Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 391 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 391-4 - WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION
Subject 391-4-3 - FISHING REGULATIONS
Rule 391-4-3-.03 - Seasons and Trout Water Designations

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 391-4-3-.03

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024

(1) The season for taking striped bass and for spearfishing shall be November 1 through April 30 in:

(a) The Flint River and its tributaries from the Georgia Power Company dams at Albany to the U.S. Highway 84 bridge in Bainbridge;

(b) The Chattahoochee River and its tributaries from the Columbia Lock and Dam to the Georgia Highway 91 bridge at the upper end of the Lake Seminole; and

(2) The season for all fishing shall be from November 1 through April 30 in the marked areas around the following springs in Lake Seminole:

(a) Sealey's Spring near Sealey's Point;

(b) Whiddon's Spring near Flint River mile 8.2;

(d) State Dock Spring near Flint River mile 26; and

(e) Shackleford Spring near Flint River mile 6.8.

(3) The following waters and all streams within the following watersheds, excluding any impoundments thereon unless specifically included, are designated, in the counties listed, trout waters and shall be open for trout fishing throughout the year:

(a) Bartow County:

1. Boston Creek watershed upstream from Georgia Highway 20;

2. Connesena Creek watershed;

3. Dykes Creek watershed;

4. Pine Log Creek watershed;

5. Pyle Creek watershed;

6. Salacoa Creek watershed;

7. Spring Creek watershed;

8. Stamp Creek watershed upstream from Bartow County Road 269;

9. Toms Creek watershed upstream from Bartow County Road 82;

10. Two Run Creek watershed; and

11. Ward Creek watershed;

(b) Carroll County: Tallapoosa River watershed north of Interstate Highway 20, not including Little Tallapoosa River watershed;

1. Dry Creek watershed, which is a part of the East Chickamauga Creek watershed, upstream of Catoosa County Road 257;

2. Hurricane Creek watershed upstream from Peters Branch;

3. Little Chickamauga Creek watershed upstream from Catoosa County Road 387; and Creek watershed;

(e) Cherokee County:

1. Bluff Creek watershed upstream from Cherokee County Road 114;

2. Boston Creek watershed;

3. Pine Log Creek watershed;

4. Salacoa Creek watershed;

5. Soap Creek watershed upstream from Cherokee County Road 116;

6. Stamp Creek watershed; and

7. Wiley Creek watershed;

(f) Cobb County: Chattahoochee River upstream from the mouth of Peachtree Creek;

(g) Dade County:

1. Allison Creek watershed;

2. East Fork Little River watershed;

3. Lookout Creek watershed, upstream from Dade County Road 197; and

4. Rock Creek watershed;

(h) Dawson County:

1. Amicalola Creek watershed upstream from Georgia Highway 53;

2. Anderson Creek watershed;

3. Long Swamp Creek watershed;

4. Nimblewill Creek watershed;

5. Shoal Creek watershed upstream from the mouth of Burt Creek; and

6. Sweetwater Creek watershed;

(i) Fannin County:

1. Charlie Creek watershed;

2. Conasauga River watershed;

3. Ellijay River watershed;

4. Etowah River watershed;

5. Fightingtown Creek watershed;

6. Flat Creek watershed;

7. Jacks River watershed;

8. Mountaintown Creek Watershed;

9. Owenby Creek watershed;

10. Persimmon Creek watershed;

11. Rock Creek Lake;

12. South Fork Rapier Mill Creek watershed;

13. Star Creek watershed;

14. Toccoa River watershed downstream from Lake Blue Ridge to the Georgia-Tennessee boundary and upstream from the mouth of Stanley Creek;

15. Tumbling Creek watershed; and

16. Wilscot Creek watershed;

(j) Floyd County:

1. Dykes Creek watershed;

2. Johns Creek watershed upstream from Floyd County Road 212;

3. Kings Creek watershed;

4. Lavender Creek watershed upstream from Floyd County Road 893;

5. Little Cedar Creek watershed;

6. Mt. Hope Creek watershed;

7. Silver Creek watershed upstream from Georgia Highway 1E (Floyd County Road 631);

8. Spring Creek watershed, which flows into Etowah River; and

9. Toms Creek watershed;

(k) Forsyth County: Chattahoochee River

(l) Fulton County: Chattahoochee River upstream from the mouth of Peachtree Creek;

(m) Gilmer County:

1. Ball Creek watershed;

2. Cartecay River watershed;

3. Conasauga River watershed, not including Jacks River watershed;

4. Coosawattee River from confluence of Cartecay and Ellijay rivers downstream to old Georgia Highway 5 bridge (Gilmer County Road 239);

5. Ellijay River watershed;

6. Fightingtown Creek watershed;

7. Harris Creek watershed;

8. Johnson Creek watershed;

9. Mountaintown Creek watershed;

10. Noontootla Creek watershed;

11. Sevenmile Creek watershed;

12. Tails Creek watershed;

13. Town Creek watershed;

14. Wildcat Creek watershed; and

15. All other streams or parts of streams not listed in this subparagraph, except:

(i) Coosawattee River downstream from old Georgia Highway 5 (Gilmer County Road 239);

(ii) Talking Rock Creek; and

(iii) Tributaries to Carters Reservoir not listed in this subparagraph;

(n) Gordon County:

1. Johns Creek watershed upstream of Floyd County Road 212;

2. Pin Hook Creek watershed upstream from Gordon County Road 275;

3. Pine Log Creek watershed upstream from Georgia Highway 53;

4. Rocky Creek watershed upstream from Gordon County Road 210;

5. Salacoa Creek watershed upstream from U.S. Highway 411; and

6. Snake Creek watershed;

(o) Gwinnett County: Chattahoochee River;

(p) Habersham County:

1. Amy's Creek watershed upstream from Georgia Highway 17;

2. Chattahoochee River watershed upstream from the Georgia Highway 255 crossing of the Chattahoochee River;

3. Liberty Creek watershed;

4. Middle Fork Broad River watershed;

5. Nancytown Creek watershed upstream from Nancytown Lake;

6. North Fork Broad River watershed;

7. Panther Creek watershed;

8. Roberts Branch watershed;

9. Soque River watershed upstream from the mouth of Deep Creek; and

10. Toccoa Creek watershed;

(q) Haralson County:

1. Flatwood Creek watershed;

2. Lassetter Creek watershed;

3. Mann Creek watershed upstream from Haralson County Road 162;

4. Tallapoosa Creek watershed; and

5. Tallapoosa River watershed upstream from County Road 222;

(r) Hart County: Savannah River from Hartwell Dam downstream to Richard B. Russell Lake;

(s) Lumpkin County:

1. Amicalola Creek watershed;

2. Cane Creek watershed upstream from the Georgia Highway 52 bridge;

3. Cavender Creek watershed;

4. Chestatee River watershed upstream from the mouth of Tesnatee Creek;

5. Dockery Lake;

6. Etowah River watershed upstream from Castleberry Bridge;

7. Shoal Creek watershed; and

8. Yahoola Creek watershed upstream from Georgia Highway 52;

(t) Murray County:

1. Conasauga River watershed upstream from the Georgia-Tennessee state line;

2. Holly Creek watershed upstream from the mouth of Dill Creek, including Dill Creek watershed;

3. Jacks River watershed;

4. Mill Creek watershed upstream from Murray County Road 27;

5. Mill Creek (Hasslers Mill Creek) watershed, which is within Holly Creek watershed;

6. North Prong Sumac Creek watershed;

7. Rock Creek watershed, the most southern of two Rock Creek watersheds which are in the Holly Creek watershed, upstream from Murray County Road 4;

8. Rock Creek watershed, the most northern of two Rock Creek watersheds which are in the Holly Creek watershed, upstream from Murray County Road 301;

9. Sugar Creek watershed upstream from Murray County Road 4; and

10. Sumac Creek watershed upstream from Coffey Lake;

(u) Paulding County:

1. Possum Creek watershed upstream from Paulding County Road 64;

2. Powder Creek (Powder Springs Creek) watershed;

3. Pyle Creek watershed;

4. Pumpkinvine Creek watershed upstream from Paulding County Road 231;

5. Raccoon Creek watershed upstream from State Route 2299 (Paulding County Road 471);

6. Tallapoosa River watershed;

7. Thompson Creek watershed; and

8. Ward Creek watershed;

(v) Pickens County:

1. Amicalola Creek watershed;

2. Ball Creek watershed;

3. Bluff Creek watershed;

4. Cartecay River watershed;

5. Clear Creek watershed;

6. Cove Creek watershed upstream from Pickens County Road 294;

7. Fausett Creek watershed;

8. Fisher Creek watershed;

9. Hobson Creek watershed;

10. Little Scarecorn Creek watershed;

11. Long Swamp Creek watershed, including Darnell Creek watershed, upstream from Cove Creek;

12. Mud Creek watershed;

13. Pin Hook Creek watershed;

14. Rock Creek watershed;

15. Salacoa Creek watershed;

16. Scarecorn Creek watershed upstream from Georgia Highway 53;

17. Sevenmile Creek watershed;

18. Sharp Mountain Creek watershed;

19. Soap Creek watershed;

20. Talking Rock Creek watershed upstream from Road S1011 (Georgia Highway 136);

21. Town Creek watershed;

22. Turkey Creek watershed; and

23. Wildcat Creek watershed;

(w) Polk County:

1. Cedar Creek watershed upstream from Polk County Road 121;

2. Lassetter Creek watershed;

3. Little Cedar Creek watershed;

4. Pumpkinpile Creek watershed upstream from Polk County Road 437;

5. Silver Creek watershed;

6. Spring Creek watershed;

7. Swinney Creek watershed;

8. Thomasson Creek watershed; and

9. Thompson Creek watershed upstream of Polk County Road 441;

(x) Rabun County:

1. Bad Branch watershed (flows into Lake Seed);

2. Bad Creek watershed (flows into Tugaloo Lake);

3. Bridge Creek watershed;

4. Chattooga River upstream from the mouth of Warwoman Creek;

5. Crow Creek watershed (flows into Lake Seed; includes Slick Shoal Creek);

6. Dicks Creek watershed (flows into Lake Burton);

7. Dickenson Branch (flows into Lake Burton);

8. Falls Branch watershed (flows into Lake Rabun);

9. Flat Creek watershed;

10. Joe Creek watershed (flows into Lake Rabun);

11. LaCounts Creek watershed (flows into Lake Seed);

12. Little Tennessee River watershed upstream from the North Carolina state line;

13. Moccasin Creek watershed;

14. Popcorn Creek watershed;

15. Seals Creek watershed (flows into Lake Seed);

16. Stekoa Creek watershed;

17. Tallulah River watershed upstream from Lake Burton;

18. Timpson Creek watershed;

19. Warwoman Creek watershed;

20. West Fork Chattooga River watershed;

21. Wildcat Creek watershed;

22. Worse Creek watershed (flows into Tugaloo Lake); and

23. All other streams or parts of streams not listed in this subparagraph, except:

(i) The Tallulah River downstream from Lake Burton Dam; and

(ii) Tributaries to Burton, Seed, Rabun, Tallulah Falls, Tugaloo and Yonah reservoirs not listed in this subparagraph;

(y) Stephens County:

1. Little Toccoa Creek watershed;

2. Middle Fork Broad River watershed upstream from NRCS flood control structure No.44;

3. North Fork Broad River watershed upstream from NRCS flood control structure No. 1;

4. Panther Creek watershed; and

5. Toccoa Creek watershed upstream from Toccoa Falls;

(z) Towns County:

1. Bearmeat Creek watershed;

2. Bell Creek watershed;

3. Brasstown Creek watershed;

4. Bugscuffle Branch watershed (Allen Mill Creek);

5. Burch Branch watershed;

6. Fodder Creek watershed;

7. Hightower Creek watershed;

8. Hiwassee River watershed downstream to Towns County Road 87;

9. Hog Creek watershed;

10. Shake Rag Branch watershed;

11. Tallulah River watershed; and

12. All other streams or parts of streams not listed in this subparagraph, except:

(i) Hiwassee River downstream from Towns County Road 87; and

(ii) Tributaries to Chatuge Reservoir not listed in this subparagraph;

(aa) Union County:

1. Bracket Creek watershed;

2. Brasstown Creek watershed;

3. Butler Creek watershed;

4. Camp Creek watershed;

5. Conley Creek watershed;

6. Coosa Creek watershed;

7. Ivylog Creek watershed;

8. Kiutuestia Creek watershed;

9. Low Creek watershed;

10. Nottely River watershed upstream from Nottely Reservoir

11. Toccoa River watershed;

12. Youngcane Creek watershed; and

13. All other streams or parts of streams not listed in this subparagraph, except;

(i) Butternut Creek watershed;

(ii) Nottely River downstream from Nottely Dam; and

(iii) Tributaries to Nottely Reservoir not listed in this subparagraph;

(bb) Walker County:

1. Allen Creek watershed;

2. Chappel Creek watershed;

3. Chattanooga Creek watershed upstream from Walker County Road 235;

4. Concord Creek watershed;

5. Dry Creek watershed, which is a tributary to East Armuchee Creek;

6. Duck Creek watershed;

7. East Fork Little River watershed, which flows into Dade County;

8. East Fork Little River watershed, which flows into Chattooga County, including Gilreath Creek;

9. Furnace Creek watershed;

10. Gulf Creek watershed;

11. Harrisburg Creek watershed, including Dougherty Creek watershed, upstream from Dougherty Creek;

12. Johns Creek watershed;

13. Left Fork Coulter Branch watershed;

14. Little Chickamauga Creek watershed;

15. Rock Creek watershed, including Sawmill Branch, upstream from Sawmill Branch;

16. Ruff Creek watershed;

17. Snake Creek watershed;

18. West Armuchee Creek watershed; and

19. West Chickamauga Creek watershed upstream from Walker County Road 107;

(cc) White County:

1. Chattahoochee River watershed upstream from the Georgia Highway 255 crossing of the Chattahoochee River;

2. Little Tesnatee Creek watershed upstream from the mouth of Turner Creek;

3. Town Creek watershed upstream from the mouth of Jenny Creek; and

4. Turner Creek watershed, which is the Turner Creek watershed nearest to Cleveland city limits;

(dd) Whitfield County:

1. Coahulla Creek watershed upstream from Whitfield County Road 183;

2. Dry Creek watershed, which is a part of East Chickamauga Creek watershed;

3. Snake Creek watershed;

4. Spring Creek (Deep Spring Creek) watershed;

5. Swamp Creek watershed upstream from Whitfield County Road 9; and

6. Tiger Creek watershed.

(4) The season for taking lake sturgeon from the Coosa River and its tributaries shall be closed.

(5) Except as otherwise provided by law or rule or regulation, all other seasons for taking fish in freshwater shall be open and continuous.

: O.C.G.A. Secs. 27-1-3, 27-1-4, 27-1-28, 27-4-12, 27-4-51.

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Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of GeorgiaDepartment 391 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESChapter 391-4 - WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISIONSubject 391-4-3 - FISHING REGULATIONSRule 391-4-3-.03 - Seasons and Trout Water Designations

Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 391 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 391-4 - WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION
Subject 391-4-3 - FISHING REGULATIONS
Rule 391-4-3-.03 - Seasons and Trout Water Designations