Hiwassee Lake Fishing
Cherokee County, NCWRC District 9, 5,870 acres.
- 3launches
- 5,870acres
- 46attractors
Photo of Lake Santeetlah: John Matzko, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hiwassee Lake, sized up
The lake named Hiwassee Lake lies in Cherokee County and belongs to Commission District 9. Federal dam data count 5,870 acres of water. Hiwassee Dam Dam on the Hiwassee River holds it back, finished in 1940. Murphy is the nearest town on the Census list, roughly 6 miles off.
Expect striped bass, walleye and smallmouth bass, going by NCWRC records. The access list shows 3 mapped launches, 3 of them Commission sites. The 2026 NCWRC stocking list sets 30,000 1-2 in walleye and 6,000 1-2 in striped bass for it. The Commission has placed 46 fish attractors, 0 of them buoyed. The access areas belong to US Forest Service.
Putting in on Hiwassee Lake
- Grape Creek1 lane, 35 trailer spaces, US Forest Service
- Hanging Dog2 lanes, 44 trailer spaces, restrooms, 1 dock, US Forest Service
- Ramsey Bluff2 lanes, 20 trailer spaces, US Forest Service
Shore fishing sites on Hiwassee Lake
- Hanging Dog1 pier, owner US Forest Service, open
Launches within a drive of Hiwassee Lake
- ApalachiaApalachia Lake, 4 miles northwest
- Little RangerNottley River, 6 miles south
- Mission TrailraceHiwassee River, 12 miles east
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Hiwassee Lake species
NCWRC sources that name Hiwassee Lake give this species list. stocked: 2; state record: 1.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
Fish the Commission adds to Hiwassee Lake
| Species | Size | Number | Program | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 1-2" | 30,000 | MGT | Entire Reservoir: Stock from the TVA BAA in Murphy |
| Striped Bass | 1-2" | 6,000 | MGT | Entire Reservoir: Stock from the TVA BAA in Murphy |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater stocking list and the live trout stocking report. North Carolina stocking.
NCWRC limits for Hiwassee Lake
Only statewide inland limits apply on Hiwassee Lake.
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | 20 a day | 8 in minimum | No closed season |
| Sunfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Striped and Bodie bass | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| White bass | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Walleye | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Blue, channel and flathead catfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Trout (undesignated waters) | 7 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
The I-95 and I-77 lines decide part of the table for Hiwassee Lake.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
North Carolina records from Hiwassee Lake
| Species | Weight | Date | Bait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | 66 lbs | 3/31/2012 | Black Zoom Trick Worm |
| Smallmouth Bass | 10 lbs, 2 oz | 6/1/1951 | Unknown |
NCWRC freshwater state records, angler names left out. All records.
Hiwassee Lake beside nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiwassee Lake | 5,870 | 3 | yes | |
| Lake Cherokee | 4 miles southwest | 50 | 0 | |
| Apalachia Lake | 7 miles northwest | 1,100 | 1 | yes |
| Chatuge Lake | 20 miles southeast | 6,700 | 3 | |
| Lake Santeetlah | 22 miles northeast | 2,884 | 5 | |
| Nantahala Lake | 26 miles east | 1,605 | 3 | yes |
Just around Hiwassee Lake
Nearby impoundments to Hiwassee Lake
- Lake Cherokee4 miles southwest
- Apalachia Lake7 miles northwest
- Chatuge Lake20 miles southeast
- Lake Santeetlah22 miles northeast
- Nantahala Lake26 miles east
Bait counters nearest Hiwassee Lake
- Dukes Hideaway Marinamarina, Murphy, 1 mile
- Duke's Hideaway Marinamarina, Murphy, 1 mile
- Shooks Marinamarina, Murphy, 3 miles
- Bear Paw Marinamarina, Cherokee, 4 miles
- Harbor Cove Marinamarina, Murphy, 4 miles
- Mountain View Marinamarina, Murphy, 4 miles
Towns encircling Hiwassee Lake
- Murphy6 miles
- Andrews18 miles
- Hayesville18 miles
Counties that share Hiwassee Lake
- Cherokee Countyseat: Murphy
Four Piscifun picks
.jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Before a trip to Hiwassee Lake
How do I find Hiwassee Lake on a map?
The lake point falls in Cherokee County, District 9, about 6 miles from Murphy.
How large a water is Hiwassee Lake?
5,870 acres, per the NID.
Which access area serves Hiwassee Lake?
3 launches on file, including Ramsey Bluff.
Does Hiwassee Lake hold bass?
striped bass, walleye and smallmouth bass, from NCWRC sources.
Does NCWRC stock Hiwassee Lake?
NCWRC requested 30,000 1-2 in walleye and 6,000 1-2 in striped bass for 2026.
Are the statewide NCWRC limits in force on Hiwassee Lake?
The statewide table covers it.
Which North Carolina license do I need for Hiwassee Lake?
Inland license from 16: $32 resident.
Where can I check the level of Hiwassee Lake?
Ask the dam operator; no feed is public.
Who sells bait close to Hiwassee Lake?
Dukes Hideaway Marina, about 1 mile away.
Pack the truck for Hiwassee Lake
License costs and limits are one click away.