Fishing Report For Hiwassee Lake, NC

By Rick Seaman

May 4, 2025

Popular Fish Species Reports
Hiwassee Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Today's Weather & Forecast
Fishing Boat Rentals
Boat Launch Ramps
Marinas
Fishing License
Map
Contact Info

Fishing Report Hiwassee Lake, NC

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Hiwassee Lake, NC

Striped Bass

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

Hiwassee Lake holds the state record striped bass, and plenty of trophy stripers are being caught, year round. An abundance of threadfin shad and blueback herring keep these big fish growing bigger. As we approach the end of the spawn run, these schools will move out of the feeder creeks and rivers, into the main body of the lake. The lake is well over 200' deep in areas, so the water stays nice and cool. Fishing guides report long lining with blueback herring, and trolling ape the popular methods for striper fishing here. Anglers currently successful at fishing for stripers here are locating schools of bait and stripers using fish finders. Swimbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spoons, live bait and cut bait are all effective here.

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Good

This lake was home to the state records for both smallmouth and striped bass. However, the majority of anglers here are chasing and catching plenty of nice largemouth bass. A variety of lures are catching bass here. Everything from topwater to jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and worms are all productive. The majority of tournament leaders are weighing in lots of fish between 14" and 20", caught with multiple techniques. Currently a good number of bass are still in the backs of the creeks, but will move to points and structure, outside these creeks, as Summer warms the water. They will eventually concentrate on ledges, river channel edges and humps until Fall begins to cool the shallows again.

Walleye

Current Report: Fair To Good
Outlook: Good

While the glory days of walleye fishing at Hiwassee Lake have passed us by, there are still walleye to be caught here. Thanks to an on-going stocking program by the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, anglers are still catching their 4-fish limit at least 18 inches long. Spring and Fall are the best season for catching walleye. As the water started warming, anglers began finding walleye in shallow rocky areas. After spawning they move to flats, shoals and ledges off shore. Throughout Summer, early in the morning and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye here. They primarily feed on small fish, close to the bottom. Local anglers are reporting catches of nice walleye using swimbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners while trolling in recent years.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, black crappie, walleye, bluegill, white bass, yellow perch and striped bass at Hiwassee Lake in North Carolina.

Fishing Video

Hiwassee Lake is a 6,200-acre with 180 miles of shoreline. Bass, catfish, crappie, walleye, perch, sunfish and striped bass all reside in this 200 feet-deep lake. Areas of the lake are accessible for shoreline fishing.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Click here for fishing boat rentals available at this lake.

Marinas

Click here for marinas available at this lake.

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Click here for boat ramps available at this lake.

Fishing License

Click here for a North Carolina Fishing License.

Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".