HCWA 2024 Fishing Season runs from March through November
The Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) once again will be opening select reservoirs for public fishing this year.
The 2024 HCWA fishing season is underway, running from the first weekend in March until the last weekend in November (March 1 to November 30). During these months, the HCWA Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga Reservoirs will be open for fishing, boating (with electric/trolling motors), canoeing, or kayaking on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (during Daylight Saving Time). In addition, during April and May, the HCWA will open the Gardner (Indian Creek) Reservoir for anglers as well, but only on Saturdays and Sundays during these hours.
To enjoy access to HCWA reservoirs, citizens must be a Henry County resident, property owner, or HCWA customer, and they must purchase a reservoir use permit from Customer Service at the Authority’s headquarters, located at 1695 Highway 20 West in McDonough, during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
A one-year HCWA reservoir use permit can be purchased for $50, or a two-year reservoir use permit can be purchased for the reduced price of $85. Permits also are offered to seniors and citizens with disabilities for just $25. All HCWA reservoir use permits are valid for the entire calendar year(s) from the date of purchase, and permit holders can bring a guest with them for free.
Reservoir customers and guests must sign a waiver/release form and adhere to all rules and regulations of the HCWA and Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for fishing or boating on Georgia waters. Anglers also must possess an active Georgia Fishing License.
As drinking water reservoirs, the Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga Reservoirs adhere to stricter regulations than recreational lakes, because they provide raw water for drinking water production at the Authority’s Tussahaw and Towaliga Water Treatment Plants, respectively.
Those with HCWA reservoir use permits can access the Tussahaw Reservoir at the public use area referred to as “Tussahaw Island,” which is located at the end of Collins Way, from Peeksville Road. There is no public access to the reservoir at the Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant. In addition to a boat ramp, Tussahaw Island features a dock with accommodations for citizens with disabilities, as well as a walking trail and outdoor pavilion.
A new feature at the Tussahaw Island/Reservoir public use area is a life jacket station recently constructed by the Authority and several outdoor education partners, including the Henry County Police and students in their Explorers Program, as well as personnel from Henry County 911, the Henry County Fire Department, and Game Wardens from Georgia DNR.
The public can access the Upper Towaliga Reservoir boat ramp at 350 Hunter Road, off Weems Road, from Hampton-Locust Grove Road.
The HCWA Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center staff oversees public fishing on HCWA reservoirs. The Authority staff reserves the right to close the reservoirs for fishing or outdoor recreation in the event of maintenance, severe weather, or for other reasons.
A highlight of this year’s H
CWA Fishing Season is the Authority’s annual Cubihatcha Kids Fishing Day, which provides kids from the ages of 3 to 17 an opportunity to enjoy free fishing with their families, as well as a chance to win prizes for the biggest catches of the day. This year’s Cubihatcha Kids Fishing Day is scheduled for Saturday June 8, at the Cubihatcha Center and adjacent Long Branch Reservoir.
More information on opportunities for outdoor recreation is available here.
Captions for photos (top to bottom):
Corben Kuhn shows off his big catch during last year’s HCWA Family Fishing Day.
The HCWA Public Fishing Season runs from March through November, when the Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga Reservoirs will be available to reservoir use permit holders for fishing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking.
The HCWA Public Fishing Season runs from March through the end of November, when anglers and guests will have access to the Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga Reservoirs.
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Media Contact: Chris Wood, Ph.D.
P: 770-757-1681
E: chris@jwapr.com or john.wood@gcsu.edu