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Lake Hartwell Fishing Report May 2013

GON Staff | May 1, 2013

Hartwell: Level: 1.9 feet below full pool. Temp: 65-70 degrees. Clarity: Main lake is clear; creeks and rivers are stained.

Bass: Good and getting better, according to FLW tournament pro Kerry Partain. “Thankfully the weather is somewhat back to normal, and the fish are on the move. There are a lot of bass shallow right now that can be caught on a variety of baits,” Kerry said. “The flooded grass in the pockets is holding some big bass, and the Zoom Trick Worm is hard to beat. If the fish seem to be on the deeper edge of the grass, I like to throw a 3/16-oz. Texas-rigged Brush Hog. The bluebacks are also starting to migrate to the major spawning areas, and I expect that bite to improve throughout the month of May. When the bass move out after their spawn, they will feed up on the bluebacks, and you can catch bass on topwater and the Zoom Super Fluke. Now is the time to get out on the water and catch some big fish—and a lot of them. Guide Preston Harden reports, “Bass fishing has been on fire. Look for bass in the grass where the water has risen and there is submerged vegetation. Throw a weedless worm in the grass in front of bass you can see cruising. This can be a blast, as it is easy to see the bass in the grass.”

Linesides:
Very good. “Stripers and hybrids are active all over the lake,” guide Preston Harden said. “Many are being caught up in the rivers, and many are being caught near the dam, too. The fish can be found almost anywhere on the lake. Techniques to catch stripers vary, as the fish are feeding so well. Early mornings and late afternoons are prime with the fish in very shallow water. Some anglers like to pull the boat up on the bank and cast cut herring or live herring out around the boat on Carolina rigs. If you try this, don’t put all the lines in deep water, as these fish can be very shallow. Pulling freelined herring around shallow points and shoals also works. This works well while casting flukes and jigs. Larger artificials worked faster will now work. During midday, look for fish in deeper water. If you see fish splashing water instead of swirling, they will eat topwater plugs. My favorite is a Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost minnow.”

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