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AHQ Report - Lake Hartwell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

August 20

Lake Hartwell water levels have shot back up to 661.37 (full pool is 660.00) after the torrential rains, and while the main lake has stayed clear some of the backs have gotten a little cloudy.  (It would be highly unusual for the lake to get muddy during the summer). Morning surface temperatures dropped from 87 to 84 this week, but they will probably return to the high 80s soon.  

Early in the morning it’s still a very good bite for hybrid bass, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports

August 6

Lake Hartwell water levels are finally down below full pool at 659.88 (full pool is 660.00)! Morning surface water temperatures had gotten into the upper 80s but have dropped to about 83. 

The front briefly messed with the hybrid and striped bass fishing earlier this week, but Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports

July 28

Lake Hartwell water levels remain very high at 660.84 (full pool is 660.00) but the lake has cleared a little. Morning surface water temperatures are still in the mid-80s. 

There are a few more changes with the hybrid and striped bass bite this week, and one is that Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports

July 21

With recent rains Lake Hartwell water levels have shot up 8-10 inches to 660.79 (full pool is 660.00). While the creeks are muddy the main lake is still gin clear. Morning surface water temperatures dropped a degree to about 83.5 degrees. 

It continues to be a better-than-expected time for bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports

July 8

Lake Hartwell water levels are still very high at 660.42 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake remains very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 84 degrees. 

June used to be a really good month for bass on Lake Hartwell, and with conditions running a little behind this year Guide Brad Fowler reports

June 23

Lake Hartwell water levels are still very high at 661.22 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are 82-83 degrees. 

It’s been a really good year so far for hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports

June 10

Lake Hartwell water levels are still very high at 661.44 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake remains clear. Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s.   

The hybrid and striped bass on Lake Hartwell are still in the same general areas, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports

May 28

Lake Hartwell water levels are still very high at 661.32 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake remains clear. Morning surface water temperatures have shot up to 81 degrees. 

In less than a week the water temperatures on Lake Hartwell shot up 7 or 8 degrees, but Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports

May 20

Lake Hartwell water levels are very high at 661.52 (full pool is 660.00) but the lake remains clear. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 70s. 

There’s no way around the fact that the bass fishing is still very tough on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler still

May 6

Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 661.58 (full pool is 660.00) but the lake remains very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 69-71 degrees. 

Going into last weekend’s Skeeter Challenge on Hartwell Guide Brad Fowler didn’t think the bass

April 29

Lake Hartwell water levels are still well over full pool at 661.11 (full pool is 660.00). Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 60s at daylight and the lake remains very clear. 

It’s a strange time for bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports

April 16

Lake Hartwell water levels are still well over full pool at 661.16 (full pool is 660.00). Water temperatures are around 66 at daylight and the lake is pretty clear.  

There’s a lot going on in the bass world on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports

April 2

Lake Hartwell water levels are still well over full pool at 661.39 (full pool is 660.00). While water temperatures had been in the upper 50s and low 60s, with two nights in the upper 20s they are dropping fast. There is trash everywhere and certain creeks such as some at the upper end of the Seneca are muddy right now.

Last weekend's featuredFishers of Men tournament onClarks Hill was won by Chuck and Gary Odom with24.62 pounds, andAnthony Iacolono had the closest guess of 23.48 pounds worth $40.  The Odoms exceeded almost everyone's predictions!  

March 19

Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 659.85 (full pool is 660.00). There remains stained water in some creeks but overall the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 55-57 degrees. 

In the last week Guide Brad Fowler reports

March 10

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 658.96 (full pool is 660.00). There remains stained water in some creeks but overall the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 51-54 degrees. 

Particularly for the last couple of days we have had some warm highs, but Guide Brad Fowler reports

March 5

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 658.88 (full pool is 660.00). There is still some stained water in some creeks but overall the lake is pretty clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 52-55 degrees. 

The biggest change this week on Lake Hartwell is the number of bass that have moved shallow, but first Guide Brad Fowler points

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