October 16

Lake Hartwell water levels are slightly down to 658.88 (full pool is 660.00) and water conditions (which never got that dirty after the storm) have significantly cleared. Morning surface water temperatures are still in the mid-70s. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing has picked up again on Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that most days the fish are schooling again. They are still in the main Savannah River channel as well as in the first 7-8 miles of both the Tugaloo and Seneca, and when they are on top they are very easy to locate. 

Fishing is a little trickier when they aren’t busting the surface, and on those days you have to look at a lot of places but they are still very catchable. Fish can be found in 35-45 feet of water on the bottom around ridges and points, although there are other times when they are suspended at that depth over 80-120 feet of water. Then other time they will push bait onto shoals in 20-25 feet – although then they are usually feeding on top.

When fish are schooling they will eat topwater lures, shallowly-retrieved swimbaits, and free-lines.  When fish are not schooling they will usually take down-lines.  

Captain Chip doesn’t expect the cold front to change much except to possibly improve the bite. If there is a hard northeast wind it could slow the fishing for a day or two, but on the back-end as temperatures get into the low 70s things will still be better than before.

This week we welcome Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) as a black basscontributing expert, and Scott tells us that right now the fishing is pretty outstanding. First thing you can run the creek banks with a buzzbait or Berkley Choppo and catch fish, but then once the sun comes up it’s as simple as putting on your favorite topwater lure and looking out for schooling activity. Fish are coming up over cane, brush, and about any structure you might have marked like crazy, and you just have to keep your eyes peeled. On a day when Scott wasn’t fishing and just making a lap in his pontoon boat he saw over 20 groups of fish come up! Fish are in varied sizes, and if you get into small fish just keep moving. 

But Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that the best thing going on Lake Hartwell right now may be the crappie fishing, and he says that right now the fishing is on fire over shallow brush in the creeks. The key depth range is 10-15 feet, and Captain Rodney says this is a typical fall occurrence for the fish to turn on like this as the water cools. Both minnows and jigs will catch fish. 

No new catfish and shellcracker news this week from Captain Bill Plumley, but at last report he was finding the fish deeper in about 30 feet.  

October 9

Lake Hartwell water levels are slightly down to 658.99 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake is clear while you can find some stained water way up the rivers and creeks. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake are 77 at daylight and more like 74 in the backs of the rivers. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing has been pretty good on Hartwell, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that there are days when the fish just aren’t schooling or biting very well.  In general one day they will school sporadically, another day they will school very well, but then there are occasional days like today where they just will not bite.  But overall they are catching about a dozen hybrids and stripers and a similar number of spotted bass each day. 

The fish are still in the main Savannah River channel as well as in the first 7-8 miles of both the Tugaloo and Seneca. Captain Chip has looked further up the rivers but for now they are just not there. 

When fish are schooling they will eat topwater lures, shallowly-retrieved swimbaits, and free-lines.  When fish are not schooling then they are mostly holding in 35-45 feet of water around ridges near the river channel sometimes with and sometimes without trees, or points that reach the same depth. They will usually take down-lines.  

On days like today where they eventually have to move off the striped fish, and the spots aren’t schooling either, then the best concentrations of spotted bass are usually on rocky points in about 25 feet of water. 

Again this week Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) has been too busy to do much crappie fishing as he cuts trees, but he is still hearing good reports on brush in about 20 feet of water in the middle to back of creek runs. They are suspended about 12 feet down. But as the lake filled back up they have also loaded up on deeper docks in about 20 feet, and Captain Rodney says a reliable source told him he caught a limit shooting docks in about 20 feet of water with jigs. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker bite has slowed down a little, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that is normal for some reason when the water comes up very fast on Hartwell. Counterintuitively he is also having to fish deeper to catch them, and everything this week has come in about 30 feet of water. Worms will work for both species but dip baits have been better for catfish. 

October 2

Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 659.37 (full pool is 660.00) and water conditions are stained in many areas.  

Of all the lakes in South Carolina Hartwell experienced some of the most rapidly rising water levels surrounding Helene, and in less than 24 hours the lake shot up almost four feet. All told the lake is up about six and a half feet from before the storm.

While none of our guide captains have been out on the lake so far this week, and with so many trees down access is difficult, one point of interest is that driving around the region the lake is still surprisingly clear. Areas that can get muddy aren’t, and at worst it is stained in places right now. 

With a major tournament cancelled, and the region trying to regain its footing, fishing is not most people’s primary concern, but we will provide updates as soon as we have them. 

September 26

Lake Hartwell water levels are up approaching a foot in the last 12 hours to 653.87 (full pool is 660.00) and will continue to shoot up after nearly four inches of rain already.   Morning surface water temperatures were about 78 degrees before the storm.

The hybrid and striped bass fishing has been really good on Hartwell, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) points out that with this amount of rain coming who knows what it will look like on the back side. The biggest change this week has been that they are catching more and more fish on artificials, and there is still schooling activity all over the main Savannah River channel as well as in the first 5-6 miles of both the Tugaloo and Seneca. When fish are schooling they will eat topwater lures, shallow swimbaits, and free-lines, and even though they can be a bit boat-shy there is a lot of action. Usually the schooling starts 20 or 30 minutes after daylight and lasts off and on until mid-morning, but then it starts again a few hours before dark. 

When fish are not schooling then they are mostly holding in 40-50 feet of water around ridges near the river channel sometimes with and sometimes without trees, or points that reach the same depth. They will take down-lines.  

It’s still a really good suspended bite for bass on Hartwell, and Guide Jason Burroughs with Jason Burroughs Guide Service (864-554-1171) reports that even though there are probably some wolf packs around the bank the offshore bite is good enough that he wouldn’t think about doing anything else. It’s been taking about 20 pounds to win recent tournaments.

Fish are around brush and cane near points and drop-offs in 15-25 feet of water, mostly on the main lake. They will take topwater lures, flukes and swimbaits. Again you can pick up some fish on the bottom, but the better fish are up in the water column. 

While there are certainly other places you can look for crappie (like deep docks, bridges and standing timber), Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that crappie are loaded on brush in about 20 feet of water in the middle to back of creek runs. Fish are suspended about 12 feet deep over brush, and they are taking both minnows and jigs. Considering how many they are catching the even more impressive thing is how many are down there, and they are seeing an absolute ton of fish but the bite can be a little finicky. They are having to keep moving, and if all the fish they are seeing were hitting they would limit out in minutes!

The channel catfish and shellcracker bite continues to be very good, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that the only change this week is that the fish have moved shallower into 8-10 feet of water. The catfish are coming almost exclusively on dip bait, while the shellcracker are eating worms. While Captain Bill usually targets sandy bottoms, right now he is finding the best action at the intersection of sand and red clay. 

September 19

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 653.76 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 76 degrees.

The hybrid and striped bass fishing has picked up on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that right now there is schooling activity all over the main Savannah River channel as well as in the first 5-6 miles of both the Tugaloo and Seneca.  When fish are schooling they will eat topwater lures, shallow swimbaits, and free-lines, and even though they can be a bit boat-shy there is a lot of action. Usually the schooling starts 20 or 30 minutes after daylight and lasts off and on until mid-morning, but then it starts again a few hours before dark. 

When fish are not schooling then they are mostly holding in 40-50 feet of water around ridges near the river channel sometimes with and sometimes without trees, or points that reach the same depth. They will take down-lines.  

It’s still a really good suspended bite for bass on Hartwell, and Guide Jason Burroughs with Jason Burroughs Guide Service (864-554-1171) reports that even though there are probably some wolf packs around the bank the offshore bite is good enough that he wouldn’t think about doing anything else. It’s been taking about 20 pounds to win recent tournaments.

Fish are around brush and cane near points and drop-offs in 15-25 feet of water, mostly on the main lake. They will take topwater lures, flukes and swimbaits. Again you can pick up some fish on the bottom, but the better fish are up in the water column. 

While there are still plenty of crappie in the deep timber or 20- plus foot brush on Lake Hartwell, Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that as the temperatures are cooling fish are also moving onto shallower brush in the 12-15 foot range back in the creeks. The bite has also turned on, and there are some really good catches right now. Both minnows and jigs will work. 

The cooler weather has also moved the channel catfish and shellcracker shallower, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is now catching fish in about 17-18 feet of water. The catfish are coming almost exclusively on dip bait, while the shellcracker are eating worms. While Captain Bill usually targets sandy bottoms, right now he is finding the best action at the intersection of sand and red clay. 

September 4

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 654.45 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are still around 83 degrees.

It’s still tough sledding with the hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that fish continue to not bite well. His last trip out they caught 7 hybrids and striper and 3 spotted bass, and that was it! Fish are in the same areas and they are still marking a ton of fish, mostly in the Savannah River and at the mouths of creeks that feed into it. When you get up the creeks it’s pretty much only small hybrids. Most of the fish are holding over deep water (yesterday they were in 115 feet) 40-50 feet down when they are not eating and about 15 feet down when they are eating. 

Captain Chip advises that before long fish should start schooling and the bite should get much better. 

The crappie are doing several things right now on Hartwell, but Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that they are all a little finicky. Because of that minnows seem to be out-fishing jigs right now. 

One group of fish is in 40-50 feet of water around standing timber, another group of fish is around brush in the creeks in about 20 feet, and then there are also plenty of fish about 10 feet down around docks in 20-30 feet. The fall bite should improve once water temperatures drop a few degrees. 

At the same time the cooler weather has actually hurt the channel catfish and shellcracker bite, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that after the front came through he had to really down-size his baits just to get bites. He is still fishing in 30-32 feet, and they are getting a good mix of both species fishing worms over sandy bottoms with cats also eating dip baits. 

Still no bites from big catfish in 70-90 feet. 

Finally, on the bass front Guide Jason Burroughs with Jason Burroughs Guide Service (864-554-1171) reports that as the weather cools it should bring the baitfish higher in the water column, and he is looking for schooling action to take off any time now.  They are already seeing decent numbers of fish schooling in the channels over 60 plus feet of water. 

While there is still a decent shallow buzzbait bite around bream, the majority of the better fish continue to be suspended in 15-25 feet of water around points and cane on the main lake and sometimes at the front of major creeks. The fish will take topwater lures and fluke-style baits like the Creek Shad. While you could drop shot in these areas, the better fish are higher up in the water column. 

August 28

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 655.07 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the big water. Morning surface water temperatures are around 83 degrees.

It’s not good news with the hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that the patterns are pretty similar but fish have gotten into a late summer lull. They can mark plenty of fish, and see a bit of schooling early, but the numbers are way down. 

Pretty much all of the fish are in the Savannah River and at the mouths of creeks that feed into it, and when you get up the creeks it’s pretty much only small hybrids. Most of the fish are holding over deep water in 40-50 feet when they are not eating and about 15 feet down when they are eating. Captain Chip has also seen some in around 80 feet on the bottom but they will not eat.

The catch is very heavy on hybrids right now. 

The crappie have also slowed down this week, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that while you can still mark a ton of fish stacked up on brush in about 20 feet it’s very hard to get them to bite. They are very sluggish and basically don’t want to eat right now. 

It’s a different story with the channel catfish and shellcracker, although Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is having to fish deeper in 30-32 feet to get bites. They are getting a good mix of both species fishing worms over sandy bottoms, and cats are eating dip baits. 

While he has tried a couple of times Captain Bill is getting no bites from big catfish in 70-90 feet. 

Finally, on the bass front Guide Jason Burroughs with Jason Burroughs Guide Service reports that the biggest change this week is that he is seeing a few more fish around bream up shallow. These fish will take a buzzbait. 

Otherwise, the majority of the better fish are suspended in 15-25 feet of water around points and cane on the main lake and sometimes at the front of major creeks. He wouldn’t advise going very far back into the creeks. The fish will take topwater lures and fluke-style baits like the Creek Shad. While you could drop shot in these areas, it appears that mostly smaller fish are on the bottom.

There have also been some fish schooling over the channel in 60-70 feet that will take the same baits.

August 16

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 655.72 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the big water. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. 

Finally, on the bass front Guide Jason Burroughs with Jason Burroughs Guide Service reports that from what he is seeing the majority of the better fish are suspended in 15-25 feet of water around points and cane on the main lake and sometimes at the front of major creeks. He wouldn’t advise going very far back into the creeks. The fish will take topwater lures and fluke-style baits like the Creek Shad. While you could drop shot in these areas, it appears that mostly smaller fish are on the bottom.

There have also been some fish schooling over the channel in 60-70 feet that will take the same baits.

Finally, while Jason has been looking for a shallow bite, he’s not finding much of one right now. 

August 13

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 656.06 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the big water. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. 

The hybrid and striped bass have gotten even further into late summer positions, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that by now the vast majority of the fish are from the river junction to the dam. They are scattered from the mouths of creeks that feed into the lower lake like Sadler’s, Lightwood Log, Powderbag and Little Powderbag to about a mile back. 

But while the fish are exactly where they are expected to be, since the storm the pre-dawn bite that usually lasts through August has almost totally disappeared. Previously they were catching 15-35 fish this way, but now they are lucky to get a couple.
Instead it has transition to a more sluggish morning bite, and basically they are idling over 70-170 feet of water and finding fish 30-50 feet down. The bulk of the fish are in about 100-120 feet, and they are fishing down-rods 35-40 feet deep and pitching free-lines to pick them off. Sometimes the fish are in open water, and sometimes they are in the trees but will come to the top to eat. Flats just off the river channel are productive. 

Overall it’s a steady but not hot bite, but they are catching good-sized fish in consistent numbers. 

There’s no change this week with the crappie patterns, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that there are still crappie around standing timber in 30-50 feet of water on the main lake. There is also another group of fish on creek brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. It may be that the bigger fish are on the main lake, but there are still plenty of good-sized eating fish on creek brush. 

Both minnows and jigs will work, although we are in the period when sometimes the fish will look at a bait but not commit. Water temperatures are still very warm. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker bite has picked up, although Captain Bill Plumley reports that the catch has shifted heavily towards cats in the summer heat. But he is also using more dip baits because the cats are feeding better, which further tilts the ratio. The best action is coming in about 25 feet over sandy bottoms, with dip baits catching catfish and worms catching both species. 

While Captain Bill isn’t targeting them it can also be a good time for flatheads, particularly early, late and at night with live bait around brush or timber. 

More to follow. 

August 1

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 657.23 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the big water. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80s. 

The hybrid and striped bass have finally made a late summer move, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that by now 80% or more of the fish are in the Savannah River from the dam to the intersection of the rivers. The last couple of miles of the rivers still have some fish, but numbers are dropping.  The bulk of the fish are in deep coves and creek channels that come into the Savannah, and around daylight they are in 30-35 feet on the bottom.  After the sun comes up one group of fish stays in the same areas but moves to clean bottoms in about 45-50 feet, while another suspends over deep trees in 60-120 feet. There’s no choice but to fish for them about 28-30 feet deep because of where the trees top out.

Except for some fish over trees that can be caught on free-lines, about everything is on down rods right now. 

There are still crappie around standing timber in 30-50 feet of water on the main lake, but Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that there are also still fish on some of his creek brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. It may be that the bigger fish are on the main lake, but there are still plenty of good-sized eating fish on creek brush. 

Both minnows and jigs will work, although we are in the period when sometimes the fish will look at a bait but not commit. The heat certainly isn’t making them more aggressive. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker have gone deeper in the heat and the bite has slowed, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that fishing out to about 25 feet he has noticed a clear decline in the bite. Dip baits are working the best for channels while shellcracker want worms. 

While Captain Bill hasn’t targeted them it can also be a good time for flatheads, particularly early, late and at night with live bait around brush or timber. 

Finally, on the bass front, Guide Brad Fowler reports that the fishing has dropped off pretty significantly. He still isn’t seeing much shallow, but the offshore topwater bite has now declined. Unfortunately it seems to mostly be a grind right now fishing drop shots around deep points with brush. 

There is some very isolated schooling action and so it’s worth having a topwater lure tied on. 

July 17

Lake Hartwell water levels are well down to 657.32 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is very high. Morning surface water temperatures were 89 on the big water this morning. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell remains pretty outstanding, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that yesterday morning they had 42 hybrids and striper fishing between 5:40 and 7:00!  It’s not always that good but it’s not often far off, and fish are basically in the same areas as last week. But with this heat they may head south to the Savannah before long. 

For now they are fishing deeper water in the rivers, and around daylight the bait and fish are over humps in 30-35 feet of water with down-rods. As fish get deeper they are pulling out to 45-60 feet of water along the edges of the river channel where they are suspending 25-40 feet down. However, the sweet spot for putting baits is about 18-22 feet down and if you put them more than about 24 feet deep they will die quickly. 

While there are still crappie around standing timber in 30-50 feet of water on the main lake at Lake Hartwell, Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that he was pleasantly surprised to find fish on some of his creek brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. He checked about 10 piles and only found them on three, but they were pretty stacked up once he found them. Captain Rodney didn’t even have minnows with him and everything came on jigs. 

For the timber fish you can sit on top of them with minnows or jigs and fish vertically. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker have gone deeper in the heat, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that in 22-23 feet of water he is finding a good bite for cats. The shellcracker have gotten slower, but he’s also spending more time with dip baits (that the catfish will eat) than worms (which both species will eat).

While Captain Bill hasn’t targeted them it can also be a good time for flatheads, particularly early, late and at night with live bait around brush or timber. 

Finally, on the bass front, Guide Brad Fowler reports that he is still hardly seeing any fish around the banks. The best pattern is an offshore topwater bite, with fish being called up from 15-30 feet of water off long points and humps. The new electronics are also allowing anglers to target fish that are basically roaming in super deep water with topwater lures. Unsurprising with fish being caught on the surface, especially early there has been some isolated schooling action. 

The other pattern is the typical offshore drop shot pattern around deep points with brush. 

July 10

Lake Hartwell water levels are well down to 657.99 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is very high. Morning surface water temperatures were 87 on the big water this morning. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell remains pretty outstanding, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that most mornings (like today) they have their limit within a few hours. They are fishing deeper water in the rivers, and around daylight the bait and fish are over humps in 30-35 feet of water. This has been exclusively a down-rod bite, but as fish get deeper they are pulling out to 50-80 feet of water along the edges of the river channel where they are suspending 30-40 feet down. Today they weren’t taking down-rods as well after the early bite, and eventually they switched all their lines over to free-lines after discovering that was what the fish wanted and filled out the limit.  Counterintuitively, as the fish got over deeper water they started to want to come up to 10-15 feet below the surface to eat!

In part for protection from the wind Captain Chip has mainly been fishing the lower Seneca and Tugaloo, but the same pattern repeats itself in the main Savannah River except that fish are more likely to also relate to the mouths of coves in addition to humps and the channel. Eventually most of the fish will move that way.  

They are also picking up some bass fishing for striper deep, including this angler’s personal best at 7.12 pounds. 

That’s entirely consistent with the report from Guide Brad Fowler, who advises that he is hardly seeing any fish cruising around the banks now – especially as they have pulled the lake and water levels have dropped. The best pattern is an offshore topwater bite, with fish being called up from 15-30 feet of water off long points and humps. The new electronics are also allowing anglers to target fish that are basically roaming in super deep water with topwater lures. Unsurprising with fish being caught on the surface, especially early there has been some isolated schooling action. 

The other pattern is the typical offshore drop shot pattern around deep points with brush. 

The crappie have finally made a big move on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that the best concentrations are now 30-50 feet down over brush and standing timber. The best areas are in deep water in the creeks and minnows are now out-fishing jigs. 

The channel catfish and shellcracker are still pretty deep, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that in 18-20 feet of water he is finding a good bite for both species. He is targeting sandy areas and catching both species on worms and channels on dip baits. However, the bite is much faster for channels with dip (stink) baits both because they seem to find it more easily and also prefer it. 

While Captain Bill hasn’t targeted them it can also be a good time for flatheads, particularly early, late and at night with live bait around brush or timber.