Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – December 2019

Hartwell: Level: 4.3 feet low. Temp: 60 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Tournament angler Kerry Partain reports, “The bass are starting to stack up in creeks, ditches and major pockets, so the rest of November and December should be a good time to load the boat. With the water temperature getting close to hitting the 50s, the bass are really keying on bait to fatten up for the winter. Good electronics are crucial. When I find the bait and fish on my Lowrance, I will use a drop shot and a jigging spoon to mimic the bait they are feeding on. If you notice the fish are really active or if it is windy, you can also catch them on a Fish Head Spin rigged with a Zoom Fluke or an Alabama Rig with a Zoom Swimming Fluke Jr. On Hartwell in November and December, I always keep a jerkbait and a Zoom Super Fluke on the deck because the bass will still come up busting bait on the surface, especially on foggy mornings and overcast days. If you get a chance to go on the lake, this time of year is a good one to catch some big bass and a lot of bass as they load up on baitfish.”

Linesides: Guide Preston Harden reports, “December is one of my favorite months. The turnover is complete, and the fish are feeding well. This time of year, they key on small shad. But herring will still catch fish, especially big fish. I like catching fish on artificials, and this is a good time of year to do that. Fish move shallow and feed under the birds. Bucktail jigs and jig heads with flukes work for me. Hybrids and stripers feed shallow in low light. Early, late and cloudy days see the most surface action. Bright, sunny days are best spent with a jigging spoon 30 to 40 feet deep. Look in creek channels and in the backs of pockets. Bounce the jig up and down off the bottom. Feel for the hit on the fall. Bass will be caught using the same technique.”