Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – April 2009

Hartwell: Level: 10.8 feet below full pool. Temp: Mid 50s. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. Josh Fowler reports, “The cold start to the month of March has kept the fish on the lower end of the lake deep, and we are still catching fish close to the timber in 30 to 40 feet of water. Look for a place where the creek channel bends in close to a point. The fish have been right on the break where the timber meets the drop. I’m fishing a couple of different baits including a 1/2-oz. Buckeye Lures football head jig rigged with a Zoom twin-tail grub, a 3/16-oz. Zappu Wacky jig head rigged with a Zoom Swamp Crawler and a drop shot with an 4-inch Optimum baits Wacky Shad. As we move into April, focus on migration routes close to spawning areas. There will be fish in all three stages. I would focus on secondary points and pockets just off the main lake. The Optimum Baits 4 3/4-inch Baby Line Thru swimbait or a Ima Lures Flit 120 suspending jerkbait will be good choices as the fish began to pull up. For the fish that are around the bed, try the Baby Line Thru swimbait or a Spot Remover jig head rigged with a Zoom Speed Craw or Trick Worm.”

Linesides: Excellent. Travis Long reports, “Fish are biting in all parts of the lake, mostly up the Seneca and Tugaloo river arms and the backs of the creeks. Cast a Bagley Bucktail jig on windblown banks and points, also use live herring on downrods in 15 to 25 feet of water or pulling freelines across points and down red banks.”