Fishery in Tennessee
By Mark D. Williams
Location: Southeast Tennessee.
Section: Powerhouse at Appalachia, downstream eight miles from US 411. The Hiwassee offers a total of 19 miles from the powerhouse.
Maps: USGS Oswald Bald, McFarland, Farner.
Type of Stream: Tailwater.
Best seasons to fish: Year-round.
Species to be found: The river is heavily stocked each year but has many holdovers which survive each year. Anglers can fish for stocked rainbow, brown, and some brook trout.
Average sizes: 9-14 inches. Trout are regularly caught weighing several pounds, and trophy trout run 6-12 pounds.
Regulations: General Tennessee regulations apply except for the 3-mile trophy trout section from 2.5 miles below the powerhouse near the Big Bend Recreation Area downstream to the town of Reliance. Trophy trout regulations require artificial lures and flies, and a daily 2-fish creel limit of 14-inch minimum length.
Well-known areas and places to fish along the river: The trophy trout, no-kill zone holds big browns in the winter when large numbers of shad come through the generators. In the summer during low flow and higher temperatures, fishing can be productive in the deeper pools of the lower region. Anglers will find hard-fighting rainbows in the riffles and rapids, and heavy browns in the pools and shoals.
Recommended Equipment
Light, long tippets are often needed when the river is low and flat. In those cases, light tackle like a 3- or 4-weight rod is preferable. When the river runs high and fast, tippets can be strengthened and shortened, and rod weights can go to a 5 or 6 weight. An 8-1/2 to 9-foot rod is best for flyfishing.