It’s a fishing day

Hiwassee River fishing conditions · Tennessee

Today, 2 pm–6 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 84. Water is 65°, inside their 45–68° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 64 for rainbow trout, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 643 am
  2. 64
  3. 64
  4. 646 am
  5. 64
  6. 64
  7. 649 am
  8. 59
  9. 59
  10. 6412 pm
  11. 74
  12. 84
  13. 843 pm
  14. 84
  15. 84
  16. 746 pm
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 749 pm
  20. 64
  21. 64
  22. 64Tue
  23. 64
  24. 64
  25. 643 am
  26. 64
  27. 64
  28. 646 am
  29. 59
  30. 59
  31. 599 am
  32. 59
  33. 59
  34. 5912 pm
  35. 64
  36. 74
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
65°F

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
0 mph

From the

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:53 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
45°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Tennessee regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

84Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–6 pm

Water

65°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside rainbow trout's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

7 a day

Catch and release only today. Tennessee: 7 trout a day combined, no statewide minimum (only 2 may be lake trout). Tailwater rules: Clinch 14–20" protected; South Holston 16–22" protected; Watauga Quality Trout Area 14" and 2 a day; Hiwassee delayed harvest Oct 1–Feb 28; Caney Fork 5 a day with a 14–20" protected range and a 24" brown trout minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

Season here: Nov–Jun, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

76Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–6 pm

Water

65°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside brown trout's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

7 a day

Catch and release only today. Tennessee: 7 trout a day combined, no statewide minimum (only 2 may be lake trout). Tailwater rules: Clinch 14–20" protected; South Holston 16–22" protected; Watauga Quality Trout Area 14" and 2 a day; Hiwassee delayed harvest Oct 1–Feb 28; Caney Fork 5 a day with a 14–20" protected range and a 24" brown trout minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

Season here: Year-round, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperature65°F
  • Barometer30.42 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:53 am
  • Sunset today6:50 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 8:00 am–9:00 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:40 pm–2:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTonight 6:20 pm–7:20 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Tennessee TWRA report, Oct 11

Names brown trout, rainbow trout, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at Tennessee TWRA

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A scenic southeast-Tennessee tailwater in the Cherokee National Forest — cold releases below Apalachia Dam grow stocked and holdover rainbow and brown trout in classic pocket water. A popular wade-and-float trout river paired with whitewater paddling.

TN: Apalachia Powerhouse to the L&N railroad bridge is delayed harvest — catch and release with artificial lures Oct 1–Feb 28; Mar 1–Sep 30, 7 trout a day with only 2 browns. Flows rise quickly with TVA generation — check the release schedule.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Chickamauga Lake36 mi · TennesseeBest today 2 pm–6 pm
84Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Hiwassee River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Hiwassee River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Hiwassee River?

Hiwassee River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Hiwassee River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Hiwassee River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Hiwassee River have?

Hiwassee River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. TN: Apalachia Powerhouse to the L&N railroad bridge is delayed harvest — catch and release with artificial lures Oct 1–Feb 28; Mar 1–Sep 30, 7 trout a day with only 2 browns. Flows rise quickly with TVA generation — check the release schedule.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Hiwassee River?

state agency regulations apply at Hiwassee River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Hiwassee River tidal water?

No. Hiwassee River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.