Trophy Regs for the Chattahoochee?

by Matt Wilson

Fisheries Technician, Chris Looney, with a 14-pound, 31 inch brown trout collected during an electrofishing survey on the Chattahoochee between Buford Dam and Morgan Falls Dam in October 2013. (Photo from Georgia Department of Natural Resources)

 

I had the opportunity to meet with Patrick O’Rouke, Fisheries Biologist with the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia DNR to review some of the results from the Department’s recent study on brown trout behavior in the Chattahoochee tailwater. After discussing brown trout movement, diet, and spawning habits, I quickly reached a topic I have been itching to talk about. Will anglers ever see a strictly enforced catch and release, artificial only section of the river above Morgan Falls Dam?

Many anglers enjoy and appreciate the chance to catch wild trout in the Metro Atlanta area. And just as many anglers travel to other rivers throughout the United States in pursuit of big trout. However, we already have monster, boomerang-jawed brown trout right in our backyards. Is it selfish of us to want a section of the ‘Hooch dedicated to growing trout big enough to scare small children?

The discussion regarding a trophy-trout section of the ‘Hooch is not something new. If you hang around enough of the local fly shops and TU Chapter meetings the topic is sure to come up at some point.

I understand anglers have access to the Delayed Harvest section of the Chattahoochee tailwater but I am not the only angler who has expressed an interest in something more. There’s no doubt that the river is large enough and supports the habitat to grow big trout and lots of them. If we could protect a specific stretch of river and give that area the chance to grow some big fish and keep those big fish around, couldn’t we attract more anglers to visit and support this fishery? Why can’t we have some of the same “trophy” regulations as some of our other Southeastern rivers? 

Here’s our answer

According to Patrick, a lack of consistent nutrients in the river attributes to slower growth rates amongst trout. The evidence also supports that fish numbers as well as catch rates remain high throughout the river which defers the argument and/or need for a special “trophy” regulation section of the river. Essentially, the status quo of the ‘Hooch tailwater will not change any time soon. The science behind recent reports regarding insufficient nutrients and oxygen levels is unfortunate for the anglers that would prefer to see a separate section of the river ( catch and release, artificial only, etc. ) designated for those anglers looking to catch and release big trout on a more consistent basis.  (Click here for the link to the Brown Trout study).

 

If you as an angler and supporter of the ‘Hooch had the opportunity to create a “trophy” regulations section of the river, would you?  Would it be beneficial or detrimental to the long term success of the Chattahoochee Tailwater fishery?