Brook Trout in Georgia

Georgia represents the southern limit of the natural range of brook trout in the eastern United States.

In Georgia, almost one hundred forty miles of streams support wild brook trout populations.

Twenty four populations of Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, the state’s native coldwater fish, inhabit thirty-six miles of these streams. All of these populations are found on public lands in the Chattahoochee National Forest.

They can be found across northern Georgia from the Cohutta Wilderness near Alabama in the west to the Warwoman Wildlife Management Area near South Carolina in the east.

“Southern Appalachian Brook Trout represent significant components of the region’s ecological integrity, biological diversity, and sportfishing legacy. ” (American Fisheries Society)

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources does not stock brook trout. As such, brook trout are wild fish on public lands in Georgia – a valuable public resource.

The Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited is committed to working with the United States Forest Service (USFS) and Georgia Department of Resources (DNR) to help protect, preserve and restore brook trout in Georgia.