Trip brief · Hiwassee River
How to go fish the Hiwassee River
The months we list for the Hiwassee River are March, April, May, October, November, December. August is outside that window, so this brief is written for October, the next month we list.
October
No USGS gauge is mapped to this river.
Flies to tie — October
Blue-winged Olive#16-20
Parachute BWO
Midge#20-24
Mercury Midge
Access
Apalachia Powerhouse Access
35.168, -84.538parking
Reliance Access / Big Bend Area
35.155, -84.545parking
US-411 Bridge Public Access
35.130, -84.565parking
John Muir Trail Trailhead
35.145, -84.555parking
Regs — check current rules before you go
Tennessee fishing license with trout stamp required. The Hiwassee River delayed harvest section (approximately from US-411 bridge upstream to the Powerhouse) is catch-and-release with artificial lures only from October 1 through May 31. From June 1 through September 30, the section opens to general statewide trout regulations with bait and harvest allowed. Always verify current TWRA regulations at tn.gov/twra before fishing.
Pack list
- A current state fishing licence
- Waders and boots you have already leak-tested
- Net, nippers, forceps
- Floatant and desiccant
- Tippet in the sizes the chart asks for
- Water, sun cover, polarised glasses
Generic gear. Anything specific to this water is above.
Full hatch chart, access map and live gauge on the Hiwassee River page →