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Lake Hartwell

Lake Hartwell is a 56,000-acre Corps of Engineers reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. Lake Hartwell is one of the southeast's largest and most popular recreation lakes, and it offers good fishing, particularly for bass and stripers. Three recent Bassmaster Classic tournaments have been held at Hartwell. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River 7 miles below the point where the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers join to form the Savannah. Interstate 85 crosses Lake Hartwell at the Georgia-South Carolina line.

Lake Hartwell Resources

Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – January 2025

By GON Staff | December 25, 2024

Hartwell: Level: 3.3 feet below 660. Temp: Mid 50s. Clarity: Clear. Bass: Cole Wilson, with Spot Chaser Guide Service, reports, “Fish are fully into their wintertime homes, and the ditch bite is hot on the main lakes and in the creeks. Many baits will work in the ditches, such as a 1/2-oz. jigging spoon, a blade bait or a Damiki jig. Keep an eye out for any big balls of bait you might find, as well as any channel swings in the creeks. It is best to focus on ditches anywhere from 25 feet all the way out to 65 feet. Bait is usually key but is not a must. Stay on the move since not every ditch will be holding fish or bait. Another pattern to look for is the roadbeds. Roadbeds are bass highways. Especially in the winter, fish will use roadbeds to travel to their pre-spawn areas.…

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Lake Hartwell Fishing Articles

Lake Hartwell Bass In The Summer Heat On Topwater And Piles

July bass fishing is hot on Lake Hartwell —in more ways than one. Hartwell largemouth and spots set up on brush and canepiles on the main lake, and you can catch numbers and quality on a variety of baits. Hartwell’s 55,000 acres make it our second-biggest lake. It is located at the beginning of the…

Running Lake Hartwell Brushpiles And Herring Pattern Earns $100,000

With a three-day total weight of 44-lbs., 1-oz., Mike Corbishley takes the victory at stop No. 2 of the National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) season at Lake Hartwell, hosted by Anderson County, S.C. Corbishley had his toughest day of the week with 12-lbs., 9-ozs., on Day 1, added 17-lbs., 7-ozs. on Day 2, and 14-lbs.,…

Lake Hartwell Bass Fishing Tough: NPFL Day 1 Report

Making a key decision to change his approach first thing this morning, Alabama pro Kyle Welcher takes the Day 1 NPFL lead at Lake Hartwell with 16-lbs., 11-ozs. His effort gives him a 7-oz. cushion over Will Harkins going into Day 2. “I gambled a little bit this morning and decided I was going to…

Spawning Bass And Bluebacks Key To Lake Hartwell BFL Win

Brian Tidwell, of Seneca, S.C., caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds even Saturday to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell. Hosted by the City of Lavonia, the tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. Tidwell earned $3,684 for his…

Hartwell Slam Will Host Top College Bass Anglers

The Association of Collegiate Anglers is set to begin the 2024 season on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series at Lake Hartwell. The Hartwell Slam will take place on April 13-14, 2024. This no-entry-fee event also includes media coverage on a variety of streaming platforms, live coverage, social media promotions and is nationally…

Lake Hartwell Record Fish

Largemouth Bass12-lbs., 6.5-ozs.Jack Breshears03/08/76
Spotted Bass5-lbs., 6.08-ozs.Raulie Bleech03/18/07
Redeye Bass3-lbs., 7-ozs.Steve Williams04/17/04
Striped Bass59-lbs., 8-ozs.Terry McConnell02/03/02
Hybrid Bass20-lbs., 1-oz.Buster Green-----
White Bass4-lbs., 5-ozs.H.T. Davis02/06/67
White Crappie4-lb., 4-ozs.Charles McCullough04/27/68
Black Crappie3-lbs., 1.76-ozs.Jimmy Burns03/02/22
Walleye9-lbs.T.O. Sherriff1974
Blue Catfish30-lbs., 8-ozs.Melvin Wall06/26/03
Flathead Catfish66-lbs.Darrin Sealey04/04/10
Shellcracker1-lb., 4.16-ozs.DJ Hill05/13/23
Chain Pickerel2-lbs., 5-ozs.Jay Franklin03/16/23