Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – March 2007

Hartwell: Level: 3.9 feet below full pool. Temp: 50-52 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Wayne Holcomb was on the lake February 23 pre-fishing for a club tournament. He said the worm bite was off, the fish didn’t want a Shad Rap either, but he and his partner caught some fish on a Norman’s crankbait. Wind was a key. “We caught some fish on windy banks and windy points; a place had to have wind blowing on it,” said Wayne. Hartwell fishing guide Steve Crenshaw has been fishing for bass some lately and catching them on a jigging spoon in about 40 feet of water. “The water is still cold, and the bass haven’t moved up yet,” he said. Steve uses a homemade spoon similar to a Hopkins spoon. A locally made Berry’s spoon will also catch bass. Steve has been targeting ditches with brush and brushpiles around shoal markers.

Linesides: Fair. Up through the end of February, the fishing for linesides had been okay, but Steve expects it to light up with warmer water temps. “There are some fish being caught by people pulling umbrella rigs along the creek and river channels,” he said. “In the afternoon, the fish have been coming up on the bank pretty good. They are hitting artificials like a Lil’ Fishy and bucktail, but they aren’t too interested in live bait.” By the end of the month, the hybrids and stripers will begin pulling up on the banks early in the morning and freelines, or live bait or cutbait on the banks will catch quick limits.

Crappie: The crappie are still holding in deep water, said Steve. You can catch them by fishing minnows in brushpiles in 15 to 18 feet of water, he said.