.sf-ga{–ink:#231C18;–deep:#7A3322;–teal:#94371C;–mist:#F5EFE8;–foam:#FCFAF7;–lure:#D3DEE2;–lure-ink:#2D4B5A;–line:#E6DBD0;–muted:#5A4D45}.sf-ga .sf-hero{background-color:#7A3322;background-image:radial-gradient(880px 520px at 96% 0%,rgba(196,214,222,.30),rgba(196,214,222,0) 62%),radial-gradient(800px 520px at 2% 100%,rgba(214,128,120,.24),rgba(214,128,120,0) 60%),linear-gradient(160deg,#8E3D27,#7A3322 46%,#2F1D16);border-bottom-right-radius:180px 96px}.sf-ga .sf-hero::before{background:linear-gradient(100deg,rgba(35,28,24,.86) 0%,rgba(35,28,24,.55) 52%,rgba(35,28,24,.20) 100%)}.sf-ga .sf-eyebrow{border-radius:4px 14px 4px 14px;background:rgba(35,28,24,.58);color:#F4F7F8;border:2px solid #D3DEE2;padding:5px 15px 4px;letter-spacing:.06em}.sf-ga .sf-hero .sf-sub{color:#F7EEE8}.sf-ga .sf-hero[style*=”background-image”]::before{background:linear-gradient(100deg,rgba(35,28,24,.90) 0%,rgba(35,28,24,.68) 44%,rgba(122,51,34,.34) 78%,rgba(122,51,34,.22) 100%),linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(28,20,16,.72),rgba(28,20,16,0) 48%)}.sf-ga .sf-bar{background-color:#231C18;background-image:radial-gradient(560px 230px at 96% 0,rgba(196,214,222,.22),rgba(196,214,222,0)),linear-gradient(100deg,#7A3322,#231C18 66%)}.sf-ga .sf-bar p{color:#EDE2DA}.sf-ga .sf-band–white,.sf-ga .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-color:#fff;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 94% 4%,rgba(122,51,34,.17),rgba(122,51,34,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 4% 96%,rgba(196,214,222,.46),rgba(196,214,222,0) 62%),radial-gradient(640px 400px at 50% 50%,rgba(214,128,120,.07),rgba(214,128,120,0) 62%),linear-gradient(135deg,#FFFFFF,#FAF5EF,#F2E8DE)}.sf-ga .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 6% 4%,rgba(122,51,34,.17),rgba(122,51,34,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 96% 96%,rgba(196,214,222,.46),rgba(196,214,222,0) 62%),linear-gradient(225deg,#FFFFFF,#FAF5EF,#F2E8DE)}.sf-ga .sf-band–mist{background-color:#F5EFE8;background-image:radial-gradient(860px 520px at 10% 8%,rgba(196,214,222,.44),rgba(196,214,222,0) 64%),radial-gradient(720px 460px at 92% 94%,rgba(122,51,34,.15),rgba(122,51,34,0) 62%),linear-gradient(200deg,#F9F4EE,#F5EFE8,#EBDFD3)}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink{color:#F6ECE5}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep{background-color:#7A3322;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 92% 6%,rgba(196,214,222,.18),rgba(196,214,222,0) 62%),radial-gradient(800px 500px at 8% 94%,rgba(214,128,120,.20),rgba(214,128,120,0) 62%),linear-gradient(150deg,#8A3B26,#7A3322,#5A2517)}.sf-ga .sf-band–ink{background-color:#231C18;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 10% 6%,rgba(122,51,34,.62),rgba(122,51,34,0) 62%),radial-gradient(760px 480px at 94% 96%,rgba(196,214,222,.12),rgba(196,214,222,0) 62%),linear-gradient(150deg,#33271F,#231C18,#16110E)}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-src,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-src{color:#DDCBBF}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-head p,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-head p,.sf-ga .sf-cta p{color:#F0E2D8}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-card p,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-card p,.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-fact span,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-fact span{color:#ECDBD0}body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-list li span,body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-list li span{color:#F0E2D8}body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–mist .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–white .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn){color:#94371C}body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–mist .sf-list li>span,body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–white .sf-list li>span{color:#54473F}.sf-ga .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#94371C,#C8674A)}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-barrow .t,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#9FB7C1,#D3DEE2)}.sf-ga .sf-pill{background:#F1E5DA;color:#7A3322}.sf-ga .sf-btn:hover{background:#E6EEF1}.sf-ga .sf-card-img,.sf-ga .sf-tile{background-color:#7A3322}.sf-ga .sf-q p{color:#3D302A}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-kicker,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-kicker,.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-fact b,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-fact b{color:#DCE6EA}.sf-ga .sf-kicker{color:#2D4B5A}.sf-ga .sf-pf-card h3{color:#0C1F2C!important}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-btn–ghost,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-btn–ghost{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.45);background:rgba(22,17,14,.35)}body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–deep a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–ink a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#DCE6EA}.sf-ga .sf-tablewrap{color:#231C18;border-color:#E6DBD0}.sf-ga .sf-table td{color:#231C18}.sf-ga .sf-table th{background:#7A3322;color:#fff}.sf-ga .sf-table tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#FAF4EE}body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-tablewrap a,body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#94371C}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-q,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-q{background:rgba(255,255,255,.07);border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.18)}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-q p,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-q p{color:#F2E6DE}body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-pill a{color:#94371C}.sf-ga .sf-band–deep .sf-card .sf-more,.sf-ga .sf-band–ink .sf-card .sf-more{color:#E6EEF1}.sf-ga .sf-bar .sf-crumbs,.sf-ga .sf-bar .sf-crumbs span,body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-bar .sf-crumbs a{color:#FFFFFF}.sf-ga .sf-note{color:#231C18}body.sfs .sf-ga .sf-note a{color:#94371C}@media (max-width:760px){.sf-ga .sf-hero{border-bottom-right-radius:90px 48px}}
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 $79.99
Lake Chatuge 0.4 mi
Photo: Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0 
Lake Burton 14 mi
Photo: pseabolt, CC BY 3.0 
Lake Nottely 16 mi
Photo: Thomson200, CC0 1.0 
Unicoi Lake 15 mi
Photo: Thomson200, CC0 1.0
Georgia rivers
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 $79.99
Hiwassee River Fishing
Towns County, designated trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Chatuge: TVA Web Team, CC BY 2.0
Georgia rivers
The Hiwassee River: what to expect
Anglers meet the Hiwassee River, a river, in Towns County. About 20 miles of it lie in Georgia. From its midpoint, Hiawassee is roughly 1 mile away.
WRD designates about 13.2 miles as trout water. Check 1 live gauge before a trip.
20miles in Georgia
13.2trout miles
1USGS gauges
0ramps
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Trout
The Hiwassee River as a designated trout stream
13.2designated trout miles
1trout segments
Tennesseeriver basin
Trout season on the Hiwassee River never closes; the daily limit is 8 trout (brook, rainbow, brown and hybrids) statewide.
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 fishery of the Hiwassee River
Every fish listed is named for the Hiwassee River in a WRD source.
WRD Water Access Points species flags, WRD trout layer and forecasts.
Flow
USGS gauges posted along the Hiwassee River
Gauges on the Hiwassee River report every 15 minutes or so to USGS; the latest values are below.
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Hiwassee River At Riverside Dr, Nr Hiawassee, Ga | 43 cfs, 2.58 ft gage height | Nov 12 1:45 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 2:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Access
Getting on the Hiwassee River
No mapped put-in serves the Hiwassee River, so expect to walk in.
WRD Water Access Points, Georgia water trails layer, USGS gauges.
Regulations
Keeper rules Georgia sets for the Hiwassee River
| 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
Within reach of the Hiwassee River
Neighboring lakes to the Hiwassee River
- Lake Chatugeunder a mile
- Lake Burton14 miles
- Lake Trahlyta15 miles
- Unicoi Lake15 miles
Bait and tackle stops near the Hiwassee River
- Squiggly Worm Bait & Tackbait and tackle shop, Hiawassee, under a mile
- Squiggly Worm Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Young Harris, 4 miles
- Southern Highroads Outfitters Gift Co.sporting goods store, Blairsville, 12 miles
- Nottely Marine Incbait and tackle shop, Blairsville, 14 miles
- Paradise Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Blairsville, 17 miles
Georgia towns handy to the Hiwassee River
- Hiawasseeunder a mile
- Young Harris5 miles
- Blairsville12 miles
- Tate City12 miles
Streams to try near the Hiwassee River
- Hog Creek3 miles
- Bearmeat Creek3 miles
- Upper Bell Creek5 miles
- Corn Creek5 miles
Which counties share the Hiwassee River
Piscifun
Piscifun reels to rig up for the Hiwassee River
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
In pictures
Scenes from the water around Hiwassee River
Photo: Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
Photo: pseabolt, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Thomson200, CC0 1.0
Photo: Thomson200, CC0 1.0
Answers
Straight answers about the Hiwassee River
Which Georgia counties does the Hiwassee River pass through?
Check the maps of Towns County.
Will I find trout in the Hiwassee River?
WRD designates about 13.2 miles.
What height and flow is the Hiwassee River showing?
The 1 USGS gauge readings sit above.
Will I find a public ramp anywhere on the Hiwassee River?
No launch appears in the WRD layer.
Is there an exception for the Hiwassee River?
It follows the statewide table: 50 bream, 30 crappie, 10 black bass.
Is a trout license needed on the Hiwassee River?
Designated trout water needs the $10 resident trout license (nonresidents $25) on top of the Georgia fishing license ($15 resident, $50 nonresident).
Is a tackle store close to the Hiwassee River?
Squiggly Worm Bait & Tack, under a mile from the midpoint.
Which species does WRD list for the Hiwassee River?
The state ties rainbow trout to it.
Where could I stay for a weekend on the Hiwassee River?
Hiawassee sits about 1 mile from the channel.
Circle a Saturday for the Hiwassee River
The gauges and Georgia limits are on this page.