Lanier Gets Return of Some Fishing Tournaments

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.

Fishing hole re-vamp in the works

A popular fishing area on Jekyll Island is getting a new look. A $15,000 grant from the Fish America Foundation will go toward improving Ski Rixen Pond, a 23-acre manmade saltwater fishing site. The state Department of Natural Resources is trying to increase recreational fishing on the island.

Go Fish Georgia Initiative

Tomorrow the City of Perry is likely to become the site of a multimillion dollar fishing facility as part of Governor Perdue's fishing initiative.

Governor Sonny Perdue is expected to make the announcement near his home in Bonaire. The 22-million dollar Go Fish Georgia Visitors Center and Hatchery would be located on the grounds of the Perry Agricultural Center and officials believe it could draw as many as 200-thousand visitors a year. The initiative also features a bass trail, a system of lakes stretching across the state.

State officials say the current economic impact of sport fishing in the state is 1.5- billion dollars a year and over 10-thousand Georgians are working in the sport fishing industry. The governor hopes to increase those numbers. A single large bass tournament can bring in over 20-million dollars.

Middle Georgia also hopes history will lure fishermen here. The area is home to the world record large mouth bass, caught in 1932 in Telfair County and weighing in at over 22 pounds.

"Go Fish" gone under in wake of drought

Drought has ruined Governor Perdue’s "Go Fish Georgia" campaign. Yesterday the Professional Anglers Association canceled plans for two tournaments scheduled for Lake Lanier. Lanier’s protruding islands and treetops would have created hazards for boaters. The “Go Fish” initiative allotted $19 million to land more lucrative fishing tournaments to the state.

Georgia hooks more bass fishing

Professional bass fishing is coming to Georgia's Lake Lanier Islands. Lake Lanier will host the Governor's Go Fish Georgia Pro/Am Tournament on November 1st. Initial planning has also begun for the Go Fish Georgia Professional Anglers Association Championship. The event is expected to draw some of the top bass anglers. It will take place later in the fall or in early 2008.