Williamsport WMA

Site Directions: From Columbia, take Hwy. 50 for 10 miles toward Centerville, after you cross the Duck River at Williamsport the entrance to the area will be marked with a large sign. The entrance road is a hard right Akin Ridge Road is also there, but it is straight as you make the right turn off of Hwy. 50.  Lat-Long: 35.707998, -87.229902, Hwy 50 and Akin Ridge Rd intersection  Lat-Long: 35.707763, -87.217575, the intersection in the middle of WMA between several ponds

The WMA is open year-round during daylight hours, with access dependent on hunting seasons.   License fees may apply.  You can stop by the concessioner building check the regulations, and buy fishing supplies, bait, drinks, and food.  The building closes in the fall for the winter and reopens in the spring just in time for the fishing season. 

There is no camping allowed anytime during the year.

TWRA Contact Information: Region 2 Office: 1-615-781-6622, Toll-Free: 1-800-624-7406, E-mail the office, TWRA Area Manager: Tommy Edwards 1-931-840-4042

Williamsport Lakes was transferred to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency from Occidental Chemical Corporation in the Fall of 1997.  The area totals 1,800 acres and is comprised of 4 fishing lakes and 2 wetlands.  Occidental mined phosphorus from the surrounding land and used the lakes as settling ponds for the mud they washed off the phosphorus rocks.   The fishing is outstanding as a trophy bass lake in which a size limit of 20 inches on largemouth bass is in place.  Springtime is good for shellcracker and bluegill. 

These lakes range in size from 80 acres down to 12 acres.  There is one family fishing lake where it is required to have a child fishing at the age of 16 and under. Hunting is excellent at Williamsport Lakes also.  Typically, sportsmen will harvest around 50 deer each year and at least a dozen wild turkeys.    Williamsport also is noted for its dove field which is located on the east boundary.  The dove field is situated near powerlines and planted in wheat and sunflowers each season.  The dove field is located on Leiper’s Creek Road.  The field also serves as a great hunting location in the deer season as the deer often will eat the green wheat that was planted for the doves. 

This WMA is also noted for its bird species.  A pair of bald eagles have nested at the lakes for a number of years and in the fall, you can see both the parents and that year’s young eaglets fishing in the lakes.  Ducks will often be found on the fishing lakes and during migration, gulls, loons and other migratory birds will stopover to rest and feed.