Fishing season is open at Henry County’s reservoirs.
The Henry County Water Authority recently announced the beginning of the public fishing season, which lasts from now through the final weekend of November. The Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga reservoirs are open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A permit is required for fishing, and it can be obtained at the HCWA headquarters, 1695 Hwy. 20 West in McDonough, during normal customer service hours between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Anyone seeking a permit must be a property owner or resident in Henry County or a customer of the HCWA. A Georgia fishing license is also required.
The permit costs $45 and is valid for one calendar year from date of purchase. There are discounts for seniors 62 years of age and older as well as those with disabilities. A permit holder can take one guest along for free. About 1,300 permits are sold in the county annually. A permit provides access for fishing, boating (with non-gas motors), canoeing and kayaking.
Public access to the Tussahaw Reservoir – which has a boat ramp and is accessible to citizens with disabilities – is available through the public use area on Tussahaw Island, at the end of Collins Way off Peeksville Road. The public can access the Upper Towaliga Reservoir at 160 Hunter Road in Locust Grove, which is off Weems Road, coming from Hampton-Locust Grove Road.
The Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga are the two largest of the five HCWA reservoirs, accounting for more than 85 percent of the HCWA’s raw water storage capacity with a combined 2,566 acres and nearly 16 billion gallons at full pool. They are protected natural resources, operating according to more stringent regulatory standards than recreational lakes while also making for ideal fishing conditions, according to officials.
“We are committed to providing access to our reservoirs on a limited basis, so the community can enjoy the outdoors and the opportunities for recreation these reservoirs provide,” said HCWA general manager Lindy Farmer. “We look forward to hosting another successful season of public fishing in 2019.” For more information on HCWA Public Fishing, including maps of boat ramps and access points for these two reservoirs, contact the Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center staff at 678-583-3930, or check out the “Fishing and Reservoir Use” page under “Community & Education” on the HCWA website www.hcwa.com
