Lake Hartwell Fishing Report May 2015

Hartwell: Level: 0.8 feet above full pool. Temp: 66-70 degrees. Clarity: Clear and some stain in the creeks.

Bass: Tournament angler Kerry Partain reports, “The bass fishing has been on fire the last couple of weeks as the blueback herring have moved up shallow to spawn. In the mornings you can catch them on a Zoom Super Fluke and topwater as they feed on the bluebacks shallow. There are also some bass spawning with the full moon, so once the sun gets up good, you can look in the pockets for bedding fish and also for bass guarding fry. As we go into May, the blueback herring will determine the bass location, so continue to look for them busting topwater and moving deeper as the month goes on and the water continues to warm up. Later in May you can catch them deeper on the points with the fluke and a drop shot or a Carolina-rigged worm.” Guide Preston Harden reports, “The largemouth and spotted bass are everywhere. The spotted bass are easy to catch. They have been mixed in with hybrids and stripers in shallow water eating flukes on jig heads. May is usually the peak of spring fishing before the fish start to go deeper.”

Linesides: Guide Preston Harden reports, “The fish have been shallow since early March. May will still find fish shallow, especially early mornings and late afternoons. By May, the fish are spawned out and are grouping up and feeding heavily. Blueback herring will not be refused by hybrids, stripers or bass. By May, I throw topwater plugs around points and shoals or anywhere I see fish chasing bait. My favorite topwater bait is a Sammy in ghost minnow.”