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Spotted Bass
Photo: Dick Biggins, USFWS, Public domain 
Striped Bass
Photo: Steven G. Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Black Crappie
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain 
Bluegill
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Georgia counties
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Fishing in Towns County, Georgia
Seat: Hiawassee. Population 12,493 (2020).
- 1lake page
- 3launch sites
- 44trout streams
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Towns County, Georgia
Towns County by the figures
Listed in our Northwest Georgia group, Towns County conducts its county business from Hiawassee. There were 12,493 people here in 2020, living on 166 square miles of land beside 5.3 square miles of water.
Lake Chatuge is the largest of the 1 lake with pages here, which total 7,050 acres. The state access map gives the county 3 public launch sites with 3 lanes recorded. The leading operator on the list is a private operator. Designated trout water: 44 streams, close to 189.8 miles. Without a boat, try one of 5 piers and bank sites in the county.
1lake page
3launch sites
44trout streams
2shops and marinas
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Towns County fishing access on a map
Georgia DNR WRD Water Access Points, CRD coastal layers and WRD waterbodies, checked October 2026.
Lakes
Every lake page for Towns County
| Lake | Acres | Type | Ramps | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Chatuge | 7,050 | reservoir | 4 | largemouth bass, spotted bass |
Towns County has little lake water with a page; from Hiawassee these are the nearest choices.
| Lake | From Hiawassee | Acres | Type | Ramps | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Burton | 13 miles southeast | 2,775 | reservoir | 3 | largemouth bass, spotted bass |
| Unicoi Lake | 15 miles south | 53 | lake | 0 | largemouth bass, chattahoochee bass |
| Lake Trahlyta | 16 miles southwest | 22 | lake | 1 | largemouth bass, bluegill |
| Lake Nottely | 17 miles west | 4,180 | reservoir | 5 | largemouth bass, spotted bass |
| Lake Seed | 18 miles southeast | 240 | reservoir | 1 | largemouth bass, spotted bass |
| Black Rock Lake | 19 miles east | 17 | lake | 1 | largemouth bass, channel catfish |
WRD waterbodies and reservoirs layers, NHD areas, WRD access point species flags and WRD fishing forecasts.
Streams
Towns County streams
- Tallulah Riverriver, 13.5 trout miles
- Hiwassee Riverriver, 13.2 trout miles
- Brasstown Creekstream, 15.2 trout miles
- Hightower Creekstream, 13.1 trout miles
- Fodder Creekstream, 7.1 trout miles
- Hog Creekstream, 4.8 trout miles
- Soapstone Creekstream, 7.2 trout miles
- Plumorchard Creekstream, 6.2 trout miles
- Corbin Creekstream, 6 trout miles
- Charlies Creekstream, 5.1 trout miles
- Swallow Creekstream, 5.2 trout miles
- Scataway Creekstream, 5 trout miles
- Mill Creek, Towns Countystream, 4.9 trout miles
- High Shoals Creekstream, 4.2 trout miles
- Byers Creekstream, 4 trout miles
- Owl Creekstream, 4.3 trout miles
- Crane Creekstream, 4.2 trout miles
- Winchester Creekstream, 4 trout miles
- Little Hightower Creekstream, 3.7 trout miles
- Bearmeat Creekstream, 3.6 trout miles
- Cynth Creekstream, 3.2 trout miles
- Mill Creek, Rabun Countystream, 3.4 trout miles
- Upper Bell Creekstream, 3.3 trout miles
- Corn Creekstream, 3.1 trout miles
Where to find trout in Towns County
44 designated trout streams cover 189.8 miles in the county, and 2 have segments WRD stocks heavily.
- Brier Creek3 trout mi, near Helen
- Wilks Creek2.9 trout mi, near Helen
- East Gumlog Creek2.8 trout mi, near Young Harris
- Will Creek2.8 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Henson Creek2.7 trout mi, near Helen
- Dismal Creek2.7 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Crooked Creek2.4 trout mi, near Young Harris
- Right Fork Fodder Creek2.3 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Jack Hooper Creek2.2 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Allen Mill Creek2.1 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Wilson Cove Creek2 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Denton Creek2 trout mi, near Dillard
- Gurley Creek2 trout mi, near Young Harris
- Gumlog Creek1.8 trout mi, near Young Harris
- Joel Creek1.6 trout mi, near Young Harris
- Big John Creek1.5 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Walls Creek1.5 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Hall Creek1.4 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Henson Creek1.4 trout mi, near Hiawassee
- Stroud Creek1.2 trout mi, near Hiawassee
Flow readings across Towns County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Hiwassee River At Riverside Dr, Nr Hiawassee, Ga | 42 cfs, 2.57 ft gage height | Nov 10 11:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 12:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
WRD Trout Fishing layer (designated trout streams), checked October 2026.
Trout waters
Trout waters the guide lists for Towns County
10 county trout waters appear in the regulations guide; a trout license applies on each.
- Bearmeat Cr. watershed
- Bell Cr. watershed
- Bugscuffle Branch watershed (Allen Mill Cr.)
- Burch Branch watershed
- Fodder Cr. watershed
- Hightower Cr. watershed
- Hiwassee R. watershed downstream to Towns Co Rd. 87
- Hog Cr. watershed
- Shake Rag Branch watershed
- and all other streams or parts of streams not listed above, except: Hiwassee R. downstream from Towns Co Rd. 87 and tributaries to Chatuge Reservoir not listed above
2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations, trout streams and destinations by county.
Ramps
Public ramps of Towns County
- Boundary Waters Resort & MarinaLake Chatuge, 1 lane, dock, restroom, fee
- Mayor's ParkLake Chatuge, 1 lane, dock
- The Ridges Resort & MarinaLake Chatuge, 1 lane, dock, restroom, fee
Shore fishing spots of Towns County (5)
- Brasstown Valley Resortfishing pier, Brasstown Creek
- Soapstone Creekbank fishing area, Soapstone Creek
- Swallow Creekbank fishing area, Swallow Creek
- Tallulah River, Tallulah Riverfishing pier, Tallulah River
- The Ridges Resort & Marinafishing pier, Lake Chatuge
Georgia DNR WRD Water Access Points.
Stocking and records
Towns County stocking lists and records
Stocking lists for 2026 include 6 county entries.
Stocked trout water of Towns County
| Water | Schedule or date |
|---|---|
| Tallulah River (t) | stocked the week of 2026-09-25 (WRD weekly report) |
| Brasstown Creek | Stocked four times from March-August. |
| Hiawassee River** | Stocked twice each month from April-Labor Day. |
| Soapstone Creek** | Stocked weekly from April-July 31st, then twice before Labor Day, and once in |
| Swallow Creek | Stocked twice each month from April-Labor Day. |
| Tallulah River | Stocked weekly from April-July 31st, then twice before Labor Day, and once in |
Heaviest certified fish from Towns County
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Hybrid | 25 lb, 8 oz | Lake Chatuge | 1995 |
| Bass, Smallmouth | 7 lb, 2 oz | Lake Chatuge | 1973 |
WRD 2026 Trout Stocking Frequencies and Weekly Stocking Report; WRD freshwater and CRD saltwater record lists.
Regulations
Rules that change in Towns County
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (all species combined) | 10 in total, only 5 of which may be Altamaha, Bartrams, Chattahoochee, Coosa, Shoal, Smallmouth, Suwannee, Tallapoosa | Open all year |
| Largemouth bass | Counts toward 10 black bass total; minimum length 12 inches statewide (exceptions on listed lakes and PFAs) | Open all year |
| Spotted bass | Counts toward 10 black bass total; no statewide minimum length (14 inches on Lake Lanier) | Open all year |
| Shoal bass | Counts toward 10 black bass total (only 5 may be shoal and other listed bass); minimum length 15 inches statewide (Flint River below Warwick Dam slot) | Open all year |
| Smallmouth bass | Counts toward 10 black bass total; only 5 of the 10 may be smallmouth and other listed bass; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Striped, white and hybrid bass | 15 in total, only two of which can be 22 inches or longer | Open all year |
| Crappie | 30 | Open all year |
| Bream (sunfish) | 50 in total | Open all year |
| Catfish | No limit | Open all year |
The guide sets these rows statewide; Towns County waters with their own rules appear below them.
Special regulation water in Towns County (1)
| Water | Rule |
|---|---|
| Lake Chatuge | Georgia-North Carolina agreement: holders of a valid Georgia or North Carolina fishing license may fish with hook and line only from boats; boats may not be anchored to the shore or to a pier or dock connected to the shore. Live blueback herring may be used for bait. |
2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations (effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), statewide limits and listed exceptions.
Local help
Buying crickets and shiners in Towns County
Bait shops and marinas of Towns County
- Squiggly Worm Bait & Tackbait and tackle shop, Hiawassee
- Squiggly Worm Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Young Harris
Nearby
Spots by Towns County
Towns in Towns County
- Young Harrispop. 1,098
- Hiawasseepop. 981
- Tate Citypop. 27
Neighbor counties of Towns County
- Union County15 miles west
- White County18 miles south
- Rabun County19 miles east
- Habersham County22 miles southeast
- Lumpkin County28 miles southwest
Piscifun
A Piscifun reel lineup for Towns County
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Which fish
Telling apart the fish of Towns County
Photo: Dick Biggins, USFWS, Public domain
Photo: Steven G. Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Answers
The usual questions about Towns County water
How many boat ramps are mapped in Towns County?
The WRD layer lists 3 public launch sites (3 lanes noted).
Which Towns County lake has the most surface acres?
Lake Chatuge, at 7,050 acres.
Does WRD designate any trout water in Towns County?
WRD designates 44 streams (189.8 miles) here; trout license required.
How many bass may an angler keep in Towns County?
The statewide bag is 10 black bass; largemouth must reach 12 inches except on listed waters.
Which Towns County stores stock hooks and line?
2 listed, among them Squiggly Worm Bait & Tack.
Can I book a charter from Towns County?
The guides page covers nearby counties.
Where is the nearest PFA to Towns County?
Not in the county.
Where is the Towns County courthouse?
It is Hiawassee.
Which license covers fishing in Towns County?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase. Designated trout water needs the $10 resident trout license (nonresidents $25) on top of the Georgia fishing license ($15 resident, $50 nonresident).
Put Towns County on the fishing list
Each listed lake shows acreage, fish and rules.