Hiwassee Striper questions..

[Tight_Lines]

Has anyone heard of or caught striper up on the Hiwassee River just down stream from the power house? my friend and I were trout fishing up there yesterday and during a lunch break was told that Stripers are caught up there in deep pools on rainbow trout in june and July. does anyone have anymore info regarding this?
thanks in advance!

 

[reliable]

I have heard same thing and seen some pics of big stripe caught in those pools. Caught some smaller stripe on jointed rapala with rainbow pattern...not sure of legalities of catching small trout to use as bait...

 

[SpurHunter]

Live trout either purchased, or caught from state waters are completely legal to use for bait. If you have over the creel limit, you better have your receipt from the hatchery you purchased them from, (they always supply one).
They absolutely go that far, and further, but the issue is landing one without a boat. They run super hard, and you have current to deal with. 9/10 hooked are never landed up there. If you dont have a vessel of some kind to fish out of, expect to be heartbroken more than once.

 

[ranger mike]

Any of you guys know or recomend a striper guide for wattsbar or chick. Have a friends son coming in from Chicago and he would like to take him fishing with a good guide. Thanks

 

[heath j]

I've tried for years to catch one up there with zero success. Seen some pictures over the years but few and far between. And guide http://www.tennesseestriperfishinguide.com/ hands down.

 

[Tight_Lines]

Thanks for all info. Once weather warms up and also June and July months i am wanting to try my hand at striper fishing there. i have been trout fishing on that river with a ton of success so finding "striper bait" is not an issue. I was thinking of taking my cat fish rod and rig up there which i have 30lb spider wire on and try my luck there once temperatures warm up! I know of at least two large pools on that river and one is very accessible from the road during full generation. again, thanks for all info and good fishing to all!!

 

[Tenncrapie]

Best Striper guide on the Hiwassee is Skip Waybrant 423-284-5897 Tell him Chris James sent you. I would book early. He also does trout with drift boat. great trip.

 

[wormman]

About ten years ago I was trout fishing below the picnic area on the Hiwassee using spinning tackle and night crawlers. After a few mins I had a bite and reeled in a four inch creek chub minnow. Thinking I might catch a large trout or smallmouth I hooked him thru the lips and tossed him out. On my second cast I got a hard strike and fed some line out to let him take the bait. After about twenty mins and four long runs I could see silver flashing deep in the pool and I just new I had the world record Rainbow trout on my line { six lb test and five ft. ultra lite rod}.After about ten more mins my fishing partner came down stream and help me land the fish. Not a Rainbow or even a smallmouth but a twelve lb stripper. At the time I was disappointed it wasn't a trout but after looking back a few years I guess it was a pretty good catch on a ultra lite rod and six lb test. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[CRUSH3R]

I've only heard tales. I've wanted to try it during the summer months. I have been above the powerhouse and caught some awesome smallmouth. Very rugged terrain though. It is pretty dangerous.

 

[porthos33]

Cody catches 50+ lbers up there on the trout. My other buddy uses a sit on top kayak or canoe to float down and has caught them over 40lbs on fake baits

 

[churly]

We used to catch them around the 411 bridge on jerk baits and swim baits. If you see rainbows flying out of the water, that's whats chasing them.