The Tellico River is a freestone river in Tennessee and North Carolina, listed as Delayed Harvest by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (official Tennessee Fishing Guide, eRegulations edition).
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow. 1 guide nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Blue Ridge & the Toccoa.
Tellico River is a freestone river in Tennessee and North Carolina. Our destination hub Blue Ridge & the Toccoa is 35 mi away in a straight line (49 by road).
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Tellico River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Tellico River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Tellico River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Tailwater trout fisheryThe lower Hiwassee River at Charleston, Tennessee (downstream of the trout tailwater). Photo: NPS National Trails Office, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Delayed HarvestThe Toccoa River just north of (downstream of) Blue Ridge Dam, Georgia. Photo: Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Apalachia ReservoirLake Jocassee from a canoe, South Carolina. Photo: TimothyJ from Atlanta, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Apalachia Reservoir.
North Carolina · about 14 mi
Tailwater trout fisheryRepresentative photo · not Ocoee RiverAbrams Creek near the trailhead, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: Scott Basford (Blinutne), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Ocoee River.
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Nottely RiverThe Chattooga River at Bull Pen Bridge, North Carolina headwaters. Photo: Dallas Epperson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Nottely River.
Georgia · about 41 mi
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Mill CreekThe Chattahoochee River at Cochran Shoals, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Photo: Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mill Creek.
Georgia · about 42 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Delayed Harvest Areas list (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (official Tennessee Fishing Guide, eRegulations edition), read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
On the Special Trout Regulations (incl. Tellico-Citico Permit Areas) list (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (official Tennessee Fishing Guide, eRegulations edition), read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
23.1 of 53.3 mi on public land
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
No shop nearby yet.
What 1 nearby guide website mention: what guides advertise, not a survey or a promise of what you will catch.
Named on 1 nearby guide website
17 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Midges (all year) · Blue-winged olive (February to March, May, October to December) · Early black stonefly (February to March, October to December) · Blue Quill (March to April) · Quill Gordon (March to April) · Black caddis (April to May) · and 11 more on the chart
Blue Ridge sits in Fannin County in the north Georgia mountains, above Blue Ridge Lake; below the lake's dam the Toccoa River flows north through McCaysville to the Tennessee line, where it becomes the Ocoee, and Noontootla Creek joins the Toccoa above the lake from the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Destination hub · 35 mi away in a straight line, 49 by road
What to bring on a guided float fishing trip: rain gear, polarized sunglasses, sun protection, a dry bag and your license. Most guides supply rods and flies. Estimated prices and where to buy.
Usually supplied by the guide; a 9′ 5–6 weight if you bring your own · Trout on most western float rivers
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Tellico River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge TELLICO RIVER AT TELLICO PLAINS, TN. Water type is our own classification.
Warning: Rising fast: be careful, conditions are changing
No water temperature here.
At TELLICO RIVER AT TELLICO PLAINS, TN (USGS 03518500) Provisional USGS data
USGS 03518500
What the agencies suggest
Stand back from the shoreline and be aware of surroundingsRhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Wading and boating should be avoided if waters are running high and muddy and the streambed is not visiblePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 7:00 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Above normal for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 8:30 PM EDT to Nov 5, 7:00 PM EST; ranging 45.5 to 446 ft³/s; latest 206 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 7:00 PM EST | 206 | 1.32 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST | 223 | 1.37 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM EST | 245 | 1.43 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM EST | 268 | 1.49 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM EST | 301 | 1.57 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM EST | 332 | 1.64 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM EST | 370 | 1.72 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM EST | 415 | 1.82 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM EST | 442 | 1.89 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM EST | 446 | 1.9 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM EST | 408 | 1.8 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM EST | 177 | 1.23 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM EST | 180 | 1.24 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM EST | 187 | 1.26 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM EST | 190 | 1.27 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM EST | 196 | 1.29 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM EST | 199 | 1.3 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM EST | 206 | 1.32 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM EST | 169 | 1.2 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM EST | 79.1 | 0.81 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM EST | 70.7 | 0.76 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM EST | 67.5 | 0.74 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM EST | 62.9 | 0.71 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM EST | 61.5 | 0.7 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM EST | 58.6 | 0.68 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM EST | 55.8 | 0.66 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM EST | 53.1 | 0.64 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM EST | 51.8 | 0.63 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM EST | 50.5 | 0.62 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM EST | 50.5 | 0.62 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM EST | 50.5 | 0.62 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM EST | 50.5 | 0.62 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM EST | 50.5 | 0.62 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM EST | 50.5 | 0.62 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM EST | 50.5 | 0.62 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM EST | 50.5 | 0.62 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM EST | 49.2 | 0.61 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM EST | 48 | 0.6 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM EST | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM EST | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM EDT | 45.5 | 0.58 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM EDT | 46.7 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 29, 9:00 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
| Oct 29, 8:30 PM EDT | 48 | 0.6 |
Normal for Nov 5: 58–155 ft³/s (middle half of 81 years of record). Now: 206 ft³/s, above normal.
Above normal for this date. 206 ft³/s is between the 75th and 90th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 81 years of record (1926–2026): 10th 38, 25th 58, median 84, 75th 155, 90th 256 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 23.3 ft³/s, highest 890 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Rising over 24 hours: discharge up 251.5%, from 58.6 to 206 ft³/s. Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
The National Weather Service has no flood-stage gauge here, so no official flood category is shown.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Tennessee rule: 68°F.
This gauge is on our page for Tellico River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Rising water. Rising over the last 24 hours (discharge up 252%). Keep your way back to the bank in sight and watch the level while you fish. “Rising” is our rule of thumb: more than 10% in discharge or 0.2 ft of gauge height in 24 hours, not a USGS or NWS class.
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 8:16 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Tailwater trout fisheryThe lower Hiwassee River at Charleston, Tennessee (downstream of the trout tailwater). Photo: NPS National Trails Office, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Delayed HarvestThe Toccoa River just north of (downstream of) Blue Ridge Dam, Georgia. Photo: Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Apalachia ReservoirLake Jocassee from a canoe, South Carolina. Photo: TimothyJ from Atlanta, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Apalachia Reservoir.
North Carolina · about 14 mi
Tailwater trout fisheryRepresentative photo · not Ocoee RiverAbrams Creek near the trailhead, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: Scott Basford (Blinutne), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Ocoee River.
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Nottely RiverThe Chattooga River at Bull Pen Bridge, North Carolina headwaters. Photo: Dallas Epperson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Nottely River.
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Mill CreekThe Chattahoochee River at Cochran Shoals, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Photo: Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mill Creek.
Tellico Plains, Tennessee
River cabins · 3.4 mi
Tellico Plains, Tennessee
Fishing lodge · 10 mi
