Blog

Posted By Kent Klewein on March 23, 2009

More than ever before, numbers of trout fishermen are at there highest levels on our home waters.  Only on rare occasions, do we find ourselves alone in solitude.  Fishing pressure is up and now is the time to have conservation in mind for our favorite honey holes.

Photo By: Louis Cahill

I try to educate all my clients on how important it is to manage your trout water and honey holes.  For example, I’ll be anchored up on one of my so called honey holes, where my clients just landed three or four nice fish, and I’ll tell them we’re moving on.  They ask why, and I explain to them there is know need for us to catch every fish out of the hole.  Additionally I add, I’d like my clients tomorrow to enjoy the same experience you did today.  The fact is, our honey holes aren’t invincible.  If you go to the river and participate in catching every trout out of a hole every time you visit that section of stream or river, it won’t be too long before that honey hole turns into a garbage hole.

Wild Tributary Brown Trout

I’m friends with many guides around the country and I hear all the time from them, how they can’t stand to see outfitters, guides, and local fishermen failing to manage the trout water properly.  To be fair, most of the time it’s the rookie guides partaking in this matter, but a lot of local fishermen just don’t understand how their catching effects the fishery first hand as well.  Take for example a small tributary stream.  I have my favorites and enjoy fishing them every year during the spring and early summer.  However, I generally only fish them once or twice a year.  These wild fish generally fall for well presented casts, and many times on a good day you can literally almost catch every trout in the section you fished.  The trout populations in these streams aren’t as high as you would think.  Now I guarantee you, if someone would fish that same section the very next day that I did, their fishing would be pretty bad.  I want my fellow fly fishermen to experience the same success I did, and that’s why I limit the amount of days I fish small wild trout water.  The amount of fishing pressure the small streams can handle is extremely low.  Keep that in mind next time your choosing where to fish.  If you’ve already fished that small stream and had a good day, leave it for someone else to fish.

With Georgia being one of worst states as far as conservation regulations in the country, it’s even more important that our Georgia fisherman try to adopt the practice of conserving the honey holes.  Tell your fishing buddies as well, and our cooperation together will really make a difference in making sure all of us have successful fishing trips.

Wild Toccoa River Rainbow

The idea is to catch a few fish out of an area and move on to fresh water.  This spreads fishing pressure out, and provides more consistent fishing in the prime fishing spots throughout the peak fishing months.  For those of you harvesting fish, try to only harvest fish under 14 inches, releasing the mature larger fish so they can spawn and reproduce, and only harvest what your going to eat.  Don’t feel like every time you go out and fish you have to bring a limit home.  Our cold-water fisheries just can’t handle this kind of harvesting these days with the current angler populations.  Feel good when you catch and release, knowing your giving another angler, maybe even a kid, a chance of catching that fish.  As always please turn in poachers if seen by calling the Poachers Hot-Line (800) 242-4113.  You can also make a big difference in protecting North Georgia’s cold-water fisheries by becoming a member of the Blue Ridge #696 Trout Unlimited Chapter.  This chapter really is making a difference and they need our support to continue their efforts.

Fishing Buddy, Capt. Bruce Chard

Everyone wants to catch fish, but don’t lose sight of the big picture.  Fly fishing isn’t about catching numbers, it’s about solving the aquatic equation and fooling a trout with a proper fly pattern.  It’s about enjoying the outdoors and rebooting the brain for next weeks work schedule.  It’s about spending time with your good friends fishing.  And lastly, it’s about protecting our cherished resources for future generations.

Keep it Reel,

Categories: Fly Fishing
Tags: Blue Ridge TU Chapter, Conserving Your Honeyholes, georgia trout conservation, Kent Klewein