Delayed Harvest Trout Season Begins Nov. 1 in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) announces the start of the Delayed Harvest trout season on Sun., Nov. 1, 2026.

Anglers can look forward to freshly stocked streams and excellent catch and release fishing opportunities. The first Delayed Harvest stockings of the season will take place during the week of November 2.

“Trout fishing is available year-round in Georgia, but there are five designated streams that follow Delayed Harvest (DH) regulations to enhance angler success,” explains Chris French, WRD Trout Stocking Coordinator. “From November 1 to May 14, these trout streams are catch-and-release only and anglers must also only use single hook, artificial lures. These streams are stocked monthly by WRD, alongside partners like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and South Carolina DNR. This approach of regular stocking and catch-and-release ensures great trout catch rates during the delayed harvest season.”

Delayed Harvest Stocking Study

This Delayed Harvest season, WRD biologists are teaming up with researchers from the University of Georgia to mark and recapture stocked fish in the Delayed Harvest section of the Chattahoochee River. The study aims to quantify angler use and persistence of trout in the Delayed Harvest section post-stocking. All recaptured fish will be released, unharmed, back into the Chattahoochee River for anglers to catch. By collecting data on angler success and trout persistence over time, WRD will be better informed to make management decisions that result in enhanced angler catch rates.

**The fishing experience will not change for anglers during the study period. Fish will be stocked at similar rates and frequencies as in past years, and normal Delayed Harvest regulations still apply. However, due to the constraints of the study, WRD will not be hosting the annual Whitewater Bucket Brigade stocking events this year.

Designated Delayed Harvest Streams

• Chattahoochee River: Sope Creek to US Highway 41 (Cobb Parkway).
• Toccoa River: On U.S. Forest Service land upstream of Lake Blue Ridge in Fannin County (from 0.4 miles above Shallowford Bridge to 450 feet above the Sandy Bottom Canoe Access).
• Amicalola Creek: On the Dawson Forest WMA (Steele Bridge Road downstream to Georgia Hwy. 53).
• Smith Creek: Downstream of Unicoi Lake (Unicoi State Park).
• Chattooga River: From Ga. Hwy. 28 upstream to the mouth of Reed Creek (U.S. Forest Service land bordering South Carolina).

Additional Year-Round Trout Opportunities

Outside of delayed harvest waters, Georgia offers numerous year-round trout fishing options, including:

• Noontootla Creek Watershed: Known for high-quality fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout, with tributaries also supporting wild brook trout. Managed under artificial-lure-only regulations with a 16” minimum size limit.
• Chattahoochee River (below Buford Dam): Offers opportunities ranging from stocked rainbow trout to trophy-sized wild browns. Accessible for bank, wading, and boating anglers, with an artificial-lure-only section between Buford Hwy (Hwy 20) and Medlock Bridge.
• Other Recommended Waters: The Toccoa River downstream of Lake Blue Ridge, the Tallulah River, and the Chattooga River provide excellent fall trout fishing.

Licensing and Support

Trout anglers must possess both a valid Georgia fishing license and a trout license. By purchasing a license, fishing equipment, or a specialty trout vehicle tag, anglers directly support trout management efforts across the state. Funding from the Sport Fish Restoration Act and Trout Unlimited license plate sales helps WRD manage fish populations, operate hatcheries, and maintain public fishing access and facilities.

Licenses can be purchased at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or through the Go Outdoors GA app.

For interactive trout maps, stocking schedules, and fishing tips, visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/Fishing/Trout.

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