Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – July 2007

Hartwell: Level: 3.0 feet below full pool. Temp: 82 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: The summertime topwater bite is in full swing at Hartwell. Almost any main-lake point, hump, reef marker or bridge piling is a place to get bit by either a largemouth, a striper or a hybrid. In the Hartwell Skeeter Eliminator Series tournament on the lake in June both contestants targeted the topwater fish with Sammys, flukes, Gunfish, Pencil Poppers and other topwater plugs. Butch Pitts, who won the tournament, also used a small, unconventional bait to catch some 4-lb. largemouths. For details see page 32.

Linesides: Good. On the morning of June 21, Hartwell guide Steve Crenshaw’s clients had caught 30 fish by 9:30. The day before, his clients limited by 8 a.m. “It has been pretty good here lately,” said Steve. “But the morning bite is a lot better than the afternoon bite.” Steve is pulling live bluebacks on freelines back in the coves. This bite will gradually slow down as the water temperature rises and the bluebacks and the linesides move out to deeper, cooler water on the river channels. Much of the fishing then will go to live bluebacks on downlines under lights at night, or trolling bucktail jigs on lead-core line along the river channel.

Crappie: Some small fish can be caught under bridges or in brushpiles in the 12- to 14-foot range under lights at night on minnows.