Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – July 2023

Hartwell: Level: 0.9 above 660. Temp: 78-88 degrees. Clarity: 2 to 4 feet.

Bass: Guide Matthew Justice reports, “The fishing has started to get much tougher. Fish have moved into more traditional summer patterns and should stay put until the lake turns over in September. The main pattern right now is finding schools of fish offshore in 15 to 25 feet of water. These fish relate to brush and trees on points and humps adjacent to the river channel. The fish can be called to the surface on some occasions with topwater baits but will also take worms fished in the cover. With the lake staying up around full pool, some fish are still relating to shallow cover and can be caught on hollow-body frogs.”

Tournament angler Justin Kimmel says the brushpile bite has fired up recently as bass are finally starting to stack up on them. “Fishing flukes over them have produced some big bags,” Justin said. “Topwater walking baits will work when conditions are right, with some wind chopping the water. Find brushpiles on the tips and sides of points and shoals. You can catch some good largemouth around deeper docks in main-lake pockets. Fish a 3/16-oz. shaky head with a green-pumpkin Magnum Hit Worm. Dock fish are eating bream, so if you see bluegill around the floats, you will be around bass. A Berkley Choppo run beside the floats and under the docks in the mornings will catch big largemouth.”

Lake Hartwell Page: Archived Articles, News & Fishing Reports