January 6

Lake Hartwell water levels are back up to 657.86 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake is still clear even as some of the creeks have gotten muddy. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 57 degrees. 

The bass fishing has been pretty good on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that he continues to catch fish from 20-45 feet of water on a drop shot, spoon, jig or shakey head easy. Fish are generally still related to creek channel edges, drops and ditches. However, because of mild temperatures the fish and bait have been suspended and fairly scattered, and the expectations is that things will improve once this cold weather puts them on the bottom and groups them up tighter. 

The best stuff Brad has found is out on the main lake but you can also find fish in the creek ditches on the shallower end of the depth range. 

There has been some talk of a shallow cranking bite in the creeks which have gotten muddy, but Brad still thinks the majority of the fish are deep. 

Just a few days ago water temperatures were up to 61, and even though they have dropped a bit Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that they will have to get into the lower 50s before things with the striped bass will really change. 

Overall fish are still in the same places well up the rivers and creeks, and they are mostly set up on points and ridges with clean flat bottoms in about 40 feet of water. They remain related to the bottom and down-lines are the best way to target them. Fish are extremely bait-oriented, and again – if you don’t mark bait you aren’t going to see fish. Most of the gulls diving on the surface are still on loons. However, birds are likely to be in the area where the bait is located and so they can tip you off to where to fish. 

There’s no change with the catfish this week, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that the fish still seem to be very deep and they are not biting very well.  The only blue catfish he has seen are still out in 50-75 feet of water, and except for some smaller fish the channels seem to have moved out deep, too. At night they may move up shallower. 

A variety of cut baits are working. 

December 22

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 656.52 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is still clear. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 59 degrees.

With water temperatures surprisingly stable there’s not much change with the striped bass this week, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that most of the gulls diving on the surface are still on loons. However, birds are likely to be in the area where the bait is located and so they can tip you off to where to fish. 

Overall fish are still in the same places well up the rivers and creeks, and they will remain there as long as temperatures stay in this ideal range of about 58-61. They are mostly set up on points and ridges with clean flat bottoms in about 40 feet of water. They remain related to the bottom and down-lines are the best way to target them. Fish are extremely bait-oriented, and again – if you don’t mark bait you aren’t going to see fish. 

There is still no substantial schooling activity and the few fish breaking are usually spotted bass.

Chip notes that when there is no wind the fishing is usually a little tougher. 

It’s about the same story with the bass, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that the deep bite continues to be the best thing going. Out in 20-45 feet of water catching fish on a drop shot, spoon, jig or shakey head continues to be pretty easy. Fish are generally still related to creek channel edges, drops and ditches. Some of them are suspended but most of them are on the bottom. 

The best stuff Brad has found is out on the main lake but you can also find fish in the creek ditches on the shallower end of the depth range. 

There’s no change with the catfish this week, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that the fish still seem to be very deep. The blue catfish he has caught have been out in 50-75 feet of water, and except for some smaller fish the channels seem to have moved out deep, too. At night they may move up shallower. 

A variety of cut baits are working. 

December 15

Lake Hartwell water levels are all the way down to 656.50 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 60 degrees.

As the birds have arrived there are more clues for finding striped bass, but Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that most of the gulls diving on the surface right now are on loons. However, birds are likely to be in the area where the bait is located and so they can tip you off to where to fish. 

Overall fish are still in the same places well up the rivers and creeks, and they will remain there as long as temperatures stay in this ideal range of about 58-61. They are mostly set up on points and ridges with clean flat bottoms in about 40 feet of water. They remain related to the bottom and down-lines are the best way to target them. Fish are extremely bait-oriented, and again – if you don’t mark bait you aren’t going to see fish.  

There is still no substantial schooling activity and the few fish breaking are usually spotted bass.

Chip notes that when there is no wind the fishing is usually a little tougher. 

Speaking of bass, Guide Brad Fowler reports that with water levels continuing to drop the deep bite continues to be the best thing going, and out in 20-45 feet of water catching fish on a drop shot, spoon, jig or shakey head continues to be pretty easy.  Fish are generally still related to creek channel edges, drops and ditches. Some of them are suspended but most of them are on the bottom. 

The best stuff Brad has found is out on the main lake but you can also find fish in the creek ditches on the shallower end of the depth range. 

Captain Bill Plumley is back on the catfish again, and from what he has seen they have moved very deep. The blue catfish he has caught have been out in 50-75 feet of water, and except for some smaller fish the channels seem to have moved out deep, too. At night they may move up shallower. 

A variety of cut baits are working. 

December 2

Lake Hartwell water levels are all the way down to 657.44 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 61-63 degrees.

While water temperatures are still in a range where there should be plenty of bass eating up shallow, Guide Brad Fowler reports that they are pulling the lake down so fast that most of the fish just don’t want to be up there. In three days water levels have dropped a foot! 

Still, Brad has found very good fishing in deeper water where fish are grouped up in 30-40 feet of water with a few a bit deeper. He has found them in the main lake as well as at the mouths of several creeks, and they are not related to brush but instead holding to creek channel edges, drops and ditches. Drop shot, spoons and football jigs are all working and fish seem to be over most all the deeper structure.  

While catching numbers is easy right now, there are also some quality fish being landed. A recent tournament was won with a whopping 26 pounds and there was also another bag near 20. 

Captain Bill Plumley has also been catching plenty of spotted bass on minnows in about 40 feet, and he notes that they are getting into their winter patterns. 

While the pattern for striped bass fishing has not changed very much, Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the fishing has been excellent this week for good numbers of striper, spots and hybrids. They have also caught (and released) some quality fish in the teens. 

Fish are still in the same places well up the rivers and creeks, and they will remain there as long as temperatures stay in this ideal range of about 58-61. They have moved a bit deeper, and fish are mostly set up on points and ridges with clean flat bottoms in about 36-40 feet of water. They remain related to the bottom and down-lines are the best way to target them. Fish are extremely bait-oriented, and again – if you don’t mark bait you aren’t going to see fish.  

Again this week there was no substantial schooling action, but there are a few single fish running up to the surface.

November 19

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 658.95 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 65 degrees.

It continues to be an excellent time to catch spotted bass around brush on Clarks Hill, but Guide Brad Fowler reports that between the dropping water levels and the time of year including incoming cold fronts the shallow bite that is already dropping off should get tougher. 

Fish are starting to get in ditches and creeks as they pull water, and in 25-40 feet spoons, shakey heads and blade runners are starting to work. Of course, fish can still be caught out on main lake points and brush piles with spoons and drop shots.

In addition to artificial lures, spotted bass can also be caught on herring or long-lined minnows (and jigs) just as if you are crappie fishing. Spots are feeding very well right now.

It continues to be good striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that this week he has caught fish in all the rivers and creeks except for Six and Twenty Creek. There was very little bait in there, which is still critical. But that does not mean bait and fish could not run in there tomorrow!

Overall fish are in about the same places in the rivers and creeks as last week. They will move a little further up the rivers, but they are about as far back in the creeks as they will get until early spring. 

Fish are still set up on points and ridges with clean flat bottoms in about 30-35 feet of water. They remain related to the bottom and down-lines are the best way to target them. Fish are extremely bait-oriented, and again – if you don’t mark bait you aren’t going to see fish.  It’s a pretty straight-forward pattern, but one skill is knowing when to stay and when to move. Fish will come through in waves, and if you don’t wait long enough or wait too long you will miss opportunities. 

Again this week there was no substantial schooling action, but there are a few single fish running up to the surface.

In 15-20 feet of water Captain Bill Plumley reports that the bite for channel catfish is still pretty good with worms and cut herring, while the bigger blue catfish are generally still out in the deep timber. With the water cooling it’s a good time to pursue a flathead with live bream or perch around brush.  At night they will get as shallow as just a few feet of water, while during the day they will be in 30-50 feet. 

November 11

Lake Hartwell water levels are finally below full pool at 659.79 (full pool is 660.00) and the lower lake is in the process of turning over. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 66-67 degrees.

The bass fishing on Lake Hartwell was better than expected last weekend, and in the 2-day Phantom Invitational many anglers reported catching 50 and even 100 fish in a day. Simply getting bites is fun and easy, and you can catch fish on a drop shot, shakey head, swimbait, by cranking the bank and on a buzzbait. At the same time, catching better fish is proving more challenging.

Still, there were more heavy bags than anticipated. It’s not entirely clear how the bigger fish were coming, but Guide Brad Fowler who did not fish understands that some better ones were caught on a buzzbait. The schooling fish which are still prevalent are mainly smaller. 

Overall it’s a great time to catch spotted bass on Lake Hartwell, even though not everyone is managing to get into the better largemouth. 

There’s not a lot of change in the striped bass fishing on Hartwell, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that fish are in about the same places in the rivers and creeks as last week. They will move a little further up the rivers, but they are about as far back in the creeks as they will get until early spring. 

Fish are still set up on points and ridges with clean flat bottoms in about 28-35 feet of water. They remain related to the bottom and dow-lines are the best way to target them. Fish are extremely bait-oriented, and if you don’t mark bait you aren’t going to see fish.  

Again this week there was no substantial schooling action, but there are a few single fish running up to the surface. 

In 15-20 feet of water Captain Bill Plumley reports that the bite for channel catfish is still pretty good with worms and cut herring, while the bigger blue catfish are generally still out in the deep timber. With the water cooling it’s a good time to pursue a flathead with live bream or perch around brush.  At night they will get as shallow as just a few feet of water, while during the day they will be in 30-50 feet. 

November 4

Lake Hartwell water levels are still high but down to 660.17 (full pool is 660.00) and with what appears to be an early turnover the lake is a little stained in places. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 70 degrees.

In the last few days the schooling action for striped bass has significantly slowed down on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that fish are really starting to get into fall patterns. They will head a little further up the rivers, but they are about as far back in the creeks as they will go until early spring. Fish are setting up on points and ridges with clean flat bottoms in about 28-35 feet of water and they are related to the bottom. Fish are extremely bait-oriented, and if you don’t mark bait you aren’t going to see fish. 

Numbers of striper are a bit down right now, and the catch is mostly hybrids but with a ton of spotted bass mixed in. Some areas have just spots, and others have hybrids and spots, but it would be rare to find an area without spotted bass.

 

While the schooling activity for striper is slowing down the spotted bass are schooling like crazy, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that he is mostly seeing them chasing bait at the mouths of creeks. Long fingers off the main lake are also holding a lot of bait and fish. 

While there are probably some better fish mixed in a lot of these spotted bass are small, and to target better fish Brad advises that the turnover has started some fish migrating towards deeper water while others are moving to the bank at the mouths of creeks as well as further back.  The surface bite may not last much longer but for now buzzbaits are still working, with spinnerbaits and crankbaits also productive.   

In 15-20 feet of water Captain Bill Plumley reports that the bite for channel catfish is pretty good with worms and cut herring, while the bigger blue catfish are generally still out in the deep timber. With the water cooling it’s a good time to pursue a flathead with live bream or perch around brush.  At night they will get as shallow as just a few feet of water, while during the day they will be in 30-50 feet. 

October 21

Lake Hartwell water levels are still high but slightly down to 661.39 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake is clear while the rivers are dirty to muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from the low 70s to about 75 degrees depending on area. 

While there’s no doubt you can catch a lot of spotted bass around brush piles, Guide Brad Fowler reports that there is starting to be some really good schooling activity – particularly at the mouths of major creeks. Fish are chasing bait and starting to move into the creeks as the water temperatures drop, and the topwater schooling is getting pretty widespread across the lake. 

For right now the fish will take smaller topwater lures (they are on small bait), but as water temperatures drop and the fish follow the bait into the creeks at some point they will still be schooling but want a subsurface lure like a plain fluke, small swimbait, or an underspin and fluke. When fish are not feeding on top in the creeks but still on bait they will take down-sized spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, square-bills and other baits that imitate shad.

October 20

Lake Hartwell water levels are way above full pool at 661.71 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake is clear while the rivers are dirty to muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from the low 70s to about 76 degrees depending on area. 

It’s been a while since we had a crappie report on Lake Hartwell, but courtesy of veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt it’s a good one. This weekend Will and his tournament partner won the Crappie USA Classic’s amateur division on Lake Hartwell, with a 7-fish limit of 8.96 pounds the first day and 9.15 the second. 

Unsurprisingly they caught most of their fish on wood and brush, but it was a tale of two different areas. In the muddier river they found abundant fish around brush, standing timber, and docks with brush, but generally the fish were on the smaller side in the ½ - ¾ pound range. They did weigh one river fish that weighed 1.30. 

In contrast, there were less crappie around brush piles in the clearer waters of the main lake but they were bigger fish. In both areas they found fish in the 14-32 foot range. 

Fish Stalker jigs worked very well when they would first get to a spot, but soon the fish would get wise to the artificial bait and they would have to downsize to the smallest minnows to get bites. 

Will notes that they caught an unbelievable number of spotted bass on the small jigs while crappie fishing, and they would repeatedly watch on their electronics a school of spotted bass come up chasing their bait and push the crappie off of brush. 

The striped bass are continuing their fall progression on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that from what he is seeing they are about mid-way up both rivers right now but fairly stationary. While they are moving a lot within the area where they are holding, their progression is halted at the moment. The fish are suspended between the bait and the thermocline, generally over about 50-120 feet of water. There is some schooling activity when they will take surface lures, and free lines are also working well. At other times they will take down-lines about 25-30 feet deep. 

The schooling can be a little hit-or-miss, and two days ago there was outstanding schooling while yesterday it was rare. 

The catfish and shellcracker bite remains fair on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that both species are still in about 20 feet of water. Worms fished over sand will catch both species, while to target channels you can expand your offerings to include everything from herring to chicken livers to dip baits and look over a greater range of bottoms.   

Flatheads can also be caught fishing large live baits around trees, but how deep you need to target them depends on the time of day. At night they will get as shallow as just a few feet of water, while during the day they will be in 30-50 feet. 

When water temperatures drop a couple more degrees then it will be time to start looking for some blue cats coming out of the deep timber.

More information to follow on bass. 

October 7

Lake Hartwell water levels are up about a foot to 659.79 (full pool is 660.00) after several inches of rain with more coming, and the very backs of some creeks are getting dirty although the main lake is unlikely to be affected. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 78 degrees.

It’s been a delayed year but Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the striped bass are starting to catch up with where they are supposed to be in October. While there are still some fish at the dam (which are very skittish and extremely difficult to catch), by now most of the fish are about halfway up the Seneca and Tugaloo and just starting to move into the mouths of creeks. Early in the morning they are schooling on top and can be caught with free-lines and casting, while later in the day they move out to the edges of the channel where they can be caught on down-lines 30-40 feet down over 50-90 feet of water. 

If you want to get a lot of bass bites Guide Brad Fowler still advises fishing offshore, but as the water gets more stained and temperatures continue to drop the shallow bite is definitely getting better. Brad is seeing more bait getting back in the creeks now, and bass are already starting to run long coves/ short creeks off the main lake. Very soon bass will migrate into the creeks proper. A buzzbait is a good shallow option as is a square-billed crankbait, and now that there is more colored water a spinnerbait will get better and better.

Offshore, drop shot rigs will still catch plenty of fish and the topwater bite has also been decent with small jerkbaits, Spook Juniors or the smallest Sammys.

The catfish and shellcracker bite is still fair on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that both species are in about 20 feet of water. Worms fished over sand will catch both species, while to target channels you can expand your offerings to include everything from herring to chicken livers to dip baits and look over a greater range of bottoms.   

Flatheads can also be caught fishing large live baits around trees, but how deep you need to target them depends on the time of day. At night they will get as shallow as just a few feet of water, while during the day they will be in 30-50 feet. 

When water temperatures drop a few more degrees then it will be time to start looking for some blue cats coming out of the deep timber.

September 30

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 659.01 (full pool is 660.00) and the water is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 79 degrees.

With water temperatures having only dropped a few more degrees Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the movement of striped bass up the lake and out the river arms has essentially stalled out, and fish are still in basically the same places where they were two weeks ago. They are still in the top 25 feet of the water column over deep water in the Savannah, Seneca and Tugaloo, and they have only moved back a little ways into the creeks. There are a few deeper fish 40-50 feet down but this is not a major pattern.  

There continues to be some surface activity but the fish are still extremely boat shy, and so numbers are a little down. You can either cast artificial lures or let them swim onto relatively shallow down-lines. 

Even though the best bass fishing on Lake Hartwell is still offshore right now, Guide Brad Fowler reports that the shallow bite is also starting to improve. Fish have not really moved back into the creeks following bait yet, but bass are on the verge of making that move as bait is just beginning its migration.  For now pockets off the main lake and the mouths of creeks are both holding shallow fish. A buzzbait is a good shallow option as is a square-billed crankbait, and if you can find some colored water a spinnerbait can be good.  

Offshore drop shot rigs will still catch plenty of fish and the topwater bite has also been decent with small jerkbaits, Spook Juniors or the smallest Sammys.

The catfish and shellcracker bite is still fair on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that both species are in about 20 feet of water. Worms fished over sand will catch both species, while to target channels you can expand your offerings to include everything from herring to chicken livers to dip baits and look over a greater range of bottoms.   

Flatheads can also be caught fishing large live baits around trees, but how deep you need to target them depends on the time of day. At night they will get into just a few feet of water, while during the day they will be in 30-50 feet. 

September 16

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 659.73 (full pool is 660.00) and water temperatures are around 83. 

The striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell has gotten exciting, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that early in the morning the fish are schooling very well on top. He is finding them in the top 25 feet of the water column over deep water in the Savannah, Seneca and Tugaloo, and the fish they were on yesterday were over 153 feet of water in the Savannah! Overall the fish are just starting to inch their way back into the creeks.

The hardest part of catching the fish is staying with them, and after months of fishing pressure they are very boat shy. While you can cast artificial lures at the fish a couple of down lines and 4 or 5 free lines are often working better for guide parties, but you really have to approach them very slowly with the trolling motor or ideally let them come to you. One reason early morning is better is because fish can’t see the boat as easily.  The fish are generally on 3-4 inch bait and if you can get a bait near them they will eat it.  

The consensus is that the best bass fishing on Lake Hartwell is offshore right now, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that he hasn’t really heard of a good shallow bite. Nor is he seeing many fish shallow around docks. The BFL was won with 29 pounds over two days and most of the top bags were reportedly caught offshore. 

Drop shot rigs will catch plenty of fish, but the topwater bite has also been good even though fish are on small bait. You should downsize to small jerkbaits, Spook Juniors or the smallest Sammys,

The catfish and shellcracker bite has gotten even slower on Lake Hartwell, although Captain Bill Plumley reports that both species can still be found in 15-20 feet of water. Channel catfish can also be caught from that range out to 55 feet. 

Worms fished over sand will catch both species, while to target channels you can expand your offerings to including everything from herring to chicken livers to dip baits and look over a greater range of bottoms.   

Flatheads can also be caught fishing large live baits around trees, but how deep you need to target them depends on the time of day. At night they will get into just a few feet of water, while during the day they will be in 30-50 feet. 

September 2

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 660.48 (full pool is 660.00) and water temperatures are still in the mid-60s. 

It’s still a very good bite for hybrid bass early in the morning, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that overnight bait congregates on the bottom in 30-35 feet of water around road beds, humps and shoals and then the hybrids gorge on them in the wee hours. After that initial feeding binge the bite really slows in the morning, but you can find some hybrids and striped bass suspended 40-60 feet down near the dam on the edges of the Savannah River channel in 80-100 feet of water. The afternoon bite continues to be better than the mid-morning action. 

The bass fishing is still slow on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that the topwater bite for suspended offshore fish is off right now and dropping lake levels have also hurt the shallow bite. He is still seeing the occasional fish cruising, but there don’t seem to be as many around the banks right now. The water temperatures are still about as high as they have been all year, and it won’t be until they start to drop that the fishing really improves. 

You can still catch plenty of small spots fishing a drop shot around brush. 

The catfish and shellcracker bite now rates as fair on Hartwell, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that both species can be found in 15-20 feet of water. Channel catfish can also be caught from that range out to 55 feet. 

Worms fished over sand will catch both species, while to target channels you can expand your offerings to including everything from herring to chicken livers to dip baits and look over a greater range of bottoms.   

Flatheads can also be caught fishing large live baits around trees, but how deep you need to target them depends on the time of day. At night they will get into just a few feet of water, while during the day they will be in 30-50 feet.