Finally, September is here!  I will miss summer and it did fly by but "stars above" we had some hot temps in August.  Much of the month was over 100 degrees which is very unusual for the cool North Georgia Mountains.  Now the cool mornings and evenings are back and it feels like a cool splash in the lake!  Ahh, refreshing for sure. 

With September comes the first hint of autumn color and there's nothing like Fall in the North Georgia Mountains.  It's a great time to be out and about in North Georgia after a long week in the grind.  There's plenty of family recreation such as horseback riding, festivals galore, shopping, rafting and why not fishing?!  I haven't written anything about fishing yet and I thought it was high time to do so.

The northern third of Georgia boasts beautiful streams, rivers and lakes.  Plan a trip together as a family and go with the flow.  Let's talk about fishing...  First of all, wear good shoes, not sandals or flip flops.  Everyone over the age of 16 years old must have a fishing and trout license.  It's a good idea to get the trout license since the majority of North Georgia's streams are designated trout streams according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Rainbow and Brown Trout are the two most common species associated with North Georgia but catching other species is very likely, especially in the Fall.  A rule of thumb is that you have a better chance of catching trout the farther upstream and will probably catch a multitude of native warm water species in the lower streams.  Here's what you very likely will catch: 

• black bass
• sunfish (redbreast and bluegill) bluegill may be found on steep rocky banks in six or more feet of water
• catfish
• crappie and white bass  - may be found in ten feet or more of water, creek channels, main river beds or even water around boat docks
• possibly striped bass and walleye

Visit Lake Blue Ridge Marina or any of the marinas on many other lakes throughout North Georgia for recommendations on where to fish and what kind of tackle to use.  Lake Blue Ridge Marina will rent pontoon boats as most other marinas will too.  Pontoon boats are great for families and provide a slow, lazy day of fishing.  Also, fish from the banks - walk easy and fish slowly.

Prepare yourself for great memories (don't forget the camera) with your family and maybe even one of the best fish dinners you'll ever have! 

Donna Yates, Realtor with Mountain Investments of North Georgia.  See Donna's website for great mountain properties for sale; buyers and sellers tips and advice; request free market analysis; and other great tools for your real estate needs.  Donna Yates Real Estate - let Donna help you find your mountain investment.   Visit:  www.move2northgeorgia.net