August 25

Lake Hartwell water levels are way down to 657.69 (full pool is 660.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperature are in the mid to upper 80s.

August can go one of two ways on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that it can either be a tough month or a very good month for hybrid and striped bass on the lake. This year we have apparently gotten lucky, and the fish are eating really well. 

They have finally made a decisive move, and pretty much all the better fish are now in the main Savannah River from where the rivers fork off to the dam.  The herring have basically all moved into the same zone.  The fish are suspended in the river channel related to the bait, and early and late there is good schooling activity.  During the day most of the fish are 35-40 feet down over 80-150 feet around the channel, and the best way to catch them is with herring on weighted free-lines or down-rods.    

He’s still not targeting Hartwell crappie too much in the summer heat, but Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish are still in the creeks 10 feet down over brush in about 20-25 feet. Casting 1/16 ounce jigs in monkey milk color is still working, and minnows will also catch fish. 

Additionally, there is another group of fish that will hide in shade straight through the summer, and so don’t overlook shooting jigs under docks in as little as five feet of water in the creeks. 

The shellcracker and catfish are still in a late summer pattern, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that they have both moved deeper into 20-22 feet of water or more. Bill is targeting steep drops along the channel in the Seneca River, and worms will catch both species while dip baits are working for catfish. Blue cats are still showing up, too, and although most of the fish are smaller in the five-pound range there are also some bigger ones mixed in. If you want to target big blues now there may be some shallower. 

There are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps, they will not always be around it.

Bass report to follow.   

August 17

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 657.54 (full pool is 660.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures dropped from about 88 to 84, but have now rebounded to 85-86 and continue to climb. 

With warmer temperatures the hybrid and striped bass moved out of the rivers, and even though Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that they very briefly moved back (while we are on vacation last week) when it cooled they again left the rivers and headed south. They are settling into a late summer pattern, and while there a few fish in the last couple of miles of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers the vast majority of pods of fish are from the joinder of the rivers to the dam. Most of the fish are about 30 feet down on points, with some on the bottom and others suspended in or near the channels in 50-70 feet. 

They are catching some fish on down-lines, but even deeper fish seem to be more enthusiastic about coming up to get a herring on a free line with a couple of split shot. In general bait won’t live very well below about 25 feet, although as you get closer to the dam it can live at any depth. 

There is some very, very sporadic schooling, but usually that is spotted bass. 

Speaking of bass, tournament angler Reid McGinn (fishing out of Townville) reports that even though he has spent more time offshore conditions look better for shallow fishing right now. While there are plenty of fish on all the usual offshore points and brush piles that can be caught with the usual techniques, they are super, super spooky right now. It may be the fishing pressure and it may be the “noise” from LiveScope, but when you pull up on suspended fish they are often running to the bottom. A 500-pound boat high school tournament probably didn’t help!

In addition to flukes, topwaters and drop shots offshore, as mentioned the bank fishing may be even better. Water levels are a little down and fish are feeding on bream. They will take Senkos and more. 

He’s still spending more time going after Santee catfish than chasing Hartwell crappie, but Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish are still in the creeks 10 feet down over brush in about 20-25 feet. Casting 1/16 ounce jigs in monkey milk color is still working, and minnows will also catch fish. 

Additionally, there is another group of fish that will hide in shade straight through the summer, and so don’t overlook shooting jigs under docks in as little as five feet of water in the creeks. 

It’s definitely late summer because Captain Bill Plumley reports that shellcracker and catfish have both moved deeper, and he is now catching both species in 20-22 feet of water. Bill is targeting steep drops along the channel in the Seneca River, and worms will catch both species while dip baits are working for catfish. Another wrinkle this week is that they are catching blue catfish, which Bill has never done in these areas in the summer before. He suspects it’s related to the thermocline. Most of the fish are smaller in the five-pound range, but one day they had five that included an 11-pound fish. If you want to target big blues now there may be some shallower. 

There are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps, they will not always be around it. 

August 3

Lake Hartwell water levels were down to 658.20 overnight (full pool is 660.00) but with at least two inches of rain already today, and more coming, they have already shot up to 658.52 and should rise much more. Clarity will drop in the backs. Morning surface water temperatures have been around 86 degrees or higher but will also drop. 

This summer Guide Brad Fowler reports that he has found about as good of bass fishing action as he has ever seen around bream beds, and for a while there every time he pulled up on a particular bream bed he would catch at least two fish. Some of them were giants, up to 4-5 pounds, and he saw another one that caught have eaten a four-pounder! Everything came on Senkos fished weightless. 

While he hasn’t spent much time out there reports indicate that you can still call suspended fish up on topwater lures over brush piles and offshore waypoints. And of course there are still tons of fish that can be caught on a drop shot rig around brush piles. 

It’s been a really strong early bite for hybrid and striped bass, and Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that most days they are getting a 4-man limit by about daylight. The action starts just before dawn and stays wide open until just after sun-up. His boat is catching them along the edges of the river channel on long points, humps, and other depth changes in about 32-35 feet of water. These fish are on the bottom and they are positioning baits above it. Due to oxygen levels bait can’t live much more than about 22 feet down. 

About the only positioning change is that fish have moved a little closer to the mouths of the rivers, but they have not gotten down towards the dam yet. 

After that early bite then fish are heading into the channel itself, and they are generally suspended about 30 feet down over 50-75 feet of water. Fish should continue to make their way down the lake now that it has gotten hot. 

There is very little schooling activity, and 90% of the time if you see schooling fish they are spotted bass. 

He’s still not spending as much time crappie fishing in the summer heat, but Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish still seem to be in the creeks 10 feet down over brush in about 20-25 feet. Casting 1/16 ounce jigs in monkey milk color is still working, and minnows will also catch fish. 

Additionally, there is another group of fish that will hide in shade straight through the summer, and so don’t overlook shooting jigs under docks in as little as five feet of water in the creeks.  

They are still picking up a few shellcracker, but Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is focusing more on channel catfishin about 20 feet of water or more. With worms you will still pick up some bream, while you can catch cats on cut herring, chicken livers, dip baits and more.  Early and late they are usually shallower, while in the heat of the day they go to the deeper end of the range. 

While the blues are next to impossible to target in the deep timber, there are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps they will not always be around it. 

July 27

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 658.70 (full pool is 660.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 85 degrees or higher. 

With high water temperatures Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the hybrid and striped bass are on a strong summer pattern, and first thing his boat is catching them along the edges of the river channel on long points, humps, and other depth changes in about 32-35 feet of water. These fish are on the bottom and they are positioning baits just off it. 

After that early bite then fish are heading into the channel itself, and they are generally suspended about 30 feet down over 50-75 feet of water. The thermocline is about 30 feet deep and they are staying near it, and since bait can’t live below that they are putting most baits about 24 feet down. Most of the fish they have caught have been in clean spots without timber, although some have been over low trees. Fishing over normal timber has not produced a lot of action. 

He’s still not spending as much time crappie fishing in the summer heat, but Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish still seem to be in the creeks 10 feet down over brush in about 20 feet. Casting 1/16 ounce jigs in monkey milk color is still working, and minnows will also catch fish. 

Additionally, there is another group of fish that will hide in shade straight through the summer, and so don’t overlook shooting jigs under docks in as little as five feet of water in the creeks. 

They are still picking up a few shellcracker, but Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is focusing more on channel catfish in 12-20 feet of water. And as it heats up they are moving more into the deeper end of that range. With worms in those depths you will still pick up some bream, while you can catch cats on cut herring, chicken livers, dip baits and more.  Early and late they are usually shallower, while in the heat of the day they go to the deeper end of the range. 

While the blues are next to impossible to target in the deep timber, there are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps they will not always be around it. 

July 13

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 659.93 (full pool is 660.00) and clarity is back to normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 85 degrees. 

With high water temperatures Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the hybrid and striped bass are on a strong summer pattern, and basically they are finding fish in 50-90 feet on the edges of the river channel and sometimes in it. Most of the fish are 30 feet down, and so they are fishing down-lines about 24-26 feet deep. Sometimes (like yesterday) they are only on clean spots without timber, and then other days (like Tuesday) they move back and forth between the two. 

In general the bait can only go about 30 feet deep in the rivers and creeks because of oxygen levels, so it’s rare to find fish deeper than that. The exception is in the open water at the dam, but the bite has not been very good there. However, the creeks around the dam have fished well in the same pattern. 

It’s a pretty standard summer bass pattern on Lake Hartwell, and tournament angler Reid McGinn (coming off a few days on Hartwell) reports that he saw plenty of shallow largemouth around bream beds and bank cover. You can catch fish just by running the bank with a Pop-R, frog or buzzbait, but he also has no doubt the better numbers of fish are offshore. He caught them in 12-25 feet on brush and points, calling some up with a topwater or fluke and catching others with a drop shot rig. Offshore is a mix of spotted bass and largemouth. 

He’s not spending as much time crappie fishing in the summer heat, but Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish still seem to be in the creeks 10 feet down over brush in about 20 feet.  Casting 1/16 ounce jigs in monkey milk color is still working, and minnows will also catch fish. 

Additionally, there is another group of fish that will hide in shade straight through the summer, and so don’t overlook shooting jigs under docks in as little as five feet of water in the creeks. 

The shellcracker bite has gotten a little less consistent, and so Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is focusing more on channel catfish in 12-20 feet of water. With worms in that range you will still pick up some bream, while you can catch cats on cut herring, chicken livers, dip baits and more.  Early and late they are usually shallower, while in the heat of the day they go to the deeper end of the range. 

While the blues are next to impossible to target in the deep timber, there are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible.  At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks.  While brush helps they will not always be around it.

June 28

Lake Hartwell water levels are back down to 660.71 (full pool is 660.00) after shooting up earlier this week, and the lake is more stained than usual. Morning surface water temperatures are around 80 degrees. 

Water temperatures have finally hit 80 on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that a casualty of the summer heat is that the early morning free-line bit for hybrid and striped bass in 15-20 feet is totally done. In fact the morning bite in general has slowed down, and they are finding the best action waiting until the sun is just over the tops of the trees.

One place the fish have gone is that they have moved out to the mouths of deep coves and the gullies leading into them off the river channel in 45-70 feet. Sometimes they can catch them right on clean bottoms in 40-45 feet, but sometimes they are in the trees at about 40 feet and they have to lure them up to 28 feet (the timber line is around 30) with free-lines and down-lines. 

Another half of the fish have already moved out to the river channel in about 75-80 feet. These fish can sometimes be caught in holes between the trees, but more often recently they have to pull them up out of the trees with the same techniques. 

The crappie bite is still good on Lake Hartwell, but Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that he can already tell that it’s slowing down with the heat. Fish are still about 10 feet down over brush in 20 feet of water in the creeks, but instead of catching fast limits they are now getting 20-30 fish each trip. 

Casting 1/16 ounce jigs in monkey milk color is still working, but minnows are also good. 

Finally, don’t overlook how much crappie like shade. In the back of a creek Rodney had a friend catching fish as shallow as a foot down in five feet of water shooting jigs under docks!  

It’s still about the same pattern for the bass, but Guide Brad Fowler reports that with the upcoming full moon there should be even more fish caught around bream beds in protected coves, around docks and other areas where bream are or will be spawning.  Topwater lures, Senkos, and even crankbaits can all be effective for these fish.

The offshore bite is pretty stable, and you can catch fish on topwater lures around offshore brush, drops, humps and long points. You can also catch fish on the bottom with a jig, Carolina rig or drop shot in 20-30 feet of water.  

For a mixed bag of shellcracker and catfish, Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is still targeting 8-10 feet of water with worms in the mornings. If you are only going after eating-sized channel catfish then you can expand your depth range to 6-20 feet and your bait offering to include cut herring, chicken livers, dip baits and more.  Early and late they are usually shallower, while in the heat of the day they go to the deeper end of the range. 

While the blues are next to impossible to target in the deep timber, there are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps they will not always be around it. 

June 22

Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 661.01 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures are around 77-78 degrees. The smaller creeks are getting blown out with all this rain which is filtering into the larger creeks and the rivers, making for dingier than usual conditions. 

It’s been a tough week for hybrid and striped bass guiding on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that they have had to cancel multiple trips and then when they can fish it appears that the rain has put off the bite a little. The pattern is unchanged, but the fish just are not biting great. 

In the early morning they are still catching some fish on free-lines cast into 17-20 feet of water off the sides of main points, but the better action comes after 8:00 on down-lines. The fish are moving further out off the same points, and they have been on the bottom in about 45 feet. 

When conditions allow him to get after them Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports the crappie are still biting well, and in limited fishing time it doesn’t look like they have moved. They are all over brush in the middle of the creek runs, with some of them 8 feet down over brush in 15 feet and others 20 feet deep over brush in 30 feet. Casting 1/16 ounce jigs in monkey milk color has the best pattern, although they would certainly take minnows as well. 

While he hasn’t been able to fish this week, Guide Brad Fowler reports there is no reason to think the bass patterns have really changed.  There should still be some good catches around bream beds. These fish are being caught on topwaters, and even between moon phases there seem to be a lot of fish hanging around protected coves, docks and other areas where bream are or will be spawning.

The offshore bite should also still be good, and you can catch fish on topwater lures around offshore brush, drops, humps and long points. You can also catch fish on the bottom with a jig, Carolina rig or drop shot in these areas.

For a mixed bag of shellcracker and catfish, Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is still targeting 8-10 feet of water with worms in the mornings. If you are only going after eating-sized channel catfish then you can expand your depth range to 6-20 feet and your bait offering to include cut herring, chicken livers, dip baits and more.  Early and late they are usually shallower, while in the heat of the day they go to the deeper end of the range. 

While the blues are next to impossible to target in the deep timber, there are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps they will not always be around it.  

June 15

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 660.53 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures are around 77-78 degrees. Water clarity is high. 

It’s an absolutely outstanding crappie bite right now on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that even he is surprised at how well the fish are biting. Usually by June he is slowing down his crappie fishing, but this year the bite is only getting better and he can’t stay off the water! The fish are biting the best they have bitten all year. 

Crappie are all over brush in the middle of the creek runs, with some of them 8 feet down over brush in 15 feet and others 20 feet deep over brush in 30 feet. Casting 1/16 ounce jigs in monkey milk color has been the ticket, although they would certainly take minnows as well. 

It’s also a fantastic time for hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that they have at least four different areas all over the lake which each has a lights-out bite. The pattern has changed a little, and the early bite seems to be winding as fish are starting to feed better later in the morning. 

In the early morning they are still catching some fish on free-lines cast into 17-20 feet of water off the sides of main points, but the better action comes after 8:00 on down-lines. The fish are moving further out off the same points, and they have been on the bottom in about 45 feet. 

A top pattern for catching bass on Lake Hartwell is still fishing offshore, but Guide Brad Fowler reports that there have actually been some good catches around bream beds. These fish are being caught on topwaters, and even between moon phases right now there seem to be a lot of fish hanging around protected coves, docks and other areas where bream are or will be spawning.

The offshore bite is also still good, and you can catch fish on topwater lures around offshore brush, drops, humps and long points. You can also catch fish on the bottom with a jig, Carolina rig or drop shot in these areas.

On the catfish front, Captain Bill Plumley reports that there are still tons of channel catfish in 8-10 feet of water as well as lots of shellcracker. With worms you can catch both while dip baits, cut herring, chicken livers and more will catch channels.  

While the blues are next to impossible to target in the deep timber, there are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps they will not always be around it. 

June 7

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 660.56 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures have risen to 76-78 degrees. Water clarity is high. 

Water temperatures have warmed on Lake Hartwell, and as a result Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that hybrid and striped bass have moved a little – but they still haven’t gotten into full-blown summer patterns. In the early morning the fish are now in 17-20 feet of water off the sides of main points, and this morning they were stacked up on a long ridge where the river and creek channel intersected. After the sun gets up they are moving out further off the same points, and they are mostly sitting on the bottom in 34-38 feet. While they have still not gotten back into coves, down-rods are finally starting to out-produce free-lines in the late morning. 

There are other ways to catch bass on Lake Hartwell, but Guide Brad Fowler reports that it’s pretty clearly a numbers game where you have the most shots at targeting big fish by fishing offshore. While a lot of anglers concentrated on offshore brush in last weekend’s BFL All-American, the winning pattern was fishing drops that went from to 6-10 out to 20 feet. Perhaps the fish were there because of a late herring spawn. The winner caught more spots by the dam and more big largemouth between Andersonville Island and Green Pond.

Most of the top anglers fished moving baits like topwaters, flukes and Sebilles. 

The crappie are still in the same places this week, although Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) expects them to slide onto slightly deeper brush in the creeks as it gets warmer. For now the best numbers are 10 feet down on the top of brush in 20 feet of water, but they will soon suspend over brush in 25-30 feet. 

They are still casting jigs but minnows will work, too.

After several unsuccessful trips Captain Bill Plumley is about ready to give up on the big blue catfish, but there are still tons of channel catfish in 8-10 feet of water as well as lots of shellcracker. With worms you can catch both while dip baits, cut herring, chicken livers and more will catch channels.  

There are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps they will not always be around it. 

June 1

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 660.51 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures are down to about 72 degrees. Clarity is normal. 

Water temperatures are moving the wrong way on Lake Hartwell, and as a result Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that hybrid and striped bass have still not gotten into their early summer patterns. Instead, in the early morning they are in 10-18 feet of water off the sides of the river and creek channels. The best action is from pre-dawn to 7:30 pitching free-lines on tapering ridges, and it’s not until later in the morning that fish can be caught in the backs of coves in 25-32 feet of water. And again, free-lines are working better for these fish than down-lines. 

There are some good weights after the first day at the top of the All-American on Lake Hartwell, but Guide Brad Fowler reports that even with 18- and 19-pound bags leading overall the bass fishing is a little tough. You can see that with weights dropping below 15 pounds outside of the top 4.

Overall fish seem to be in-between stages, and the shallow bite isn’t really that good between fish wanting to move out following bait and bream not really that active with low water temperatures. But the temperatures are too low for a wide-open offshore bite. So far the best bags seem to be coming offshore fishing topwater baits and swimbaits around brush, main lake points and humps. However, fish are on very specific places and not that widespread. 

The crappie are in the exact same places again this week, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish are still stacked up on brush in all the creeks. The best numbers are 10 feet down on the top of brush in 20 feet of water. Numbers have picked up again. 

They are still casting jigs but minnows will work, too.

With water temperatures still mild Captain Bill Plumley keeps trying for big blue catfish, but the fishing is still slow and it seems most of them are hiding in the timber. But there are still tons of channel catfish in 8-10 feet of water, as well as lots of shellcracker. With worms you can catch both while dip baits, cut herring, chicken livers and more will catch channels.  

There are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps they will not always be around it. 

May 25

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 660.61 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures are about 74 degrees. Clarity is normal. 

It’s a prolonged transition period on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that hybrid and striped bass are still pretty much staging and have not yet gotten into their early summer patterns. Water temperatures should be in the upper 70s by now, and they should be catching fish on down-lines in pockets.

Instead, even though the herring spawn is pretty much over there are still a few herring up shallow early, and the fish are mostly suspended in 20-25 feet just out from the shallow areas where they have been feeding on herring. Even fish that are close to the bottom are mostly only feeding up, and free-lines have been out-fishing down-lines by a significant margin. Things are running way behind. 

The best action is still coming halfway up the rivers and then from the mouths to a little ways back in the feeder creeks. And while there are a pile of fish at the dam they aren’t eating very well yet – these fish in the open water seem more temperamental when fronts hit. 

The bass fishing has been pretty tough on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that in the recent CBC there was only one bag over 15 pounds. The water temperatures have not really gotten high enough for the offshore bite to come on or for a good bream bed bite to develop, but the herring spawn is also pretty much done.  High water also has the fish really spread out, and as a result of all this weights have been low.

One pattern has been throwing a frog around flooded bushes, and in general shallow patterns seem to be working better than anything else for decent fish. But of course, there are spots that can be caught on offshore brush piles. 

With water temperatures still mild Captain Bill Plumley spent a couple of days this week fishing for big blue catfish, but the fishing was incredibly slow and it does seem they have headed to the deep timber. Luckily there are tons of channel catfish in 8-10 feet of water, as well as lots of shellcracker. With worms you can catch both while dip baits, cut herring, chicken livers and more will catch channels.  

There are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps they will not always be around it. 

Crappie report to follow. 

May 12

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 661.39 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures are about 72 degrees. Clarity is normal. 

In addition to the herring spawn patterns, Guide Brad Fowler can confirm that there are still bass bedding – including some very good ones. This week the biggest fish he saw was over 6 pounds, and she and a smaller male fish were locked on a bed and doing their thing.

You can also target fry-guarders by going down the bank and fishing around any sort of bank cover where balls of fry might be, including trees, stumps and docks. There will also be shallow fish that are up there feeding on bream, and so with water temperatures still very mild don’t overlook fishing the banks.

Of course, at the other end of the spectrum plenty of fish have also have moved out to 20-40 feet of water where they can be caught on shakey heads, jigs, spoons and a drop shot around points, brush, and timber. With the spotted bass population on Hartwell this is pretty much a 12-month a year pattern on Hartwell now. 

May 11

Lake Hartwell water levels are still very high at 661.39 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures have shot back up to 72 degrees. Clarity is normal. 

As recently as last Saturday morning surface water temperatures were 64 degrees on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the rapid rise in temperatures has made all the difference. Herring ran back to the banks, and as a result the hybrids, striped bass, spotted bass and largemouth bass are all up there feeding on them.  It’s really just a matter of finding the right spot as far as which species you catch, and one point, saddle or shoal could have big largemouth, another could have hybrids and stripers, another could have spots, and many will have some of each.

The first hour just before and after daylight the fish are gorging in about 6-8 feet of water and it’s not rare to catch 20-25 fish. Then they will ease out to 18-22 feet, then down to 25-28 feet and then the striper and hybrids will pretty much quit. The best bite is over early, the good bite is over by 9:00 and by about 10:30 bites are hard to come by.

Pretty much any major creek or river is holding fish right now.  Chip is fishing the Seneca River and 26-Mile Creek, but he has buddies fishing down by the dam at Lightwood Log, up the Tugaloo and more. 

The crappie are in the exact same places again this week, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish are still stacked up on brush in all the creeks. The best number are over brush in 20 feet of water about 10 feet down on top of it. However, the bite has slowed down a little and they are not getting the same numbers as a couple of weeks ago. 

They are still casting jigs but minnows will work, too. 

Even as Captain Bill Plumley reports that the big blue catfish will be unfishable in deep timebr for a while, fishing in 8-10 feet of water about anywhere with any bait from cut herring to worms to chicken livers to shrimp you will catch plenty of channel catfish. Dip baits have also started working.

And while the blues may be uncatchable there are also plenty of hungry flatheads that are accessible. At night with live bream, perch or any very fresh cut bait you can catch them in 10-30 feet around points and bends back in the creeks. While brush helps they will not always be around it. 

More bass news to follow from Guide Brad Fowler.

May 4

Lake Hartwell water levels are very high at 661.61 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures have dropped all the way to 63 degrees. Clarity is normal. 

Usually by the beginning of May water temperatures are in the low 70s on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that, predictably, the hybrid and striped bass fishing has been challenging this week. The wind has hurt as much as anything, and they have basically had to seek out protected areas to fish. 

The cold front brought the herring off the banks and the fish with them, and the bait is now still in the same areas off points and saddles but in 16-18 feet. When you ease up on these areas you will see a cloud of bait staging, and they aren’t always initially marking fish in the areas where they are fishing. The fish don’t seem to care whether baits are presented on free-lines or down-rods just off the bottom, but the key depth range is about 18-25 feet. 

There is little bit of everything going on with the bass on Lake Hartwell, but Guide Brad Fowler reports that the cold, wind and high water conditions have basically slowed all the bites. In the recent BFL tournament there were some really good anglers who only had 10 or 11 pounds. 

Nonethess, if you can find the right area there are some big spots and largemouths feeding on spawning herring, and there are also still a substantial number of fish on beds. There seems to be less action out from the bank right now.

Brad expects that the cold nights will drag out the herring spawn, and when it gets warm again the bite should get really good. 

It’s basically been too windy to half-comfortably fish for crappie this week, but Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish are still stacked up on brush in the creeks. The best number are over brush in 20 feet of water about 10 feet down on top of it. They are catching everything casting jigs although they would probably eat minnows, too. 

The wind has made for super-tough fishing conditions, but Captain Bill Plumley reports that it’s apparent that the big catfish have headed back deep.  It has been a couple of weeks since he caught one over 10 pounds, and it seems that the big blues are holed up in the timber where they are virtually inaccessible.  
Luckily you can easily catch plenty of channels for supper, and fishing in 8-10 feet of water about anywhere with any bait from cut herring to worms to chicken livers to shrimp should get bites. Dip baits have also started working.

April 20

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 660.61 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures are around 67 degrees.

Most of the guides are still focused on hybrid and striped bass up the rivers and creeks on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that until water temperatures hit about 70 degrees that is unlikely to change. A few early spawners are already coming back down but not many. 

Early in the morning in some areas they are shallow in 3-8 feet of water off points where they can be caught with down lines cast out on the bottom or free lines pitched into shallow water, while in other areas they are in 10-14 feet. As the sun moves up they will pull out into 15-25 feet of water. Most of the fish will be grouped up on the bottom, and even though they can be caught on shallow down-lines free-lines are often more productive. 

While there are some herring up the rivers, the herring spawn is better out of the rivers and so the striper, hybrids and spotted bass that didn’t go way up are having a feast early off red clay points and other traditional herring spawn areas. 

To target bass with artificial lures topwaters, flukes and spinnerbaits will all work, and in addition to red clay points shoals and humps are also good.

After the early herring bite there are also a ton of fish on beds right now, and working the pockets and banks with a floating worm or shaky head is a good pattern. 

It’s just a really good time for bass fishing on Hartwell. 

Same with the crappie, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that they are killing the fish on brush in the creeks.  The best action is coming over brush in 20 feet of water fishing about 10 feet down on top of it. They are catching everything casting jigs although they would probably eat minnows, too. 

While there are also lots of fish 5 feet down over brush in about 10 feet of water, for some reason those fish will not eat. 

It’s not a pattern that generates a lot of catfish bites, but to catch a monster Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is fishing the freshest cut bait in 35-40 feet off points. This morning he was rewarded with a giant 47-pound flathead, and there have also been some very large blues feeding. 

The channel catfish bite is also on fire, and in 5-15 feet of water they are killing them with about anything you fish on the bottom including cut herring, worms, chicken livers and more. 

April 10

Lake Hartwell water levels have shot up to 661.05 (full pool is 660.00) and muddied the backs of creeks.  Morning surface water temperatures are around 66 in the larger rivers.

As expected the cold front slowed down the hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, but Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that it seems to just be a temporary blip and fish were already feeding better by this morning. They just had to work a little for them. 

The fish are still mostly up all the major creeks and rivers in a false spawn. Early in the morning in some areas they are shallow in 3-8 feet of water off points where they can be caught with down lines cast out on the bottom or free lines pitched into shallow water, while in other areas they are in 10 out to a maximum of 14 feet. As the sun moves up they will pull out into 15-25 feet of water. Most of the fish will be grouped up on the bottom, and even though they can be caught on shallow down-lines free-lines are often more productive. 

The cold snap dramatically changed the crappie bite on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that all the fish he was catching on brush scattered and ran up under docks and back into a winter pattern. Today they had to work hard to catch 27 fish, and they caught everything vertical fishing 10-12 feet down over 20-foot docks. One dock had a school of over 1000 fish on it, but they could only coax 4 into biting! The fish wouldn’t take minnows and only wanted black and chartreuse jigs. 

In a few days fish should start to get back on brush, and there should still be a few pre-spawn fish. However, Rodney thinks most of the fish are now post-spawn. 

About a week ago the herring spawn started on Lake Hartwell, but Guide Brad Fowler reports that this weekend’s weather mostly stalled it out. Drastically rising water levels may affect things going forward, but as temperatures warm the herring should start doing their thing again and anglers should again be able to catch bass around them on topwater lures.

While there are still a few bass on beds, from what Brad sees it looks like more of particularly the better fish spawned earlier this year. 

Of course, there are also spots as deep as 40 feet around points, brush, and timber that can be caught on shaky heads, jigs, spoons and a drop shot. With the spotted bass population on Hartwell, and the fact that they don’t all spawn at once, this is pretty much a 12-month a year pattern on Hartwell now. 

The crazy weather this week slowed down the catfish bite, and Captain Bill reports that he really had to work for big blues. Each day he targeted them he had just one or two big bites.     

At the same time the channel catfish are really starting to move around better, and you  can now catch them just moving around the banks on cut herring, worms, chicken liver or about anything else.