Best Tips for GA Fall Fishing: Boosting Success and Creating Memories

Armed with new tips and recommendations for top spots, we're ready for fall fishing in Georgia's lakes, rivers and streams.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Before a weekend RV camping trip to Georgia's FD Roosevelt State Park we headed to a local big-box store and purchased some starter fishing gear for our grandsons. With one of us raised in a fishing family, we thought it might be a good way to introduce them to fishing as a true:

1. Sport,
2. Art,
3. Hobby,
4. Avocation, or
5. Waste of time

We caught exactly ZERO fish on that trip, and the exact same number on a subsequent trip when we rented a pontoon boat on Lake Allatoona. But somehow, for a reason totally lost on me, the grandsons want to try it again!

Thus, when we saw that Georgia State Parks and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have teamed up to promote fishing in the state, we checked out the various resources before making future plans for a return to the lake.

And here are just a few of the helpful things we learned that should improve our results and memories from our next fishing outing:

We didn't know that loaner gear was available at 16 Georgia State Parks. Instead, we bought starter sets at a local big box store.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Loaner gear available. Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) of Georgia DNR provides rods, reels and tackle box equipment to participating State Parks and Historic Sites Offices. Interested visitors can inquire at the park office and check out the equipment for the day. A total of 16 state parks participate in the program.

State fishing forecast. WRD fisheries biologists and technicians create comprehensive forecasts for 31 lakes and 18 rivers , suggesting some of the best fishing spots in Georgia. Information includes fish species, best time of year to fish, tackle suggestions and more.

Weekly fishing blog. Compiled with the latest information from around the state, the state's official fishing blog offers tips, tactics and news on the latest and greatest catches.

After two trips at two state parks without the benefit of tips and suggestions, our fish count is ZERO. We're ready to try a new approach.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Go-Fish Education Center. This comprehensive learning center offers on-site and on-line programs. Plus, when visiting in person, kids of all ages can try out their new skills in a catch-and-release program.

First Fish Award. While you're creating memories with the kids and grandkids, memorialize it with a special certificate, courtesy of Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Our starting point for the resources was a helpful webpage compiled by Georgia State Parks. From there, it was easy to link to information from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Go Fish Education Center and other sources.

State parks participating in the equipment loaner program include:

• A.H. Stephens (Crawfordville)
• Amicalola Falls (Dawsonville)
• Crooked River (St. Marys)
• Don Carter (Gainesville)
• General Coffee (Nicholls)
• Georgia Veterans (Cordele)
• Jack Hill (Reidsville)
• Indian Springs (Flovilla)
• Laura S. Walker (Waycross)
• Little Ocmulgee (McRae)
• Magnolia Springs (Millen)
• Moccasin Creek (Clarkesville)
• Richard B. Russell (Elberton)
• Tugaloo (Lavonia)
• Unicoi (Helen)
• Victoria Bryant (Royston)

Soon, we'll be back at the lake. But we can't tell you which one. While Georgia's public departments might be willing to share information about their favorite fishing holes, we've already learned that real anglers keep their best spots secret.

More from DeanLand

Be sure to follow DeanLand on Newsbreak for all the latest post. And for more than 100 posts on family outings in Georgia, travel around the Southeastern US and adventures through the USA and beyond, visit OurTravelCafe.com.

We pulled in the big guns for the big catch: Great grandpa assisted with pulling in this monster on an out-of-state adventure in Louisiana.Photo byOurTravelCafe.com