118 US-411, Reliance, TN 37369
Hiwassee Outfitters sits at the confluence of wilderness and world-class trout water in Reliance, Tennessee, a crossroads community deep within the Cherokee National Forest where the Hiwassee River runs cold and clear from the base of Apalachia Dam. The Hiwassee is one of the crown jewels of southeastern tailwater fishing — a wide, rock-studded river with a reputation for exceptional brown and rainbow trout populations, dramatic stonefly hatches, and wade-fishing conditions that reward both technical nymphing in the fast pocket water and deliberate dry-fly hunting during the evening emergences. The surrounding Cherokee National Forest provides a stunning backdrop that has made Reliance a destination in its own right, drawing anglers who combine days on the water with hiking, camping, and the particular quiet that comes from being genuinely off the beaten path.
Hiwassee Outfitters serves as the town's fly fishing nerve center, outfitting wade and float anglers with gear, flies, and intelligence drawn from daily time on the water. Guided float trips through the Hiwassee's most productive pools utilize drift boats and rafts, with guides who read the river's character through every season and TVA generation cycle. The retail selection is tailored tightly to Hiwassee conditions: heavy stonefly nymphs, midge clusters, soft hackles, and the specific dry-fly patterns that the river's browns respond to during the caddis and sulfur emergences of late spring and early fall. Camping and lodging referrals round out a complete trip-planning resource for anglers visiting this remote but deeply rewarding corner of eastern Tennessee.
“The Hiwassee is a river you'll keep coming back to, and Hiwassee Outfitters is the reason to book through a guide rather than wing it solo. Our drift boat trip covered six miles of prime water — the guides knew exactly when to anchor for nymphing a long foam line and when to keep moving toward the next productive section. We landed 18 trout between two rods, including a brown that pushed 22 inches. The setting in the Cherokee National Forest is breathtaking. Don't sleep on this river.”
“First visit to the Hiwassee and the shop staff made it an unforgettable experience. They checked the TVA schedule, pointed me toward the best wade section given the projected flows, and set me up with a selection of stonefly nymphs and caddis dries. Caught rainbows all morning on the nymph, then had a glorious two-hour caddis hatch in the afternoon that brought fish to the surface in every slack eddy. The water here is crystal clear and beautiful.”
“Solid local operation with guides who know the Hiwassee intimately. The float trip is the way to go if you want to cover water — lots of excellent nymphing water that's hard to reach by wading. Staff are friendly and helpful with gear questions. Would give five stars but the drift boat showed its age a bit. Great fishing though — healthy trout population and beautiful setting.”
