Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – June 2020

Hartwell: Level: Full pool. Temp: Low 70s. Clarity: Clear toward the dam, stained in the creeks.

Bass: Guide and tournament angler Matthew Justice reports, “The fishing is slowly getting tougher, but in the right location, the bite can be hot. The herring and shad spawn is lasting longer than usual. Fish topwater walking baits and flukes on flat points and shoals in the morning. A shaky head can catch fish here later in the day. Once the sun comes up, fishing shallow cover with a Texas rig and topwater can produce a big bite. Look for shad and bluegill to establish a location. As water temps rise, expect a bite on the canepiles to get going. Look for brush on your electronics in 15 to 30 feet of water, and throw walking topwaters, such as Spooks and Sammys, over them from a distance.” Guide Preston Harden reports, “Bass do not migrate far. Some will stay shallow all summer, especially under boat docks. Most bass (largemouth and spots) will move out to brushpiles and other structure 15 to 30 feet deep. Most points, humps and shoals have brushpiles planted by fishermen over the years. If you put your own brushpiles out, fish will move to it quickly. Place it deep enough so that it’s safe for all boaters. Anchor brush with a cinder block and a plastic jug in the top to keep it standing. Chances are that few fishermen will find it quickly.”

Linesides: Guide Preston Harden reports, “Most fish transition to deeper water in June. Stripers and hybrids start to gang up 20 to 30 feet deep. Early morning is prime feeding time. Early in June most stripers and hybrids are up the lake and in the major creeks. By mid to late month, the thermocline starts to form in the upper lake and major creeks. The stripers and hybrids start to migrate to the lower lake where they stay all summer. If you prefer artificial, spoons, big swimbaits and Alabama rigs can produce. I always have a topwater plug ready for surface activity.”

Read archived fishing articles on GON’s Lake Hartwell page.