Trout In Hot Water. Some Rain Today.

Art is in the eye of the beholder right? So this is an artistic sky above and behind the Hunter Museum Of American Art. This shot was taken on a steamy day when the only relief was underneath these "masterpieces".
By the way the heat is taking a toll on trout streams across North Georgia. The 11-day stretch of 95 or hotter air temperatures from July 31st through August 10th, have warmed streams to deadly levels for some fish. Even back in early June around Riverbend, the Tennessee river was as warm as 77. The last time I was diving in the river the water temperature was in the low 80s down to around 20 feet. Now the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says streams in the northeast part of the state are running hot, and low. And that's dangerous for trout. So Duke's Creek near Helen has been closed to fishing from August 12th through September 17th. And several planned trout stockings have been suspended. Apparently the ideal water temperature for stocking trout is in the mid 60s. Temperatures are currently in the upper 70s to near 80. And according to GDNR, trout survival in the state's hatchery system is also jeopardized by the recent heat. From the GDNR news release; "Lake Burton Fish Hatchery, located near Clarkesville, has experienced high trout mortality since its water source, Moccasin Creek, is warming to levels not seen since the drought years of the late nineteen-eighties." "Buford Trout Hatchery, located near Cumming, has come to the rescue and will hold as many of next year's trout as possible. Buford Hatchery receives cold water drawn from the lower depths of Lake Lanier."

Today: Scattered showers and a few storms popping up periodically throughout the day. Highs near 88 this afternoon.

Tonight: Showers early, mostly cloudy overnight. Low: 69

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance for a shower or storm mainly south and east of Chattanooga. High: 90

Thursday: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance for a shower or storm. High: 91

Friday and Saturday: Partly cloudy with a 30% chance for hit and miss storms. High: 91

That's your fishy weather report for today.