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Rainbow Trout
Photo: Purefury182, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Spotted Bass
Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0 
Chain Pickerel
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0 
American Shad
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Georgia trout streams
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Hightower Creek Fishing
Towns County, designated trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Chatuge: Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
Georgia trout water
First things to know about the Hightower Creek
The Hightower Creek is a Georgia creek running through Towns County. Roughly 11 miles flow inside the state line. Plan around Hiawassee, around 5 miles from the river.
Some 13.1 miles are designated trout stream.
11miles in Georgia
13.1trout miles
0USGS gauges
0ramps
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How WRD manages the Hightower Creek for trout
13.1designated trout miles
1trout segments
Tennesseeriver basin
The Hightower Creek follows the statewide trout season, open all year with 8 trout (brook, rainbow, brown and hybrids) statewide a day.
Designated trout water needs the $10 resident trout license (nonresidents $25) on top of the Georgia fishing license ($15 resident, $50 nonresident).
WRD Trout Fishing layer (designated trout streams) and the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations trout section. Georgia trout streams.
Fish
The Hightower Creek species list
The Hightower Creek list combines access point flags with forecast and record entries.
WRD Water Access Points species flags, WRD trout layer and forecasts.
Access
Put-ins for boats and kayaks on the Hightower Creek
Plan on wading the Hightower Creek; WRD lists no ramp for it.
WRD Water Access Points, Georgia water trails layer, USGS gauges.
Regulations
Harvest rules in force along the Hightower Creek
| Species | Daily limit and size | 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 |
| Walleye | 8 | Open all year |
| Pickerel | 15 | Open all year |
| American and hickory shad | 8 | Open all year |
Limits from the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations guide; every Georgia limit on one page.
Nearby
Short drives from the Hightower Creek
Georgia lakes in the same area as the Hightower Creek
- Lake Chatuge6 miles
- Lake Burton9 miles
- Lake Seed14 miles
- Unicoi Lake14 miles
Crickets, shiners and line near the Hightower Creek
- Squiggly Worm Bait & Tackbait and tackle shop, Hiawassee, 6 miles
- Squiggly Worm Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Young Harris, 9 miles
- Rabun Boat Housemarina, Lakemont, 16 miles
- Southern Highroads Outfitters Gift Co.sporting goods store, Blairsville, 17 miles
- Blackhawk Trophy Flyfishingbait and tackle shop, Clarkesville, 19 miles
Places to stay close to the Hightower Creek
- Hiawassee5 miles
- Tate City7 miles
- Young Harris10 miles
- Tiger14 miles
More Georgia rivers near the Hightower Creek
- Scataway Creekunder a mile
- Swallow Creek2 miles
- Bearmeat Creek3 miles
- Cynth Creek3 miles
County pages that include the Hightower Creek
Piscifun
Piscifun tackle chosen with the Hightower Creek in mind
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Which fish
Pictures of the fish at Hightower Creek
Photo: Purefury182, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Answers
The Hightower Creek: quick answers for anglers
Which Georgia counties does the Hightower Creek cross?
Look in Towns County.
How many trout miles does the Hightower Creek have?
About 13.1 trout miles, so a trout license is needed for trout.
Is the Hightower Creek up or down today?
No active USGS gauge matches it.
How many public launches does WRD map on the Hightower Creek?
No put-in on file.
How many fish may I keep from the Hightower Creek?
Use the statewide freshwater limits.
What does it cost to fish the Hightower Creek?
Designated trout water needs the $10 resident trout license (nonresidents $25) on top of the Georgia fishing license ($15 resident, $50 nonresident).
Where do I pick up bait on the way to the Hightower Creek?
Closest listing: Squiggly Worm Bait & Tack, 6 miles.
What does WRD say swims in the Hightower Creek?
rainbow trout, per WRD.
Which Georgia town sits near the Hightower Creek?
Hiawassee, about 5 miles from the midpoint.
Pack the waders for the Hightower Creek
Look at flow and the rules first.