Georgia anglers will have additional trout fishing opportunities beginning Sunday, November 1, as the state’s annual delayed harvest trout season gets underway.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says the special season provides anglers with opportunities to enjoy catch-and-release trout fishing on five designated streams across the state.

The delayed harvest season runs from November 1 through May 14, with special regulations designed to maintain healthy trout populations and provide fishing opportunities throughout the colder months.

During this period, anglers must immediately release all trout they catch and use only artificial lures equipped with a single hook.

The five designated delayed harvest waters include portions of the Chattahoochee River, Toccoa River, Amicalola Creek, Smith Creek and the Chattooga River along the Georgia-South Carolina border.

The Chattooga River included in the program is located in Northeast Georgia and should not be confused with Chattooga County in Northwest Georgia.

According to Chris French, trout stocking coordinator for the DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division, the delayed harvest program allows anglers to enjoy fishing opportunities throughout the winter while protecting stocked trout.

The designated streams are stocked monthly during the season, with the first stockings scheduled for the week of November 2.

The DNR is also partnering with University of Georgia researchers on a trout study along the Chattahoochee River to learn more about angler success and how long stocked fish remain in the designated fishing area.

Georgia anglers participating in the program must have a valid Georgia fishing license and trout license.

Licenses can be purchased online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com or through the Go Outdoors GA mobile app.

The delayed harvest season continues through May 14, 2027.

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Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, October 20, 2026.