For the first time in awhile, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting applications for fishing tournaments at Lake Lanier. It’s a sign that the north Georgia reservoir is rebounding from historic low water levels.
Lanier has risen more than five feet since early December. So now the Corps is issuing permits for daytime fishing tournaments, 90 days or less in the future.
The return of at least a partial schedule of tournaments is a relief for nearby fishing equipment and bait shop owners. Candy Hammond runs Hammond’s Bait and Tackle in Cumming. She says that while her business has weathered the drought and economic downturn relatively well, others around her have not been so lucky.
"There’s some places that have closed the doors, there’s some people that are trying to hang-on. It’s just here and there, it just depends on where they are in proximity to different ramps."
Now, she says renewed optimism is taking hold for businesses nearby Lanier.
Fishing in Georgia is typically a nearly $2-billion economic engine for the state. And state officials late last year announced a national tournament to be held at Lanier in 2010--expected to spark $20-million in financial impact for Georgia.
Lanier has risen more than five feet since early December. So now the Corps is issuing permits for daytime fishing tournaments, 90 days or less in the future.
The return of at least a partial schedule of tournaments is a relief for nearby fishing equipment and bait shop owners. Candy Hammond runs Hammond’s Bait and Tackle in Cumming. She says that while her business has weathered the drought and economic downturn relatively well, others around her have not been so lucky.
"There’s some places that have closed the doors, there’s some people that are trying to hang-on. It’s just here and there, it just depends on where they are in proximity to different ramps."
Now, she says renewed optimism is taking hold for businesses nearby Lanier.
Fishing in Georgia is typically a nearly $2-billion economic engine for the state. And state officials late last year announced a national tournament to be held at Lanier in 2010--expected to spark $20-million in financial impact for Georgia.
