Dam operators post the next day's generation schedule each afternoon. Knowing when generators are running — and when they're off — is the difference between a great day on the water and a wasted drive to a blown-out river.
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The Hiwassee River tailwater in the mountains of western North Carolina is one of the region's most beloved trout fisheries. Fed by Hiwassee Dam and the lower Appalachia Dam, the river flows through a remote gorge with consistent cold water and a healthy population of wild rainbow and brown trout. The Hiwassee is known for its accessibility, scenic beauty, and reliable dry-fly hatches.
Tailwater rivers below hydroelectric dams are controlled fisheries — the river's character changes completely depending on whether the dam is generating power. When generators run, water rises, currents accelerate, and wading conditions range from difficult to dangerous. When generation stops, the river drops to a low-flow state ideal for wade fishing.
Dam operators post the next day's generation schedule each afternoon — but finding that schedule means navigating agency websites and PDFs that aren't designed for anglers. TailwaterAlerts translates that data into a clear, hourly email you can read in 30 seconds.
The TVA posts generation schedules on their website, typically between 2 and 4 PM CT for the following day. You can check the TVA schedule directly, or sign up below and TailwaterAlerts will email you a formatted, easy-to-read version the moment it posts.
The Hiwassee is influenced by two dams, and releases from either can raise the river quickly. Flows below Appalachia Dam change based on what both upstream facilities are doing. Low generation windows — typically 4 to 6 hours at a time — are ideal for wading. The schedule changes daily, and checking it the evening before is the only reliable way to plan a wading trip.
TailwaterAlerts checks the generation schedule every 5 minutes starting at 1 PM CT. The moment the schedule posts, you get an email with a color-coded hourly breakdown and the best wading window highlighted. One email per day. Free. No app required.
Your river is pre-selected below. Add others if you fish multiple tailwaters.
This river is fed by 2 dams — both are pre-selected below.
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