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Hiwassee River

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Tennessee, United States

4.6·1718 catches

Top fish species at Hiwassee River

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Hiwassee River fishing reports

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

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Rainbow trout

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Spotted bass

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Black crappie

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Black crappie

length · weight

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General info

Hiwassee River is a stream located in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. It is also intersecting with Cherokee County, North Carolina and McMinn County, Tennessee. It is most popular for fishing Black crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth bass.

Location

35°14′52.2″N 84°42′54″W
Directions

Official website

www.tn.gov

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Hiwassee River?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Hiwassee River. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Hiwassee River, TN

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Tennessee can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Black crappie

Black crappie

Regulation boundaryTennessee State Waters
Bag limit15

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size10" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Aggregate limit15

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

Gigging

Harvest by gigging prohibited.

Snagging

Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

Bow Fishing

Harvest of this species by bow fishing is prohibited.

TN Hook Restriction

Anglers in Tennessee are restricted to a maximum of 3 hooks per rod, pole, or hand-held line. Single, double, or treble hooks each count as one hook. The statewide hook restriction does not apply when using a sabiki rig or piscatore rig to take shad or herring.

Required licenses
Purchase your Tennessee fishing license on the Go Outdoors Tennessee website.
Additional information
Minimum size limit is 10 inches. The aggregate bag limit (15) applies to all species of crappie combined (Black Crappie & White Crappie).Several waters have exceptions to these statewide limits. Refer to TWRA for a full list of exceptions to statewide limits.In Region 1, the aggregate bag limit is 30 and there is no minimum size limit, unless otherwise noted for specific waters.
Edibility
Excellent! Catch, Clean, Cook Black Crappie aka Speckled Perch
Synonyms
Calico bass, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, Speckled Perch
Season open: year-round
Bluegill

Bluegill

Regulation boundaryTennessee State Waters
Restrictions & requirements

Gigging

Harvest by gigging prohibited.

Snagging

Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

Bow Fishing

Harvest of this species by bow fishing is prohibited.

TN Hook Restriction

Anglers in Tennessee are restricted to a maximum of 3 hooks per rod, pole, or hand-held line. Single, double, or treble hooks each count as one hook. The statewide hook restriction does not apply when using a sabiki rig or piscatore rig to take shad or herring.

Required licenses
Purchase your Tennessee fishing license on the Go Outdoors Tennessee website.
Additional information
No minimum size limit. No bag limit.Several waters have exceptions to these statewide limits. Refer to TWRA for a full list of exceptions to statewide limits.
Edibility
Catch, Clean, Cook Bluegill
Synonyms
Lepomis macrochirus
Season open: year-round
Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass

Regulation boundaryTennessee State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit5

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

Gigging

Harvest by gigging prohibited.

Snagging

Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

Bow Fishing

Harvest of this species by bow fishing is prohibited.

TN Hook Restriction

Anglers in Tennessee are restricted to a maximum of 3 hooks per rod, pole, or hand-held line. Single, double, or treble hooks each count as one hook. The statewide hook restriction does not apply when using a sabiki rig or piscatore rig to take shad or herring.

Required licenses
Purchase your Tennessee fishing license on the Go Outdoors Tennessee website.
Additional information
No size limit. No more than 5 black bass per day in any combination of species may be taken. This aggregate limit includes Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, and Coosa Bass.Several waters have exceptions to these statewide limits. Refer to TWRA for a full list of exceptions to statewide limits.
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Micropterus nigricans
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Local laws and licenses

Tennessee fishing license

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Reviews of Hiwassee River

4.6
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8 ratings

5
4
3
2
1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

Charleston

3.7 miles away

Calhoun

4.0 miles away

Benton

6.2 miles away

Delano

8.9 miles away

Riceville

9.8 miles away

Cleveland

9.9 miles away

Wildwood Lake

13.4 miles away

Athens

15.8 miles away

Conasauga

16.8 miles away

Englewood

17.6 miles away

Decatur

19.9 miles away

Sale Creek

23.2 miles away

Collegedale

23.2 miles away

Farner

23.3 miles away

Ducktown

23.7 miles away

Dayton

23.7 miles away

Cohutta

24.6 miles away

Tellico Plains

24.9 miles away

Soddy-Daisy

25.9 miles away

Copperhill

26.0 miles away

Middle Valley

27.5 miles away

Madisonville

27.5 miles away

Sweetwater

28.1 miles away

Spring City

31.5 miles away

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FAQ about Hiwassee River fishing

📍 Where is the Hiwassee River located?
the Hiwassee River is a stream located in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. It is also intersecting with Cherokee County, North Carolina and McMinn County, Tennessee. Its coordinates are:
35°14′52.2″N 84°42′54″W
.
🎣 Where on the Hiwassee River is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Hiwassee River by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in the Hiwassee River?
The most common species in the Hiwassee River are:
📢 What are the latest Hiwassee River fishing reports?
The latest Hiwassee River fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the Hiwassee River?

Fishing in Tennessee requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term, available online or at authorized retailers.

In Tennessee, no fishing license is required for anglers under 13 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

Get license
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