Georgia Rivers launches Fish Georgia Rivers program

ATHENS, GA, February 12, 2025 – Georgia Rivers is launching a new river recreation program to expand access to kayak fishing training and trips. Fish Georgia Rivers will debut this spring led by new program coordinator Kendon Townsel with support from new board President Isham Colosetti and the entire Georgia Rivers Board.

Georgia Rivers is already a leader in the southeast for introducing paddlesports skills and water  safety training to the kayak angler community. This spring, Fish Georgia Rivers will expand the number of leaders across our region who hold national certification as kayak fishing instructors with the American Canoe Association. Townsel will help build programming to expand access to safety and skills training for the public, increase access to fishing trips and programming for beginners, and represent anglers when Georgia Rivers advocates for river recreation and conservation at the State Capitol .

For Decatur, GA native Kendon Townsel, kayak fishing took his fishing hobby to the next level, and to competitive kayak fishing. Sitting closer to the water led him to success in the tournament scene in 2023 and 2024, where he won three tournaments and placed top 5 in 12 of 17 events.

“I’m dedicated to bringing newcomers to the water and to fishing,” Townsel said of his particular passion for reaching beginners. He also aims to use Fish Georgia Rivers to protect the freedom to float on all Georgia rivers. “My goal is to educate all anglers on their own right of passage to float Georgia rivers –  and ensure all rivers and streams remain open for public passage.  If you can float it – you can boat it.”

Fish Georgia Rivers was developed by the Georgia Rivers Board of Directors as a way to integrate angler communities into Georgia Rivers programming and advocacy. Board president Isham Colosetti is an avid fisherman who saw an opportunity to expand the work of Georgia Rivers to include anglers and the rivers they love in the Georgia Rivers scope of work.

“Programs like Paddle Georgia—and soon Fish Georgia Rivers—are especially close to my heart,” said Colosetti. “They provide opportunities for people to experience the beauty of wild places, understand the challenges facing our rivers, and develop a personal connection that inspires their own advocacy to protect Georgia rivers and work class water trails like the Okefenokee Wilderness Canoe Trail.  

Georgia Rivers board members supporting these programming opportunities include Delta corporate environmental compliance manager Dika Kuoh as vice president, retired Senior Director of Community Relations at the Chattahoochee Nature Center Lynn McIntyre as secretary, and certified public accountant Terry Pate as treasurer. 

To celebrate the launch of this program, Georgia Rivers is raffling a new Crescent Kayaks Lite Tackle II fishing kayak. This kayak is ideal for beginner anglers with in-hull storage, rod holders, and a robust high seating option. The Lite Tackle II is just over 12 feet long making it a stable platform for beginners to maintain direction and carry their favorite equipment. This kayak is donated to Georgia Rivers by Carrollton based Crescent Kayaks, an award-winning small business that was named a Small Business Rock Star in 2023 by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA).

Raffle tickets for a chance to win the Lite Tackle II fishing kayak are just $5 each, and all raffle proceeds support Georgia water trails and river conservation. The raffle drawing will take place on March 4 at 7pm at the Georgia Rivers Mardi Gras Benefit Party to Save the Swamp at Fire Maker Brewing in Atlanta. Purchase raffle tickets at  https://rafflecreator.com/pages/55174/crescent-kayaks-lite-tackle-ii-raffle-2025

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Georgia Rivers, formerly Georgia River Network, is a 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission of connecting people with and protecting Georgia’s rivers. It serves as Georgia Department of Natural Resources non-profit partnering to coordinate the state’s water trail program.