Lake Hartwell Fishing Reports – March 2021

Hartwell: Level: 1.3 feet low. Temp: 50-54 degrees. Clarity: 2 to 5 feet.

Bass: Guide and tournament angler Matt Justice reports, “Fishing is going to pick up red hot in the next two weeks with fish moving into staging areas next to spawning areas. Look for points and rockpiles in 5 to 20 feet of water, and catch them on red crankbaits, football jigs and jerkbaits. Once the fish pull up shallow, a worm fished under and around docks is the best bet. Look for fish to start bedding in late March and continue through May.”

Linesides: Guide Preston Harden reports, “March is one of my favorite months to fish. I love to fish small artificials and catch big fish. I fish small bucktail jigs and flukes and fish shallow like a bass fisherman. But I am looking for a fish that can rip the drag unlike a bass. This is finesse fishing and not so easy. You have to slow down the presentation. You have to put the jig where the fish are. Concentrate on wind-blown banks. You don’t have to start early. The water warms on a warm day, and the fish move shallow later in the day. Expect to catch stripers, hybrids, largemouth and spots.”

Crappie: Guide Preston Harden reports, “Crappie become more aggressive by March and move farther back in the creeks. I start shooting docks more than fishing jigs vertically. I am still looking for crappie in the shade of docks and bridges. I will upsize my jig from 1/32-oz. to 1/16-oz. By late March, I will start looking for crappie around structure as they prepare to spawn. They like to attach their eggs to wood, rock, stick-ups and other structures. March is a great month to fish artificials, so if you like to cast small jigs and catch big fish, get ready.”