Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – April 2008

Hartwell: Level: 9.4 feet below full pool. Temp: 53 degrees early, mid 50s later in the day. Clarity: The main lake and the rivers are clear, the backs of the creeks are stained.

Bass: Good, said guide Josh Fowler. “Right now all the rain has stained the water pretty good. Jerkbaits are usually a good bait this time of year, but the bass have to see it. In the dingy water a Rat-L-Trap or Shad Rap is a better bet.” By the first week of April, the fish should be on the banks, and if the water clears, Josh recommends a Spot Remover jig head with a crawfish imitation. Throw the jig into the bed, and just shake it to get the fish to hit. For fish cruising the banks, a shaky head with a Zoom Trick Worm will catch fish. Green worms, like watermelon or green pumpkin are good colors. “If that doesn’t work, I’d try a merthiolate or bubblegum floating worm around docks and other shoreline cover,” said Josh. If the water stays dingy, you won’t be able to see the beds. “If you can’t see the beds, and you are just blind-casting, I would throw a spinnerbait,” he said.

Linesides: Slow start to the spring bank-fishing bite, said guide Wayne White. “It has been slow,” said Wayne. “The fish are wanting to pull up on the banks, but they haven’t made the move yet. We are catching a few fish, but the weather has been keeping the fish off the bank.” Wayne said he has been casting Lil Fishys to the bank and pulling free-line herring anticipating the fish moving up any day. In April, the fish should be on the banks and live and cut bait usually account for limit catches in short order. Look for red-clay banks in 18-Mile, 26-Mile, Little Beaver and Big Beaver creeks.

Crappie: Good. Wayne and a client placed second in a March 15 crappie tournament with 20 fish that weighed 23.56 pounds. They caught fish pulling jigs, minnows and minnow-tipped jigs 3 or 4 feet deep back in 18-Mile Creek in water 15 feet or less.