Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – March 2008

Hartwell: Level: 12.5 feet below full pool. Temp: 49 degrees. Clarity: The main lake and the rivers are clear, the backs of some creeks are stained.

Bass: Good. The B.A.S.S. Classic was won by Alton Jones with a three-day catch of 49 pounds. According to Hartwell bass-fishing guide Josh Fowler, Jones caught his fish on the south end of the lake, within sight of the dam. “He was fishing deep ditches and alternating between a CC jigging spoon and a Booyah jig ’n pig,” said Josh. “Basically the fish are staging in the middle of the pockets getting ready to move up. We are about one warm spell from the fish moving to the banks. I would be targeting the same kind of ditches, but moving shallower. When it gets right, and the fish are in about 5 feet of water, a Lucky Craft Pointer jerkbait will work really well.” For more on Josh’s prespawn and spawning bass tactics on Hartwell, see page 38.

Linesides: Mark Waller said the bluebacks are beginning to move and the surface activity should begin to pick up. “You should be able to catch fish freelining herring around the humps back in the creeks,” he said. “And we are seeing the gulls show where the fish are starting to come up.” For breaking fish, Mark said to have a weighted Fluke ready. “A Blade Runner will work,” he said. “And a Little George would probably work, too.”

Crappie: Josh said he doesn’t fish for crappie, but while he has been bass fishing recently he has noticed crappie fishermen trolling spider rigs in the backs of the major creeks in about 10 to 12 feet of water were catching good numbers of fish.