Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – November 2021

Hartwell: Level: 1 foot above full. Temp: 65-70 degrees. Clarity: 1 to 4 feet.

Bass: Tournament angler and guide Matt Justice reports, “Baitfish are congregating in their respected winter/fall haunts. Blueback herring are migrating into deep-water drains and ditches, and the bass are following. Look for these fish to take swimbaits, underspins and jerkbaits. Fish during the day can be caught on a football jig in 10 to 50 feet of water. The threadfin shad have already made their way into the backs of creeks in the search of oxygen. Once you find an area with baitfish, throw buzzbaits, frogs, crankbaits and jigs. Cover water and change lures often. Bass are active this time of year, so look for visual clues when fishing shallow.”

Linesides: Guide Preston Harden of Bucktail Guide Service reports, “November can be a tough month to fish. Understanding the fall turnover will help you find active fish. Fish migrate looking for better water quality. When the lake turns over, the surface water sinks and the deep water rises. It is easy to tell when the water is turning. It gets a dark color. It may get foamy and smell like rotting leaves. Fish don’t like turning water as the oxygen is depleted. They are looking for green water that has already turned or has not turned yet. The turnover starts up lake and in the creeks. These same shallow areas complete turnover first. This is where the fish migrate to. Turnover gets worse after a cold snap and subsides after a few stable weather days. Look for green water and try to not fish after a cold snap. By late November, the turnover is usually complete. The water turns a pretty green. The seagulls arrive and lead you to the fish. The game fish then go on a feed getting ready for winter.”