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Rocky Cox
From Southeastern Anglers
with a nice Hiwassee Bow.
From Southeastern Anglers
with a nice Hiwassee Bow.
Doug Moore
Casting to rising fish from the
boat on the Hiwassee.
Casting to rising fish from the
boat on the Hiwassee.
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River Information
Species: Rainbow and Brown Trout
Angler Type: Wade or Float
Access Type: National Forest and Public
General Flies: Many species of Mayflies, caddis flies, stoneflies, and midge
hatch throughout the year. One of the most sought after hatches is that of the
Isonychia Bi-Color. A large (#8 -#12) Mayfly that hatches throughout the summer
into the fall.
Suggested Gear: Rods from 3 - 8 wt with a 5 wt being the most common, in
lengths from 7 to 10 foot. The river lends itself to great dry fly, nymph, and
streamer fishing.
Access 1: Powerhouse Boating site.
GPS Coordinates:
Access 2: Towee Creek Boating site. Downstream 1 mile from the Powerhouse
Site.
GPS Coordinates:
Access 3:Reliance Train Trestle Boat Ramp downstream 6 Miles from the PH
boating site.
GPS Coordinates:
Float Times
Access 1 to Access 2: 1 to 2 can be down in as little as 30 minutes on a hard
push to 6 hours if your slow going and anchoring a lot.
Access 2 to Access 3: 1 to 3 can be done in 2.5 hours or 10 + hours if your
really fishing
Fishing and River Description: The Hiwassee is a great tailwater and
is blessed with a few characteristics that seem to plague other tailwaters. The
first characteristic of importance is that 75% of the tailwater lies in the Cherokee
National Forest and as a result, the river has incredible public access. Much of
the first 12 miles of river from the Powerhouse is easily accessible by road side
pull outs or trails.
The Second characteristic is that the river offers wade fishing opportunities even
when the TVA is generating at maximum capacity. These are located at several
spots as you move downstream toward Reliance and start right at the
Powerhouse.
Floating the river requires a couple of factors. First is flow from the Powerhouse.
Experienced oarsmen can navigate the river with one turbine running, but a solid
two turbine flow is considered prime for floating. Also, the river contains many
class I, II, and III rapids and areas downstream of Reliance should be
considered extremely technical areas to row a boat.
Typical low water lends itself to the best wading as the wide river bed becomes
a series of pools, ledges, and runs. Much like a mountain stream as you make
your way across the ledges. High water can makes most of the river a float
fishery, however, areas near the powerhouse still offer wading access.
Generally, 9 to 12 foot leaders work well between 3X and 6X, The Hiwassee
boasts an impressive hatch chart that has something hatching almost anytime
of the season.
Getting There: From the Atlanta Area: Take I-75 North to Cartersville/White
Exit 293 (U.S. 411). Go north on Hwy. 411 through Benton, Tennessee (observe
the speed limit). Approx. six miles north of Benton turn right on TN 30 East.
Follow TN 30 East for approx. 6 miles. You will then be in Reliance, TN.
From Chattanooga/Nashville/Birmingham: Take I-75 North to first Cleveland exit
(Exit 20). On bypass go 6 miles to Ocoee exit (Highway 64 East). Go east on
Hwy. 64 approx. 8 miles to Hwy. 411 North exit (Maryville Exit). Take 411 north
through Benton,Tennessee (observe the speed limit). Approx. six miles north of
Benton turn right on TN 30 East. Follow TN 30 East for approx. 6 miles. You will
then be in Reliance, TN.
From Knoxville/Lexington: Take the Athens/Decatur exit (exit 49) and turn left onto
hwy 30, travel through Athens staying on hwy 30. Travel east 8 miles to Etowah.
Turn right onto hwy 411. Travel 7 miles south on hwy 411 until you cross over the
Hiwassee River. Turn left onto hwy30 and travel east for 6 miles to Reliance.
Local Guides:
Local Fly Shops:
Popular Places to Stay:
Species: Rainbow and Brown Trout
Angler Type: Wade or Float
Access Type: National Forest and Public
General Flies: Many species of Mayflies, caddis flies, stoneflies, and midge
hatch throughout the year. One of the most sought after hatches is that of the
Isonychia Bi-Color. A large (#8 -#12) Mayfly that hatches throughout the summer
into the fall.
Suggested Gear: Rods from 3 - 8 wt with a 5 wt being the most common, in
lengths from 7 to 10 foot. The river lends itself to great dry fly, nymph, and
streamer fishing.
Access 1: Powerhouse Boating site.
GPS Coordinates:
Access 2: Towee Creek Boating site. Downstream 1 mile from the Powerhouse
Site.
GPS Coordinates:
Access 3:Reliance Train Trestle Boat Ramp downstream 6 Miles from the PH
boating site.
GPS Coordinates:
Float Times
Access 1 to Access 2: 1 to 2 can be down in as little as 30 minutes on a hard
push to 6 hours if your slow going and anchoring a lot.
Access 2 to Access 3: 1 to 3 can be done in 2.5 hours or 10 + hours if your
really fishing
Fishing and River Description: The Hiwassee is a great tailwater and
is blessed with a few characteristics that seem to plague other tailwaters. The
first characteristic of importance is that 75% of the tailwater lies in the Cherokee
National Forest and as a result, the river has incredible public access. Much of
the first 12 miles of river from the Powerhouse is easily accessible by road side
pull outs or trails.
The Second characteristic is that the river offers wade fishing opportunities even
when the TVA is generating at maximum capacity. These are located at several
spots as you move downstream toward Reliance and start right at the
Powerhouse.
Floating the river requires a couple of factors. First is flow from the Powerhouse.
Experienced oarsmen can navigate the river with one turbine running, but a solid
two turbine flow is considered prime for floating. Also, the river contains many
class I, II, and III rapids and areas downstream of Reliance should be
considered extremely technical areas to row a boat.
Typical low water lends itself to the best wading as the wide river bed becomes
a series of pools, ledges, and runs. Much like a mountain stream as you make
your way across the ledges. High water can makes most of the river a float
fishery, however, areas near the powerhouse still offer wading access.
Generally, 9 to 12 foot leaders work well between 3X and 6X, The Hiwassee
boasts an impressive hatch chart that has something hatching almost anytime
of the season.
Getting There: From the Atlanta Area: Take I-75 North to Cartersville/White
Exit 293 (U.S. 411). Go north on Hwy. 411 through Benton, Tennessee (observe
the speed limit). Approx. six miles north of Benton turn right on TN 30 East.
Follow TN 30 East for approx. 6 miles. You will then be in Reliance, TN.
From Chattanooga/Nashville/Birmingham: Take I-75 North to first Cleveland exit
(Exit 20). On bypass go 6 miles to Ocoee exit (Highway 64 East). Go east on
Hwy. 64 approx. 8 miles to Hwy. 411 North exit (Maryville Exit). Take 411 north
through Benton,Tennessee (observe the speed limit). Approx. six miles north of
Benton turn right on TN 30 East. Follow TN 30 East for approx. 6 miles. You will
then be in Reliance, TN.
From Knoxville/Lexington: Take the Athens/Decatur exit (exit 49) and turn left onto
hwy 30, travel through Athens staying on hwy 30. Travel east 8 miles to Etowah.
Turn right onto hwy 411. Travel 7 miles south on hwy 411 until you cross over the
Hiwassee River. Turn left onto hwy30 and travel east for 6 miles to Reliance.
Local Guides:
Local Fly Shops:
Popular Places to Stay:
- Got a place, email us at info@flyfishtennessee.com
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The boys from Southeastern
Anglers provided this report.
Check out their site for more
information on the Hiwassee
and other great Tennessee
Rivers.
Anglers provided this report.
Check out their site for more
information on the Hiwassee
and other great Tennessee
Rivers.
| Contributor |
| Access 1 |
| Access 2 |
| Access 3 |
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