There's good trout fishing on the Chattahoochee River, in the North Georgia Mountains, about 1 1/2 hours from downtown. Many lakes in the area are good for bass and striper, including Lake Lanier, a 38,000-acre reservoir about 45 minutes away. Fishing licenses, which can be bought at most sporting-goods stores, Wal-Marts, and Kmarts, are $3.50 for 1 day and $9 for 7 days. A trout-fishing stamp is $5.

The Fish Hawk, 279 Buckhead Ave. NE, between Peachtree and Piedmont roads (tel. 404/237-3473), is an excellent and convenient supplier in Atlanta for quality tackle. It carries all kinds of fishing gear and outdoor clothing and can also supply the requisite license. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and can tell you where to find the fish you seek and anything you need to know about applicable state regulations. They're open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, and Saturday 9am to 5pm.

For additional information, serious anglers can call the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, License and Boat Registration Unit, at tel. 770/414-3333, or visit www.ganet.org/dnr/wild. Fishing licenses can be purchased by calling tel. 888/748-6887 or visiting www.permit.com.