Lake Hartwell Fishing Report (SCDNR)

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This report is copied straight from the SCDNR website.


Lake Hartwell (Updated February 9)
Lake Hartwell water levels are significantly up to 654.24 (full pool is 660.00), while water temperatures are still around 45 degrees. The main lake is still clear but with rising water there is some color in the creeks.

Bass on Lake Hartwell can still be found mixed between deep and shallow water, and Guide Brad Fowler reports that there is still a pretty good deep bite in 30-40 feet of water on drop shots and shakey heads. Besides channels and timber he has also found fish around deep rock. However, the biggest change is that with rising water levels there is a better bite in the creeks where fish have moved up into the stained water. Fishing a shallow running crankbait is the best bet.

On the striped bass front, Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that fishing is still not good – but there are more decent days than there were even a week or two ago. You can catch a few fish, which is better than it was, and with no major cold coming it should only get better. Instead of 1-5 fish in a long day you have a realistic shot at catching 6-12.
The best pattern to catch a big striper continues to be fishing free-lines and planer boards in the back of creeks after the sun has warmed the water, and fish can be found as shallow as over 20 feet of water. For numbers the best bet is still to concentrate on the creek channels and flats with down-lines in about 30-40 feet. Fish could be on the bottom one day and suspended the next. Birds have been pretty active on bait, which helps anglers locate the fish.

Captain Bill Plumley (864-287-2120) reports that the catfish bite has been really tough, and on his last trip he managed three small catfish.