It is time for pre-season trout stocking and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan to stock more than one million trout in Georgia streams, rivers and small lakes by the end of the year. Many streams will be stocked by the end of the month and in time for opening day for seasonal trout stream fishing – Sat., March 27.

Fire on the Mountain! – the annual celebration of an ongoing effort to conserve areas of rare montane longleaf pine habitat through the use of prescribed fire at Sprewell Bluff Outdoor Recreation Area near Thomaston- was rained out on March 13 and has been cancelled for the year due to inclement weather. Please check our web site for updates about next year’s event.

Aimlessly casting a line and hoping for a bite is history thanks to Georgia’s online fishing prospects. Anglers of all skill levels can benefit from the newly-enhanced fishing prospect guides which detail the state’s 31 reservoirs and 18 rivers and include maps, local weather forecasts, best bets and species-specific techniques, all in one convenient location - www.gofishgeorgia.com (select “Fishing” and then “Fishing Opportunities”).

Challenge-hungry anglers should visit the state’s major reservoirs now for cold weather striped bass action. This time of year, five to 15-pounders are common, with the occasional thrill of a 30-pound or greater catch.