HCWA Doubles its Attendance at Second Annual Kids Fishing Day
In just its second year, the Cubihatcha Kids Fishing Day doubled its number of anglers and attendees, as 237 kids and 425 participants enjoyed a free day of fishing at the Henry County Water Authority’s (HCWA) Long Branch Reservoir, located adjacent to the HCWA’s Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center in Locust Grove.
With the second annual Cubihatcha Kids Fishing Day featuring a record number of young anglers from ages 3 to 17, the competition for top prizes was tough. However, Tristan Hom took home top honors with the Biggest Catch of the Day when he reeled in a 5 pound and 1 ounce catfish. All the age group winners included:
Winners of the 6 and under age group:
1st place – Paislee Tatum: 3 pounds
2nd place – Colter Kuhn: 2 pounds, 13 ounces
3rd place – Baron Loth: 1 pound, 9 ounces
Winners of the 7 to 12 age group:
1st place – Tristan Hom: 5 pounds, 1 ounce
2nd place – Corben Kuhn: 4 pounds, 14 ounces
3rd place – Rylnn Godfrey: 3 pounds, 5 ounces
Winners of the 13 to 17 age group:
1st place – Aleia Kuhn: 3 pounds, 15 ounces
2nd place – Carter Gibbs: 3 pounds, 12 ounces
3rd place – Hailey Adams: 3 pounds, 4 ounces
The goal of this annual public outreach event is to engage local children and youth in outdoor recreation and education, while encouraging physical wellness, building social skills, and providing emotional benefits of fellowship in the outdoors.
Following the morning competition, participants enjoyed lunch provided by Chick-fil-A, music from Greg Street and V-103, as well as prizes for the winners and those chosen via raffle, thanks to the generosity of sponsors whose contributions made that possible. Authority officials offered a special thanks to those organizations and individuals, who contributed to the success of the event through donations to the Henry County Outdoor Education Partnership, including:
BIG Fish Sponsors:
Smith, Welch, Webb & White
Brent Scarbrough & Company, Inc. in Fayetteville
Chick-fil-A – the East Lake, Lake Dow, Eagle’s Landing, Locust Grove, and Highway 81/20-McDonough locations
Truett’s – the Jonesboro Road-McDonough and Morrow locations
Greg Street of V-103 and the We Need 2 Read Campaign
Reel Legend Sponsors:
Bellamy Strickland in McDonough
Jim Ellis Toyota in McDonough
Vulcan Materials Company, Inc.
Bennett Motor Express, LLC – Taylor Foundation
Southside Sportsman Association
Red Wing Shoes of McDonough
Barge Design Solutions, Inc.
Clayton Appliances, Inc. in Fayetteville
Chris Opolka – Professional Pipeline
Big Bass Sponsors:
Clean Earth Sanitation in Jackson
Great American Cookie at SouthPoint in McDonough
Publix Charities
Atlanta Access Controls of Jackson
Legacy Ford in McDonough
JWA Public Communications in McDonough
AG Pro
Urban Air Adventures in McDonough
Pro Angler Sponsors:
Dave & Busters in McDonough
Fun Spot Theme Park in Fayetteville
Mason Tractors in McDonough
Warren Holder Equipment in Locust Grove
Southern Belle Farm in McDonough
Also, HCWA officials thanked its event partners who helped with staffing, logistics, and more. Those included: Dunkin Donuts on Highway 155 and Krispy Kreme in Stockbridge, who provided donuts; the City of Locust Grove, who provided a stage; Clayton County Water Authority, who provided additional shuttles to transport participants around the Cubihatcha Center; the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division, who provided fishing poles through their Gateway to Fishing Program; DNR Game Wardens, who helped kids with their fishing lines and educated attendees on state fishing regulations; the Henry County Sheriff’s Office; the Henry County Police Department and their Community Relations Team; the Henry County Fire Department/EMT, who were on hand to handle any first aid or emergency responses; and Teach a Child to Fish and Kendall Newson, for providing a mobile fishing pond and free lessons for beginners.
“This is our first time fishing, but we’ve always wanted to go,” says Jason Harris, who brought his son Connor to enjoy the Cubihatcha Kids Fishing Day. “This is a perfect event for beginners, and it’s a lot of fun, too.”
Others in attendance were more experienced and looked forward to competing for top prizes, in addition to making memories to last a lifetime.
“We enjoy the competition and do a lot of bass fishing as a family,” adds Justin Sheffield, who brought his three children – Miley, Dawson, and Kalee – to the event.
The second annual Cubihatcha Kids Fishing Day was held on one of the few select days during the year when the Georgia Department of Natural Resources allows fishing on Georgia waters without a permit, to promote the sport of fishing and to encourage outdoor recreation for local families.
“This is a great opportunity to bond with my boys, connect with others, and enjoy some family time at a beautiful facility,” says Donalson Latour, who spent the day with his two sons, Donalson, Jr. and Donovan.
“My husband came last year with our oldest and had a good time, so we brought the whole family this year for the chance to fish,” says Jaden Rodriguez, while assisting her sons Scotty, Jesse, and Jrue. “We’re not experts, but we’ve had a great time.”
The HCWA Long Branch Reservoir – the site of the annual Kids Fishing Day – is one of five drinking water reservoirs owned and operated by the Authority. All five reservoirs total more than 18 billion gallons of raw water storage for drinking water production at the Authority’s Tussahaw and Towaliga Water Treatment Plants.
The Long Branch Reservoir is located within the Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center footprint – a nearly 1,100-acre nature preserve the HCWA opened in 1999. The facility is the focal point of the Authority’s outdoor education programming, featuring walking trails, outdoor classrooms, the HCWA Reservoir and Land Management Office, as well as other amenities.
In addition to hosting an annual Kids Fishing Day, the HCWA offers access to select reservoirs throughout the year for Henry County citizens to enjoy. The HCWA regular fishing season begins in March and concludes at the end of November. This year, the Authority’s Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga Reservoirs are open to the public to fish on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, upon purchase of a Reservoir Use Permit at the HCWA Headquarters in McDonough.
For more information on HCWA public fishing, the HCWA Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center, and a photo gallery from the 2023 Kids Fishing Day, please visit the Authority’s website at www.hcwa.com.
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Media Contact: Chris Wood, Ph.D.
P: 770-757-1681
E: chris@jwapr.com or john.wood@gcsu.edu
Captions for photos (from top to bottom):
HCWA General Manager Tony Carnell (left) awards Tristan Hom for the Biggest Catch of the Day, which was a 5 pound – 1 ounce catfish, at the second annual HCWA Kids Fishing Day.
Prize winners were among the many smiling faces at the second annual HCWA Kids Fishing Day, held recently at the Authority’s Long Branch Reservoir and Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center in Locust Grove.
Micah Cook, 8, casts his line at a good spot on the Long Branch Reservoir during the second annual HCWA Kids Fishing Day.
Scotty Rodriguez (left), 6, and his brother Jesse, 3, were all smiles after catching a fish at the second annual HCWA Kids Fishing Day.
The second annual HCWA Kids Fishing Day doubled its numbers from last year, as 237 kids and 425 total participants enjoyed a day on the Long Branch Reservoir and at the Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center in Locust Grove.