Lake Hartwell is one of the three large reservoirs on the Savannah River operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 56,000-acre reservoir hosted the recent 2008 Bass Masters Classic. The lake provides a wide variety of fish habitats, ranging from rocky bluffs on the upper Tugaloo River arm to shallow cove pockets and sandy flats in the middle and lower sections of the lake. Boat access is available at many locations around the shoreline at boat ramps operated by the Corps of Engineers and State Parks.
LARGEMOUTH BASS, SPOTTED BASS, HYBRID BASS, STRIPED BASS, & CRAPPIE. WALLEYE are available in March in the Tugalo River headwaters from the Walker Creek boat ramp uptream to Yonah Dam.
Largemouth bass
Prospect
Largemouth bass are the most sought after fish species in Lake Hartwell. The largemouth bass population remains stable and good numbers of quality fish are available to anglers despite the frequent occurrence of drought conditions over the past decade. Typical for the Hartwell bass population is the prevalence of fish in the 12 to 14-inch and one pound size class. For the coming year, anglers can expect about 1 out of every 8 fish to weigh over 2 lb and 1 out of 20 fish to weigh over 3 lb. Of course, anglers can tip the odds in favor of larger fish through bait selection, presentation and location.
Technique
Largemouth bass are drawn to rip-rap areas around bridge abutments during the winter and early spring, especially when the wind is blowing baitfish onto these structures. Crankbaits in shad patterns, spinner baits, and jerk baits are good lure choices for bass holding on these rocky structures. During the spawning period, cast jerk baits, spinner baits, and plastic lizards into shallow water around woody debris and boat docks located in backwater coves and pockets. In early summer, bass key in on shad and herring on main lake humps and points. A favorite summer pattern is fishing early mornings and evenings on the lower half of the lake with noisy topwater lures near reef marker points adjacent to deep water. Fishing guides often comment how bass explode to the surface from their deepwater hideouts to take these topwater baits.
Target
Largemouth bass typically have a small home range, but within this small area they call home, bass will migrate into shallower or deeper water depending on the season. In the winter, largemouth bass seek refuge in deeper water. Deep timber and creek channels are a favorite winter hiding place as well as rocky banks. From March through May, largemouth will move into warmer waters along shallow banks that contain rocks and fallen trees. Rip-rapped roadsides and bridge abutments are great places to find largemouth bass during this time frame. In the summer, bass retreat to cooler water in the 20 to 40-ft depth range. At times, largemouths will explode to the surface to feed on schools of small herring and shad. This activity provides outstanding topwater action, but it is sporadic, so always be prepared to grab a rod rigged for topwater action. Fall weather brings about a dramatic transition that often slows down the bite. Anglers should explore a variety of traditional largemouth bass habitats using a variety of baits and presentations until the right combination for that day is found. Small crankbaits and spinner baits fished in creek channels and points are traditional favorites as well as Texas-rigged soft plastic worms fished on points and around fallen trees.
Spotted bass
Prospect
Spotted bass have gained a place of prominence in the Hartwell fishery over the last few years. Once restricted to a small population in the upper end of the reservoir, spotted bass can now be found in relative abundance throughout the lake. In addition, spotted bass are hybridizing with redeye bass and will soon replace them in the reservoir fish community. DNR biologists collected several spotted bass in the three pound range last season. Spotted bass are expected to grow rapidly in Lake Hartwell and anglers will soon be catching spots over the four pound mark in the near future.
Technique
Threadfin shad and blueback herring are the preferred food of spotted bass in Lake Hartwell. During late summer and fall, spotted bass will often supplement their diet small sunfish and crayfish. In the winter months, spotted bass will feed on lures in shad and herring patterns on the lower lake. They can also be caught in the deep creek channels using slow moving pig & jig combinations and Carolina rigs tipped with soft plastics. Spotted bass spawn in April and May and can be caught using fast moving, shallow-running lures worked over rocky bottoms in 5 to 15-feet of water. Spotted bass will also hide under the corners of boathouses. In the summer, anglers should be on the lookout for topwater action over humps and reef marker points. Cast into surface feeding bass with a Sammy, Zara Spook, or Fluke in herring color patterns. In the fall months, crankbaits and bottom bouncing soft plastics in crayfish patterns fished along rocky points are a sure bet.
Target
Spotted bass are much like their close relative, the redeye bass, in that both species prefer rocky habitats. Rip-rap bridge abutments, rocky points, and the face of the dam provide excellent places to fish for spotted bass. In addition, spotted bass will chase shad and herring in open water in the early morning and evening during the most seasons.
Redeye Bass
Prospect
Redeye bass are aggressive fish that inhabit rocky shorelines along the main lake channel downstream of the I-85 Bridge on the Tugaloo River arm all the way to the dam. Fishing this specific habitat with small crankbaits, spinners, and jerkbaits can be very productive. The redeye bass population of Lake Hartwell, however, is showing signs of potential collapse. With the invasion of spotted bass in the lake, redeye bass are hybridizing with spotted bass during the spawning season. In other lakes where this occurred, the redeye bass gene pool becomes diluted to the point where redeyes become non-existent. For now, redeye bass are a lot of fun to catch on ultralight tackle just about any time of the year.
Technique
Redeye bass take a variety live baits and artificial lures. Lures that imitate small fish, crayfish or insects are very effective when worked along rocky shorelines. In the summer months, redeyes retreat to deeper water along these same types of shorelines.
Target
Naturally rocky shorelines, not rip-rap, are the preferred habitat of redeye bass in Lake Hartwell. The main lake points around the I-85 bridge down to Crawford's Ferry boat landing offer an abundance of this type of habitat. At times, the rocky face of Hartwell Dam also holds redeye bass.
Hybrid Bass and Striped Bass
Prospect
Anglers can expect another exceptional year for trophy-sized hybrid bass and to a lesser extent striped bass. The hybrid bass population is at its peak in terms of abundance and quality size with 6 lb hybrids being very common. Stripers will average 8-10 lb.
Technique
Striped bass and hybrid bass inhabit similar areas because both species prey on blueback herring, threadfin shad and gizzard shad. Successful anglers, therefore, use live herring or artificial herring imitations, like bucktail jigs and flukes, to catch fish throughout the year. The same bait and lure selections work all year, but the approach changes according to the season. During the warm weather months, stripers and hybrids move downstream toward the dam to find suitable water at the right temperature and with sufficient oxygen. In the summer months, downlining herring at night is the best approach for catching a lot of fish. During the day, trolling live herring on lead core line above the submerged timber line is the most productive method. When the surface temperature cools below 75 degrees (F), stripers and hybrids will chase baitfish to the surface. During low light conditions, anglers will find breaking fish in the coves arms within eyeshot of the dam. Switch to deep water tactics to catch these same fish once they go down. During the winter months, drift live herring or large gizzard shad at various depths near the dam and at the mouth of large cove arms on the lower lake. Once the water temperature warms to 55 degrees or above in late-March, stripers will move into shallow water. Casting bucktail jigs and flukes along windblown points that have dingy-colored water is a great early spring tactic.
Target
When water temperatures range from 55 to 70 degrees (F), hybrids will congregate on secondary points located in major cove arms. Stripers will also move onto shallow water points and backwater creek channels in search of baitfish. Twenty-Six Mile Creek upstream of the Hurricane Creek boat ramp, Coneross Creek, and Martin Creek are great locations on the Seneca River arm in South Carolina. Lightwood Log Creek, Eastanollee Creek and Little Beaverdam Creek are good locations on the Tugaloo River arm. During warm weather months, stripers and hybrids migrate toward deep, cooler water near the dam. During daylight hours, fish will retreat to the safety below the submerged timber line. During twilight and dark, fish will more actively feed on adjacent points.
Crappie
Prospect
Black crappie is a seasonal favorite among Hartwell anglers. The crappie population has rebounded with higher lake levels and better spawning conditions during the last two years. As a result, anglers should catch more crappie this year in the 8-inch size class, but larger fish will be more sparse.
Technique
As the water starts to warm in late February and early March, crappie will stack up in pre-spawn staging areas. These areas include structures in 10 to 15 feet of water like submerged trees, bridge abutments, roadbeds and under boathouses that contain brush. Dropping live minnows and small crappie jigs into these structures is the best way to catch pre-spawn fish. When the water temperature reaches 65 degrees (F) by early April, crappie move into 2-3 feet of water around visible submerged cover in backwater coves. During the fall, large numbers of crappie congregate in submerged timber in 30 feet of water.
Target
The areas with the largest numbers of crappie on the Georgia side of the lake include Eastanollee Creek, Gum Log Creek, Shoal Creek and Lightwood Log Creek. In the spring, target visible structure in backwater areas. If you catch one crappie at a location, there will be plenty more in the same vicinity.
Walleye
Prospect
During the month of March into early Apirl, a fishable walleye population occurs in the Tugalo River of the Hartwell headwaters upstream of the Walker Creek boat ramp all the way to Yonah Dam. Walleye average 4 lb in size but fish up to 10 lb have been collected by DNR from this area.
Technique
Shallow running lures, like Rapalas, jigs tipped with a curly-tailed grub and nightcrawlers are all effective baits for catching walleye on their spawning migration into the Tugalo River.
A walleye fishing guidebook was prepared by DNR staff and is available at not cost on the Wildlife Resource Division's web site, here.
Target
Anglers will find walleye from the Walker Creek boat ramp to Yonah Dam during the month of March. Beyond March, walleye return to the expansive waters of Lake Hartwell and become very difficult to target.
Additional Information
Two large fishing tournament boat ramp facilities were constructed by GA-DNR on Lake Hartwell in 2010. These facilities are located near the upper end of the lake at Tugaloo State Park and on the lower end at Gum Branch. The contact information for scheduling one of these facilities is:
At Tugaloo State Park - (706) 356-4362
At Gum Branch - (706) 376-8590
Striped bass anglers can find current fishing reports at the following web sites:
Excellent trout fishing opportunities are available below Hartwell Dam in the Corps' day use area. GA-DNR constructed a large fishing pier for anglers to enjoy and plenty of trout are stocked during the summer months.
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