August 27
Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 658.76 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake remains clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 80 degrees.
The black bass fishing is getting better every day on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that he is seeing more fish breaking the surface but it’s not really enough yet to describe it as “schooling” activity. However, they are having a lot of success calling fish up with topwater lures over main lake humps in about 20 feet of water.
A few fish are starting to get creek-related, but overall water temperatures are still too hot. However, by next week he expects to see a big shift towards the creeks.
The hybrid and striped bass bite continues to vary on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that some days they will just catch a dozen fish while other days they will get 25 or 30. However, they have been getting some really big hybrids this week.
Basically if you ride the Savannah River and the mouths of the Seneca and Tugaloo it’s not hard to find fish on the ridges, and they are mostly still 30-45 feet down although they could still be over about any depth of water up to 150 plus feet. Down-rods are working the best.
It’s unclear exactly why but the catfish on Lake Hartwell have moved deeper, and in order to get bites Captain Bill Plumley reports that he has had to fish vertically in 35-40 feet of water. While he has only been fishing dip baits for channel catfish (and the occasional blue) it seems likely that shellcracker would be in the same areas if you fished worms.
He is still targeting clean, sandy bottoms.
Finally, Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that crappie are still mostly being caught around brush and trees in at least 20 feet of water. The main lake has been fishing the best, and 35 feet of water has been the best range recently. Fishing vertically with minnows has been most effective and there have been some good catches. The crappie are holding very tight to the brush.
With a little more cooling, like the bass expect the crappie to start to move into the creeks.
August 21
Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 658.55 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake remains clear. Morning surface water temperatures are back up to about 85 degrees.
The black bass fishing has improved even more on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that yesterday on the water he found a strong bite. Fish are clearly getting into their fall patterns, with bigger schools and bass feeding more aggressively. They are still over main lake humps in about 20 feet of water, but it’s much easier to catch them on flukes and topwater lures than a couple of weeks ago or even last week. Changes in weather have clearly helped the action, and it should only continue to get better.
While Lane didn’t fish it yesterday there should still be a shallow bite on buzzbaits. The best place for this action has been at the mouths of the rivers.
The hybrid and striped bass bite patterns on Lake Hartwell are pretty stable, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that fish are all up and down the lower Seneca and Tugaloo and the main Savannah River channel. Fish are still mostly about 30-45 feet down, but they could be in 60 feet to 160 feet. Overall the bite remains a little hit-or-miss, with some good days and some slower ones – typical for mid- to late August.
The biggest change they expect to see is that at any time the schooling action should come on.
The catfish bite is back to Earth on Lake Hartwell, and in fact Captain Bill Plumley reports that the last couple of times on the water it has been terrible. He has not caught any more big fish, and yesterday nothing was biting at all.
Still the best pattern for smaller channel cats and shellcrackers should be to fish sandy areas in about 20 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. Captain Bill mainly catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Finally, Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that the crappie are still mostly being caught around brush and trees in at least 20 feet of water. The main lake has been fishing the best, and 35 feet of water has been the best range recently. Fishing vertically with minnows has been most effective and there have been some good catches. The crappie are holding very tight to the brush.
August 13
Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 658.12 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake is still clear even after a couple of inches of rain. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 81 degrees.
The early, shallower hybrid and striped bass bite on Lake Hartwell is basically done, which is normal for this time of year, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports they are very surprised that cooler temperatures have not gotten the fish schooling at dawn like usually happens when the mercury drops (including last year). It’s hard to understand why a nearly ten-degree drop in temperatures has not triggered it again this year.
Instead the bite has shifted to the river channel in the lower Seneca and Tugaloo and the main Savannah, where fish are sometimes in 60 feet of water along the edges, sometimes in 80-90 feet, and sometimes in 160. The commonality is that most of the fish are about 30-45 feet down, although one day they did find a group of fish on the bottom in 54 feet along a ridge.
Overall the bite has been a little hit-or-miss, with some good days and some slower ones – typical for mid- to late August.
Meanwhile the black bass fishing has improved on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that with the cooler weather the fish which had been very spread out seem to be grouping up better again. The pattern is the same with flukes and topwater lures over humps in about 20 feet of water, but the catch rate is better.
There is also a decent shallow bite on buzzbaits. The best place for this action has been at the mouths of the rivers.
As pictured in yesterday’s “catch of the day”, Captain Bill Plumley has also found an improved bite for catfish since temperatures dropped. He has found a few blues, up to 30 pounds, and some large Hartwell channels up to 6 pounds along ledges on the lower end in 30 feet of water but close to 130 feet of water. The blues have wanted frozen river herring while the better channels have been eating whole bream.
At the same time you can still catch smaller channel cats and shellcrackers, with the preferred pattern fishing sandy areas in about 20 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. Captain Bill mainly catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Finally, Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that cooler temperatures don’t seem to have moved the crappievery much and they are still mostly being caught around brush and trees in at least 20 feet of water. The main lake has been fishing the best, and 35 feet of water has been the best range recently. Fishing vertically with minnows has been most effective and there have been some good catches. The crappie are holding very tight to the brush.
July 31
Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 657.75 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is mostly clear. Morning surface water temperatures remain around 89-90 on the main water.
It’s still a very good hybrid and striped bass bite on Lake Hartwell, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that there are some changes this week. First, the fish are leaving the rivers and so he has had to move to bigger water down the lake. Second, the daylight bite is still very good but has shifted a little deeper to 27-32 feet over humps off the side of the channel. Yesterday they had 31 fish before the sun got up and didn’t have to fish the hotter part of the day, but during the day the fishing has gotten very tough. They are marking tons of fish suspended about 40 feet down over the river channel in 130-140 feet of water, and some in 45 feet off to the sides on the bottom, but they will barely eat. It could be related to water quality issues, but it also could be that the early bite is so good and they just aren’t feeding during the day because of the heat.
At the same time the black bass fishing remains slow on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that about the only time you get good action is around a storm that drops the water temperature and activates the fish. They are hoping that the dropping temperatures forecast will turn around the bite. Once again it’s mostly a topwater and fluke bite, and most of the fish are over humps in 20 feet of water.
Shallow patterns have gotten worse as water levels drop and with the heat.
Despite 90-degree temperatures at dawn Captain Bill Plumley reports that the channel catfish continue to bite well and his preferred pattern is still to fish sandy areas in about 20 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
He has also had success fishing some deeper humps in the rivers for blue catfish and flatheads, but the key (as for the best channel bite) is to fish early – or at night. The action really slows down after about 8:30 or 9:00.
Finally, in crappie news Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish can still be found on deeper brush in 20-25 feet of water, and there are also crappie hanging around docks. While it’s hard to believe some crappie will be in the shade of surprisingly shallow docks in as little as 5 feet of water, usually way back under the middle of the dock, while others will be below deeper docks with up to 30 or more feet of water under them. In the summer heat fish are getting sluggish and they are now more likely to eat minnows than jigs and soft plastics.
Our family is travelling next week for the last week of the summer before our children go back to school, but we will resume weekly fishing reports the following week. Hopefully some cooler weather will give us some exciting changes to relay – although it will still be August in South Carolina!
July 21
Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 658.36 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are an incredible 89-91 degrees on the main lake!
It’s still a very good hybrid and striped bass bite on Lake Hartwell, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that one of the biggest changes this week is that – while there are still fish up the rivers – more fish are moving towards the dam into the mouth of the Seneca and Tugaloo Rivers and into the Savannah. It’s truly getting into a late summer pattern.
His boat is still catching most of their fish before daylight in 25-30 feet of water over humps off to the side of the river channels. After that they are moving to the edge of the river channel in about 42 feet of water, putting baits about 22-24 feet down. In the rivers where he is mostly fishing bait does not live well below about 25 feet, and so you have to keep changing it if you don’t get bites fast.
Further down the Savannah the bite extends longer into the day, and some of his captain colleagues are catching fish over trees about 25 feet down (below that you are in the timber) or in clean spots as deep as 60 feet. Closer to the dam the bait can give a lot longer in deeper water.
At the same time the black bass fishing has really slowed on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that after a fantastic spring and early summer it’s finally gotten tougher to get bites. Still patterns have not changed that much, although fish are pushing further out towards the river channels. They are running some of the same humps as striper in about 20 feet, and he is still catching most of his fish on topwater lures but spoons are also working. There is also a fair bite around bream beds with a wacky worm, but as water levels drop the action is moving further towards the front of creeks and out of the backs.
Back on the water, Captain Bill Plumley reports that the channel catfish continue to bite well and his preferred pattern is still to fish sandy areas in about 20 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
He has also had success fishing some deeper humps in the rivers for blue catfish and flatheads, but the key (as for the best channel bite) is to fish early – or at night. The action really slows down after about 8:30 or 9:00.
Finally, in crappie news Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish can be found on deeper brush in 20-25 feet of water, and there are also crappie hanging around docks. While it’s hard to believe some crappie will be in the shade of surprisingly shallow docks in as little as 5 feet of water, usually way back under the middle of the dock, while others will be below deeper docks with up to 30 or more feet of water under them. In the summer heat fish are getting sluggish and they are now more likely to eat minnows than jigs and soft plastics.
We apologize that these reports are running a few days behind – the author had some unexpected issues in his other job arise.
July 9
Lake Hartwell water levels are slightly down to 659.11 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are up to 89 degrees at daylight on the main lake!
Once again, despite the absurdly hot surface temperatures the hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell has been really good this week, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that they still basically have two ways to catch fish. Yesterday the daylight bite from 5:30 to 7:00 for fish that are on the bottom in 24-26 feet of water around humps, shoals, ridges and saddles along the edge of the river channels was the worst it’s been in a while. They caught a mere 17 fish. But today it was back to normal and they had 40 and they finished the trip by 7:00.
On days like yesterday when they are still fishing past 7:00, then the secondary pattern is that they are still fishing the river channels in 60-90 feet of water, sometimes over trees and sometimes over clean spots. The fish suspend about 30 feet down.
But one wrinkle is that bait dies quickly below 22 feet, and so unless the bites are very fast you have to keep the bait about 20-22 feet down and let the fish come up to in. That is true in the rivers and major creeks, while for people fishing towards the dam bait can live deeper because of oxygen levels.
It’s still a really good time for black bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that the biggest change this week is that the offshore bite has gotten a little stronger on topwater lures and he is less dependent on flukes. That’s still the best thing going, mostly in 15-25 feet of water around points, humps, shoals, and brush piles on the main lake, mouths of creeks, as far as halfway back in major creeks, and even up some of the rivers. Fish eating herring are as active as they will be all year and want to feed up on fleeing herring, and so even though you might catch a fish on a jig in a brush pile that’s not the best pattern.
There are also bass to be caught on bream beds in the backs of the creeks and around shallow docks on a wacky worm. The bank fishing has also been pretty good this week.
In other news, Captain Bill Plumley reports that the channel catfish continue to bite well, and his preferred pattern is still to fish sandy areas in about 20 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Blues should stay out in the deep timber where they are very difficult to target for the next few months, and right now the flatheads are also a bit hard to target as many are still spawning in deep water on Lake Hartwell. The spawn should be winding down, however, and it’s worth anchoring live bait around brush or trees at night or in low-light conditions.
Finally, in crappie news Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish can be found on deeper brush in 20-25 feet of water, and there are also crappie hanging around docks. While it’s hard to believe some crappie will be in the shade of surprisingly shallow docks in as little as 5 feet of water, usually way back under the middle of the dock, while others will be below deeper docks with up to 30 or more feet of water under them. In the summer heat fish are getting sluggish and they are now more likely to eat minnows than jigs and soft plastics.
July 2
Lake Hartwell water levels are slightly down to 659.53 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 87-88 degrees at daylight on the main lake.
It’s a pretty fantastic time for black bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports while it’s not entirely clear why the fishing is so good he thinks consistent water levels have allowed fish to spread out offshore as well as kept plenty of fish shallow. But the best thing going is definitely the offshore bite, mostly in 15-25 feet of water around points, humps, shoals, and brush piles. That’s on the main lake, mouths of creeks, as far as halfway back in major creeks, and even up some of the rivers. Fish eating herring are as active as they will be all year and want to feed up on fleeing herring, and so he is almost exclusively fishing flukes and topwater lures. You might catch a fish on a jig in a brush pile but that’s not the best pattern.
There are also bass to be caught on bream beds in the backs of the creeks and around shallow docks on a wacky worm.
Despite the heat the hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell remains really good this week, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that the biggest change is that the action on down-rods has gotten so consistent he hasn’t even picked up a free-line. There are still two patterns, and
from 5:30 to 7:00 fish are in 22-26 feet of water around humps, shoals, ridges and saddles along the edge of the river channels. These fish are on the bottom.
After that fish move into the river channels in 60-90 feet of water, sometimes over trees and sometimes over clean spots. They suspend about 30 feet down.
The crappie remain pretty stable on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that he is still finding fish 10-12 feet down over brush piles in about 20-25 feet of water. Bridges are also loaded with fish at about the same depth. While Captain Rodney has mostly been fishing the main lake, deeper creeks are also productive as long as the brush is deep enough.
Minnows and small swimbaits in natural colors will both catch fish.
Finally, Captain Bill Plumley reports that the channel catfish continue to bite well, and his preferred pattern is still to fish sandy areas now in about 20 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Blues should stay out in the deep timber where they are very difficult to target for the next few months, and right now the flatheads are also hard to target as they spawn in deep water on Lake Hartwell. Soon the spawn should wind down, however.
June 26
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 659.83 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures were up to 88 in the rivers this morning!
Once again the hybrid and striped bass bite on Lake Hartwell has changed this week, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that fish have moved a week or two early into patterns that usually set up around the Fourth – but they aren’t complaining! The fishing has been absolutely phenomenal, and they now have two good patterns that they can run.
Most days they don’t get to the second, and every day this week Captain Chip’s boat has been finished by 8:00 a.m. From 5:30 to 7:00 fish are in 22-26 feet of water around humps, shoals, ridges and saddles along the edge of the river channels. They are catching all of these fish with down-rods on the bottom.
After that fish move into the river channels in 60-90 feet of water, sometimes over trees and sometimes over clean spots. They suspend about 30 feet down and will take free-lines as well as down-lines. This is also a very good pattern, and another captain who didn’t get out there for the super early bite had a box by 9:00 this morning on this pattern.
The crappie remain pretty stable on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that he is still finding fish 10-12 feet down over brush piles in about 20 feet of water. Bridges are also loaded with fish at about the same depth. While Captain Rodney has mostly been fishing the main lake, deeper creeks are also productive as long as the brush is deep enough.
Minnows and small swimbaits in natural colors will both catch fish.
Finally, Captain Bill Plumley reports that the channel catfish continue to bite well, and his preferred pattern is still to fish sandy areas in about 15-20 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Blues should stay out in the deep timber where they are very difficult to target for the next few months, and right now the flatheads are also hard to target as they spawn in deep water on Lake Hartwell.
Bass report to follow.
June 18
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 659.77 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 84 degrees in the rivers.
This week the hybrid and striped bass bite on Lake Hartwell has changed, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that pre-dawn and right at dawn they are catching fish on humps and saddles in about 18-20 feet. Down rods have been working the best early. After that the fish move out to the edge of the channel in 40-70 feet, mostly running about 30 feet down. Both down rods and free-lines are working even though these fish are deeper, and there are definitely times where they show a preference for free-lines.
While some anglers are fishing the main Savannah River, Captain Chip has been seeing smaller fish there – and well up the rivers. He has found the best quality from the split about halfway up the Seneca and Tugaloo and in some of the feeder creeks in that range.
Black bass remain in summer patterns now, and Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) reports that you can certainly catch a few fish shallow casting a buzzbait around the banks all day. But why when you can catch 60 fishing deep?
Fish are on main lake points with brush and cane (which virtually all have) in 20 plus feet of water, and you can call them up with topwater lures. A drop shot is also working very well, and of you course you can still catch them on minnow-type baits on jigheads. Overall the action is very good right now.
The crappie remain pretty stable on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that he is still finding fish 10-12 feet down over brush piles in about 20 feet of water. Bridges are also loaded with fish at about the same depth. While Captain Rodney has mostly been fishing the main lake, deeper creeks are also productive as long as the brush is deep enough.
Minnows and small swimbaits in natural colors will both catch fish.
Finally, Captain Bill Plumley reports that the channel catfish continue to bite well, and his preferred pattern is to fish sandy areas in about 15-20 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. 18 feet has been the magic depth this week. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Blues should stay out in the deep timber where they are very difficult to target for the next few months, and right now the flatheads are also hard to target as they spawn in deep water on Lake Hartwell.
June 11
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 659.94 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 70s.
There is still a pre-dawn bite for hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that in 16-18 feet of water you can still catch fish on down-lines fished just off the bottom on points first thing. As the sun starts to lighten the sky the fish come off the bottom and briefly want free-lines, but then after that it turns into typical summer patterns.
For the first hour or two of daylight fish can be found at the mouth of deep coves near the channels in 32-42 feet just off the bottom, and they will take down-rods. As the sun gets higher those same fish move out into 50 or more feet of water in creek channels or feeder creeks that run through coves and suspend over trees. While some fish are in the trees the catchable ones gather about 30 feet down at the top of the trees, and putting down-rods about 26 feet down avoids most hang-ups. Other swim by in 15-20 feet where they will take free-lines.
Overall the fishing is getting very reliable.
Black bass are pretty much in summer patterns now, and Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) reports that most fish are getting out over main lake points in 20 plus feet of water. Virtually all if not all of these long points have cane and/or brush on them, and throwing topwater lures especially before the suns gets very high can make for a “magical” day. While fish will eat on top all day it slows down, and when fish won’t readily come up then minnow-type baits on jigheads are the go-to lure.
Scott is not hearing or seeing any shallow pattern but it’s possible you could catch some fish early around bream beds.
The crappie are pretty stable on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that he is still finding fish 10-12 feet down over brush piles in about 20 feet of water. Bridges are also loaded with fish at about the same depth. While Captain Rodney has mostly been fishing the main lake, deeper creeks are also productive as long as the brush is deep enough.
Minnows and small swimbaits in natural colors will both catch fish.
Finally, Captain Bill Plumley reports that the channel catfish continue to bite well, and his preferred pattern is to fish sandy areas in about 15-20 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Blues should stay out in the deep timber where they are very difficult to target for the next few months, and right now the flatheads are also hard to target as they spawn in deep water on Lake Hartwell.
May 29
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 659.99 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the main lake but there is a little stain in the backs. Morning surface water temperatures dropped into the mid-70s.
The herring spawn is basically played out, but Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) reports that there is still a shallow black bass bite first thing in areas where you can find a shad spawn. Beyond that most patterns are deeper, and with fish heavily post-spawn they are gathering up on offshore structure. The topwater bite is picking up but you can also catch fish on a jerkbait, fluke, or a minnow-type bait on a jighead. Depths can vary greatly but about 25 feet of water is a good depth to start out looking.
Finally, don’t overlook fishing a shaky head on main lake points.
The hybrid and striped bass are still schooling very well on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that fish are still off points high in the water column over 20-25 feet of water first thing. As a result free-lines are working the best, or you can cast artificial lures to the fish.
But the biggest changes this week are that the bite is extending through the morning, and fish are starting to move out in the channel over trees even well after the early bite wraps up. They are hanging around the edge of the channel in 40-50 feet. You can catch some on down-rods but with most fish just 20-30 feet down free-lines are still more productive.
Finally, they are starting to consistently pick up more and more big fish.
The crappie haven’t moved too much on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that brush and bridges both continue to produce. However, the best depth range is now about 20 feet down. The best action continues to be on the main lake.
Minnows will catch fish but Captain Rodney’s boat is still mostly throwing small swimbaits in natural sexy shad colors.
There’s no change with the catfish on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that despite keeping a rod with a bream out for a flathead he still hasn’t picked one up. But the channel catfish continue to bite well, and his preferred pattern is to fish sandy areas in about 15 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Blues should stay out in the deep timber where they are very difficult to target for the next few months.
Our family is travelling for our annual beach vacation next week, but we will resume weekly fishing reports the following week.
May 21
Lake Hartwell water levels remain above full at 660.37 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the main lake but there is some diminishing stain in the backs. Morning surface water temperatures have risen to 78 degrees.
For the last couple of days the hybrid and striped bass have been schooling very well on Lake Hartwell, although Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that the early bite has moved out deeper. While the pre-dawn bite has been done for some time, where they were starting out fishing in 12-15-18 feet over points they are now starting out in 20-25 feet. But fish are high in the water column or on the surface and down-rods are ineffective compared to free-lines.
The one drawback to the really strong schooling, often lasting an hour or more until 8:00 or 8;30, is that after they stop they seem to have gorged so much that the bite is very slow. After that it’s just catfish and perch that you catch, even though they are still marking the hybrids in the same areas.
The one place where the herring still seem to be shallow early is around rocks and riprap in the lower lake, where it looks to continue for maybe another week. But around the points, saddles and humps in the river it’s done.
The black bass bite is still good, but Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) concurs that the herring spawn certainly seems to be at the very tail-end – although a shad spawn is still worth looking for. There are a few bass on beds, but also less and less each day. The best pattern has been fishing with shaky heads off points and around brush, casting shallow but working out to deeper water. Most bites have been coming in about 8-14 feet. There is also some schooling activity randomly off the points, and when they aren’t schooling you can often call fish up in the same depth range with topwater lures.
The crappie are moving deeper on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that in addition to brush he has now found a bunch of fish stacked up on bridges. But now the fish are 15-20 feet down over up to 40 feet of water. The action remains on the main lake as temperatures continue to rise and the creeks get hotter.
Minnows will catch fish but Captain Rodney’s boat is mostly throwing small swimbaits in natural sexy shad colors.
With rising temperatures blue catfish are basically out of fishing range now in the Hartwell timber, but Captain Bill Plumley reports that channel catfish are biting well. His preferred pattern is to fish sandy areas in about 15 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Finally, anchoring live bream around blowdowns or brush piles is a good way to go after large flatheads.
May 15
Lake Hartwell water levels are above full at 660.38 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal on the main lake and in the rivers but stained in the backs. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 72 degrees after some cooler weather.
The hybrid and striped bass bite is still very good on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that by this point the shallow herring spawn seems to be almost totally over. As a result the pre-dawn bite around the bank seems to be done, and he is thinking about going ahead and taking the Power Poles off his boat this weekend. That is a step he usually doesn’t take until June 1.
By now they are starting out fishing in 12-18 feet off points, still catch fish pitching out free-lined herring. More spots are now showing up. After that early bite the fish are still eating but pulling out to 25-35 feet of water and into the coves, with some in as much as 45 feet of water. However, they are still only 10-15 feet below the surface and hitting free-lines better than down-lines. On down-rods they are mainly catching white perch and now some catfish.
The black bass bite is still good, but Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) concurs that the herring spawn certainly seems to be at the very tail-end – although a shad spawn is worth looking for. There are definitely still some bass on beds, but also less and less each day. The best pattern has been fishing with shaky heads off points and around brush, casting shallow but working out to deeper water. Most bites have been coming in about 8-10 feet. There is also some schooling activity randomly off the points, and when they aren’t schooling you can often call fish up in the same depth range with topwater lures.
The crappie are in a very strong post-spawn pattern, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that yesterday they caught 40 big ones off brush in 10-15 feet of water. While there are still some fish in the creeks they are mostly smaller, and the better fish have moved out to the main lake now. They are in ditches and gullies and coves in the main lake, and they are stacked up on brush. There are also a fair number of fish around docks, and yesterday they caught a good number off a dock in 30 feet.
However, whether fishing in 10-15 feet or 30 feet the magic depth seems to be about 8-10 feet down. Captain Rodney’s boat is pretty much only throwing small swimbaits in natural sexy shad colors.
The catfish bite certainly seems to be done for big blues, but Captain Bill Plumley reports that he has caught several male blue catfish in the 5-pound range while fishing for channels. His preferred pattern right now is to fish sandy areas in about 15 feet of water with two rods with worms and two with dip baits. He catches mainly shellcracker on the worms and catfish on the dip bait.
Finally, anchoring live bream around blowdowns or brush piles is a good way to go after large flatheads.
May 8
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 660.05 (full pool is 660.00) and clarity is back to about normal. Morning surface water temperatures got as high as 76 but have dropped back to about 73 or 74.
The hybrid and striped bass bite is still very good on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that about the only change this week is that the pre-dawn bite has almost completely stopped. A week ago, and typically at this time of year, they are getting half of their fish before the sun comes up, but now the bite only begins right at dawn.
Otherwise the action is exactly the same and Captain Chip is even leaning on the same spots as a week ago. The fish are shallow in less than 10 feet on herring points in the rivers, and as the sun peeks through they are catching them by pitching out free-lined herring. After that early bite the fish are still eating but pulling out to 25-35 feet of water in the coves, with some as deep as 45 feet. However, they are only 10-15 feet below the surface and hitting free-lines better than down-lines. On down-rods they are mainly catching white perch.
The schooling action is inconsistent, but on cloudy days it can sometimes continue for a while.
The black bass bite also continues to be very good, and Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) reports that you can fish about any shallow pattern you want. The bite around herring points is still excellent with flukes and topwater lures, but there are also a ton of fish just up shallow in coves and pockets. The spawn is still wide open, with a big wave expect on this full moon, and just going around the banks with a wacky-rigged Senko or other soft plastic bait of your choice it’s hard to go wrong.
Despite a slight slow-down four or five days ago, Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that the crappie bite is right back to where it was and is actually getting better again. The best bite is coming over brush in 15-20 feet of water, again casting small swimbaits and retrieving them 8-10 feet below the surface just over the brush.
Rodney has looked shallow and can’t find many fish left.
The catfish bite has probably slowed for the season for big blues, as Captain Bill Plumley reports that it seems that they have headed back into the deep timber, but the channel catfish and shellcracker bite continues to improve. Captain Bill is targeting them by fishing sandy areas in creeks or even main lake coves. Recently the best bite on worms and dip bait has come in 8-10 feet of water.
Finally, while he hasn’t been doing it yet, anchoring live bream around blowdowns or brush piles is a good way to go after large flatheads.
April 30
Lake Hartwell water levels are above full at 660.31 (full pool is 660.00) and rain earlier this week dirtied the water but it’s now mostly back to clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 73 degrees.
The hybrid and striped bass bite is still very good on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that for the first couple of hours each day they are wearing out the fish. They are shallow in less than 10 feet on herring points in the rivers, and they are catching them by pitching out free-lined herring. After that early bite the fish are still eating but pulling out to 25-35 feet of water in the coves, with some as deep as 45 feet. However, they are only 10-15 feet below the surface and hitting free-lines better than down-lines. On down-rods they are mainly catching white perch.
The schooling action is inconsistent, but on cloudy days it can sometimes continue for a while.
The black bass bite also continues to be “awesome”, and Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) reports that you can fish about any shallow pattern you want. The bite around herring points is still “phenomenal” with flukes and topwater lures, but there are also a ton of fish just shallow in coves and pockets. The spawn is still wide open, and just going around the banks with a wacky-rigged Senko or other soft plastic bait of your choice it’s hard to go wrong. The shallow fishing can’t stay this good forever and so, if you like to fish around the banks, now is the time to get out there.
We are also pleased to report good news with the crappie, as Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that the post-spawn funk seems to be about over and the bigger fish are feeding better again. Today they had a limit and a half in a morning trip but were most excited by the size, with more than a dozen fish over a pound and a half. The best bite is coming over brush in 15-20 feet of water, again casting small swimbaits and retrieving them 8-10 feet below the surface just over the brush.
Rodney has looked shallow and can’t find many fish left.
The catfish bite has also slowed for big fish, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that it seems that the better blues have headed back into the deep timber. He did manage to catch some smaller blue catfish in the 5-pound range at 30 feet, but the bigger ones are mostly in unfishable water now.
Luckily the channel catfish and shellcracker bite is getting good, and Captain Bill is targeting them by fishing sandy areas in creeks or even main lake coves. Recently the best bite on worms and dip bait has come in 8-10 feet of water.
Finally, while he hasn’t been doing it yet, anchoring live bream around blowdowns or brush piles is a good way to go after large flatheads.
April 23
Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 659.81 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 67 degrees.
The hybrid and striped bass bite is very good on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that every day they are catching “the fire” out of the fish. Most mornings there has been a very good pre-daylight bite on the herring points, sometimes even seeing them schooling, but the fish pull off that quickly and then move out to the backs of coves in about 25-35 feet of water. At first they suspend and then as the sun gets higher they move towards the bottom, and so at first they are targeting them with free-lines and then more with down-rods.
Overall the fish seem to be moving out of the very tops of the rivers but they are still well back.
When fish are on the herring points early they are usually in 2-7 feet of water, and while the schooling action isn’t great it’s often enough to indicate where the fish are.
The black bass bite is also outstanding right now, and Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) reports that fish are shallow and schooling on spawning blueback herring. They can be found around basically any rocky point or other hard bottom area, and the key is throwing a fluke, topwater, or wacky-rigged Senko and bombing it as far as you can. The action is usually better in the morning before some of the fish move deeper chasing herring. While Scott hasn’t fished any really deep patterns, he has caught bass on a shaky head in 1-10 feet of water off rocky points.
As for the bass spawn it’s not as far along as some people think, and Scott maintains that a lot more still have to bed. As a result all the same shallow water techniques are still available.
Unfortunately the crappie bite has really slowed on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that a combination of fronts and the post-spawn period are really forcing them to work to catch fish. They can still see hundreds ganged up on brush, but you can only catch two or three before you have to move to the next brush pile. And the biggest fish have disappeared.
The best brush is in 15-20 feet of water, with the fish holding 8-10 feet down over the top of it. There don’t appear to be very many shallow fish left at all, and so it does seem like they are almost exclusively targeting post-spawn fish now.
Little swimbaits are working as well as anything.
The catfish bite has also slowed for big fish, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that he has had very little luck with the large blues. However, the channel catfish bite is picking up in 15-18 feet of water where they are catching lots of fish on dip baits.
April 9
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 660.07 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake is clear while the creeks are stained after Monday’s rain. Morning surface water temperatures are around 62 degrees.
While the cooler weather had guides nervous, Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that the hybrid and striped bass fishing continues to be very good even after rain and chilly nights. Today his boat caught 43 fish, with about half of those on the early shallow bite way up the creeks and rivers. They are catching them in saddles between islands and off points with the boat in 6-8 feet of water and pitching baits even shallower. After that they are still catching fish deeper in 25-30 as they slide further out from the same islands and points. The only change with the cold front is that yesterday and today those deeper fish were glued to the bottom and wanted herring on down-rods, but Captain Chip expects that soon they will move up the water column again and show a preference for free-lines.
Chip expects the herring spawn to take off soon and for that to hold fish shallower longer.
The cooler weather has also had some effect on the black bass, and Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) reports that with cooler temperatures in the morning the big females have been holding a little deeper. Other than that the bite is about the same, and as temperatures rebound it will get right back to where it was. The major change on the horizon is that the herring spawn is getting closer and it will extend the topwater bite which has already started.
Overall, you can still catch fish a number of ways right now, and there are pre-spawn to spawning to a few post-spawn bass. Chatterbaits and Rattle Traps are very good for pre-spawn fish, you can also work the banks with Senkos and shaky heads for fish just wandering in spawning areas, and soft plastics or jigs are good when anglers are looking at them on beds. Soon they will be eating flukes and more off points.
It’s still a fantastic crappie bite on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that with pre-spawn, spawning and post-spawn fish they can be caught literally everywhere you could want to fish in relatively shallow water from about 3 to 20 feet. While his boat has caught fish casting jigs at the banks, and there are still schools on docks, the bite they are now concentrating on is over brush in 10-15 feet of water. Fish are 8-10 feet deep and still tearing up black and chartreuse jigs.
If anything the bite has gotten even better in the last couple of days as the water has gotten a better stain and the fish are less skittish.
The catfish bite continues to improve, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that blue catfish are moving shallower and into the creeks. He is now catching them in less than 30 feet of water on river herring, but so far he has still not picked up any channel catfish. A few more degrees and they will start biting as well.
Our family is travelling for our children’s spring break next week, but we will resume weekly fishing reports after the Easter holiday.
April 3
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 659.86 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake is clear while some sections of creeks are slightly dingy. Morning surface water temperatures are around 60-63 degrees.
It’s an even better hybrid and striped bass bite on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that with the more consistently warm weather they are finding a very good shallow bite pretty much every early morning. Fish are way up the creeks and rivers, and in the creeks they are catching them in saddles between islands and off points with the boat in 6-8 feet of water and pitching even shallower. In the rivers the fish are mostly related to points. In the creeks they continue to catch fish by gradually sliding deeper into 25-30 feet of water in the same areas as the sun rises, while in the rivers it seems that the fish just disappear once the sun gets up. Mostly they are fishing free-lines, and right now the fish don’t want to feed under the boat or on the bottom. Anglers are also catching some fish on planer-boards but tossing out free-lines is a little faster.
The black bass fishing is still very strong, and Guide Scott Allgood with Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides (864-364-1733) reports that you can catch fish a number of ways right now. This week there are more fish on beds and immediately pre-spawn, but not too many fish post-spawn yet. There are also fish out in 20-40 feet of water that are still focused on bait and not ready to spawn.
With fish at so many different stages you can target them however you want, and Chatterbaits and Rattle Traps are very good for pre-spawn fish. You can also work the banks with Sankos and shaky heads for fish just wandering in spawning areas, and soft plastics or jigs are good when anglers are looking at them on beds.
And of course you can fish a minnow-type bait in open water while looking at bass on forward-facing-sonar.
Bass remain very aggressive overall.
It’s still a fantastic crappie bite on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that yesterday almost everything he caught came in just 4-8 feet of water casting jigs at shallow cover for spawning fish. These were big male black crappie, but there are also fish still stacked up on shallow brush piles, in blowdowns, and off docks in 10-12 feet of water. Pretty much all the crappie are relatively shallow right now and so there are a ton of options for catching them.
The catfish bite continues to improve, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that blue catfish are moving shallower and into the creeks. He is now catching them in less than 30 feet of water on river herring, but so far he has still not picked up any channel catfish. A few more degrees and they will start biting as well.