November 19

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 654.91 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures are about 61-63 degrees.  The water has cleared and they are not seeing signs of a turnover. 

Yesterday was fair (excellent for spots) but today was a very good bite for hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell. Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that a little breeze seems to make a huge difference, and even though they didn’t see single fish popping the surface like in the calm yesterday they bit much better today. Basically there are two places they are catching fish, with one being the sides of the rivers over humps. The other place is slightly up feeder creeks or even major coves that come off the rivers. The key depth is about 32-34 feet, although sometimes they are catching them as deep as 39 feet. Fish are right on the bottom and so naturally they are picking up other species including black bass, white perch, and catfish.

But the crappie fishing may be even better, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that they are smoking them – on an unusual pattern reminiscent of spring. The fish he is catching are in the back of a creek run on brush in about 10 feet of water, and they are just 2-3 feet below the surface. They are catching them with a jig fished under a cork. Interestingly he can find fish on the same pattern in multiple creeks but the only ones where they are biting have a little color to the water.

With water temperatures mild there are fish in lots of other places, including 20 feet down in standing timber, but these are the most fun to target.  

While the lake is off-limits to Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) with the Bassmaster Team Championship coming up, with the weather still hot he expects that there is probably some schooling activity for bass going on. Bait should be oriented to the creeks, and with topwater season winding down he would target fish around bait schools with subsurface baits like a jerkbait or squarebill. It’s also worth skipping a jig or shaky head around docks or brush in the creeks.

There is also probably some action down-lake with a jig. 

Back on the water, Captain Bill Plumley reports that his last catfish trip he targeted 35-75 feet of water in the channel itself but only got pecks from small catfish. Before long he expects the bigger blues to turn on in deeper water, either the old river channels or on clean places which used to be farmland or whatnot. With so much standing timber on Hartwell you can’t just fish any deep water for catfish.   

November 5

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 655.39 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures are down to about 64 degrees.  While the water is overall clear the turnover still has it stained in places. 

You know the hybrid and striped bass are biting again on Lake Hartwell because Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) is back on the lake after a period on Keowee, and Tuesday they had a really good day. Unlike Monday the fish didn’t school, but even when there were acres of fish schooling they only caught a few that way – perhaps because they were on small bait. The bulk of the fish came setting up deep near the schooling fish and waiting for them to settle down.  

Typical for November they are catching a mixed bag including striper, hybrids, black bass (spots), and white perch. Captain Chip’s boat is fishing at the mouths of both rivers over humps and long tapering points adjacent to very deep water. They are fishing in 32-38 feet near the bottom, and while you could catch fish a bit shallower or deeper generally the 30s are best this time of year. 

The bass bite has also improved, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports finding fish schooling over the main lake on shallow humps and other depth changes. Yesterday he caught them on topwater lures and particularly Spooks. 

The shallow bite is still good, and with temperatures essentially stabilized there continues to be a fair topwater bite. Fishing jigs and worms around laydowns and docks is also effective, and it’s also worth cranking around rock.

The crappie fishing is still good, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that they are still over brush in about 15 feet of water at the mouths of creeks, holding about 8 feet down. Docks at the same depth are also holding fish, again about 8 feet down, but he can’t catch them on docks any shallower. He has also caught a lot of fish on standing timber in open water 6-8 feet down in 50 or more feet of water.

Bites are still coming almost exclusively on down-sized jigs, and the crappie continue to not show much interest in baits with a larger profile. 

Of late Captain Bill Plumley has spent more time in the woods than targeting catfish, but he believes the best depth for blues and channels is 40-50 feet. There should also be a fair number of channel catfish in about 20 feet. Again, he expects the fishing to improve once the turnover finishes. 

October 29

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 655.61 (full pool is 660.00) and morning surface water temperatures are down to the upper 60s.  The lake is turning over.  

The turnover has significantly affected the hybrid and striped bass bite on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that the last time they went out just before the rain they caught fish but not a single striper or hybrid. They marked plenty of striped fish, saw a school briefly pop up on the surface then submerge, and another captain caught three or four fish that were schooling. But that was it. It’s so tough that they are now taking parties over to Lake Keowee.

In the long run this will be a boon, though, as the rain and cooler weather should accelerate the turnover and get us through this tough period faster. November should be a very good time on Hartwell, as usual. 

The black bass fishing has also fallen off due to the turnover, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that the most significant change is that the offshore topwater bite is going away. You can still catch some fish offshore on the main lake, but you need to target brush on humps, points, and other depth changes in 20-30 feet of water. Jigs are the best bait. 

The shallow bite is probably least affected by the turnover, although cooling temperatures have caused the topwater bite around the banks to also fade. Fishing jigs and worms around laydowns is probably the best approach, and it’s also worth cranking around rock.

While the rain has kept Captain Bill Plumley from targeting catfish this week, they have been very slow and he expects the fishing to improve only once the turnover finishes. 

So all in all the best thing going is definitely the crappie, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that they are still over brush in about 15 feet of water at the mouths of creeks, holding about 8 feet down. Docks at the same depth are also holding fish, again about 8 feet down, but he can’t catch them on docks any shallower. However, he has also caught a lot of fish on standing timber in open water 6-8 feet down in 50 or more feet of water.

Bites are still coming almost exclusively on down-sized jigs, and they still aren’t showing much interest in baits with a larger profile. 

October 23

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 655.57 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is still high. Morning surface water temperatures are down to 71-72 degrees. 

Except for the fact that there are 300 college bass fishing team boats racing around the lake there’s no change with the black bass or catfish this week on Lake Hartwell, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that that the hybrid and striped bass are still in the same patterns and depths but fish are starting to move up a bit. The fish that have been in the vicinity of the dam are leaving and making their way up the rivers, and more fish are being caught in the front third of creeks. There continues to usually be decent schooling activity and sometimes it has been outstanding this week. 

But the biggest change is with the crappie, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that they are catching many more this week. They are over brush in about 15 feet of water at the mouths of creeks but not way back, and they are holding about 8 feet down. Docks at the same depth are also holding fish, again about 8 feet down, but he can’t catch them on docks any shallower. However, he has also caught a lot of fish on standing timber in open water 6-8 feet down in 50 or more feet of water.

The biggest revelation is that he needs to down-size his jigs, and they still aren’t showing much interest in swimbaits. Perhaps they have not gotten less finicky and Captain Rodney has just figured out the need for a finesse presentation. 

October 15

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 655.99 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is still high. Water temperatures are mostly in the mid-70s on the main water and the lake is turning over in most areas. 

Once again the shallow bite is the best thing going on Lake Hartwell for black bass, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that fishing around the banks in the creeks and rivers is very productive. Throwing a buzzbait or skipping a jig under docks are the go-to patterns. 

At the same time there is a lot of school during the day, essentially across the entire main lake. Most of this activity is taking place over deep water, and sometimes the fish are holding around points that lead into creek or river channels and sometimes they are just in open water. While they can be tricky to catch there are some good fish out there and small topwater lures and flukes are both working. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing continues to improve on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that it seems like the fish have adapted to the northeast winds. Although there are some off-days they are schooling most days. 

A bump downward of just a couple more degrees will put the fish on the move, but for now the majority of the fish are still in a five-mile stretch above the dam. They are still at the mouths of major creeks, on the flatter sides of the channel, and over the deepest part of the channel. The fish are still shallower, and now they are generally about 30-45 feet down in 90-170 feet.

It’s a weird crappie situation this week, and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that he is seeing giant schools of thousands of crappie but (outside of a small window very early) they are finicky about eating pretty much everything. Fish are stacked up on brush in the creek runs in about 15 feet, and there are also fish that under docks as shallow as 5 feet out to 20 feet. However, outside of that early window it’s hard to catch many fish on either jigs or minnows. 

The catfish fishing seems to have slowed down again, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that today on the water he didn’t have a single bite. This was probably anomalous, and there should still be some channel cats in about 20 feet of water, but it really won’t pick up significantly until the lake turns over. 

October 9

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 656.33 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is still high. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 75-79 degrees depending on location. Higher temperatures are in the bigger, deeper water that holds heat better. 

The black bass fishing on Lake Hartwell is significantly better than last week, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) (coming off a tournament win last weekend with 19 and then 17.5 pounds) reports that everything is firing off right now. He fished again yesterday and reports that the shallow bite around the banks continues to be very good fishing a buzzbait and a jig.  At the same time, the schooling activity (with striper and hybrids mixed in, as reported yesterday) has come on strong. Fish can be found schooling literally anywhere there is bait, and you just have to keep moving. Often it is over very deep water. 

Lane expects the fishing to be off for a couple of days with the weather rolling in but then to get very good again. 

The catfish fishing has picked up with cooler temperatures, and Captain Bill Plumley reports from the water today that he is finding hungry channel cats in about 20 feet of water. He is targeting sandy bottoms with dip baits and worms, and has picked up a few shellcracker on the worms. After a really, really slow late summer bite cooler temperatures have kick-started the action again.      

Finally, the crappie don’t seem to have moved much and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish are still on main lake brush piles in about 20 feet of water. They should go shallower soon once water temperatures fall a few more degrees.   

October 8

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 656.52 (full pool is 660.00) and water clarity is still high. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 80 degrees. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing continues to improve on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that patterns are similar but the bite has really picked up. In particular schooling activity is getting more and more widespread, but you have to approach the fish quietly. If a boat runs up on them with the big motor it ruins the action for everyone.

There are more fish spreading out, but the majority of the fish are still in a five mile stretch above the dam. They are still at the mouths of major creeks, on the flatter sides of the channel, and over the deepest part of the channel. The fish have moved shallower, and now they are generally only 30-45 feet down in 90-170 feet.

There are some fish up the rivers but there will be more as it cools – today is the last 80-degree day in the extended forecast. 

October 1

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 656.88 (full pool is 660.00) and visibility is high. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 80 degrees. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing has started to turn around on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that they are now catching 15-25 fish per day instead of 8-10. It’s not as good as it will get, but much better. Schooling activity has also picked up, and most days it is going off. 

While some smaller fish (usually the first to go) have moved up the rivers, 75 plus percent of the better fish are still grouped up in a five-mile stretch in the extreme lower lake. They are at the mouths of all the major creeks, on the flatter sides of the channel, and over the deepest part of the channel. The vast majority are 45-60 feet down in 90-170 feet.

Some fish will take free-lines, and always fish free-lines when they are schooling, but overall down-rods 45-50 feet deep are most effective for putting fish in the boat. 

The offshore black bass fishing on Lake Hartwell has picked up a hair, but Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that temperatures have just not changed enough for the topwater bite to really come on.  There is still a bit of schooling activity going on, but the good fishing is still upcoming and for now it’s pretty mediocre.

The shallow bite continues to be the best thing going, and most of all that means fishing a buzzbait around the banks. You can also catch fish skipping a wacky-rigged worm around docks. The shallow action is actually pretty stout. 

The catfish fishing remains slow, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that he doesn’t expect dramatic improvement until water temperatures drop into the low 70s.  Fish are still stressed after a long summer and still-hot water temperatures, even as they want to be able to transition into cooler weather patterns. You can scratch out a few small channels in 25-35 feet, but it’s slow going.   

Finally, the crappie don’t seem to have moved much and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish are still on main lake brush piles in about 20 feet of water. They should go shallower soon once water temperatures cool off.   

Our apologies for the sporadic fishing reports in recent weeks. We will do everything we can to get back on track with weekly updates, but one of our children is getting through a significant health challenge which has occupied a great deal of our time and kept us out of work.  

September 24

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 657.07 (full pool is 660.00) and visibility is high. Morning surface water temperatures are back to 80-81 degrees. 

The hybrid and striped bass are just “aggravating” right now on Lake Hartwell, and Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters (864-304-9011) reports that while they are catching fish it’s 8-10 on a trip instead of 30-40 like they would expect this time of year. That’s likely a result of water temperatures, which are several degrees higher than normal for the end of the September.

But the location of the fish is no mystery, and 75 plus percent of the fish are grouped up in a five-mile stretch in the extreme lower lake. They are at the mouths of all the major creeks, on the flatter sides of the channel, and over the deepest part of the channel.  The vast majority are 45-60 feet down in 90-170 feet.

Some fish will take free-lines, and there are even times when they will pop up and school. However, you might have one day with decent schooling activity and then not see more than a fish or two on the surface for several more days. Overall down-rods 45-50 feet deep are most effective for slowly picking away at the fish. 

As temperatures climbed back up the black bass fishing on Lake Hartwell slowed down, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that the offshore topwater bite has really dropped off. There is a bit of schooling activity going on, but the good fishing is still upcoming and for now it’s pretty mediocre.

The one bright spot is that the shallow bite has picked up, and most of all that means fishing a buzzbait around the banks. You could probably also catch fish skipping a wacky-rigged worm around docks. 

The catfish action has also really slowed, and Captain Bill Plumley reports that’s most likely a function of water temperature, too. It’s late September and fish are stressed with still-high water temperatures, even as they want to be able to transition into cooler weather patterns. 

Finally, the crappie don’t seem to have moved much and Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish are still on main lake brush piles in about 20 feet of water. They should go shallower soon once water temperatures cool off.   

September 10

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 658.28 (full pool is 660.00) and visibility is high. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 76 degrees. 

Cooler nights continue to improve the black bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that the patterns and locations have not changed much but the action is getting better and better. In particular the fluke bite is very good right now over main lake humps in about 20 feet of water.  There are also more and more fish breaking on top.

Additionally, with dropping water temperatures more fish are being caught around the banks on buzzbaits. 

The hybrid and striped bass are in similar patterns, but Captain Chip Hamilton with Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters(864-304-9011) reports that the big change is that schooling activity has really picked up. At least two out of three mornings you can find steady schooling action, and one captain had an angler throwing topwaters (while the rest of the boat fished herring) almost fill his limit alone. 

Basically fish are moving with the bait, and when they aren’t on top they are mostly 35-45 feet down over the river channels in 90-150 feet of water. If you ride the Savannah River and the mouths of the Seneca and Tugaloo it’s not hard to find fish on the ridges.

While it should get better soon and patterns should change, Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is still finding the best catfish action fishing vertically in 35-40 feet of water. The bite has gotten a little tougher, and on Monday he only caught a few small channels. Luckily they found some schooling spotted bass to keep things interesting. 

In crappie news, Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that fish are stacked up on main lake brush piles in about 20 feet of water. While the bite is not fast and furious, big fish are biting and on his last trip they had twelve over a 1 ½ pounds. They are taking jigs. 

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.