Lake Hartwell Topwater Bass Bite Is On Fire

Cole Wilson, of Spot Chaser Guide Service, said the topwater bite at Lake Hartwell is on fire.

The month of June is upon us, and that means something pretty awesome is happening right now at Lake Hartwell. GON just spoke to guide and tournament angler Cole Wilson, who is on the water this morning (Tuesday, June 3), and he said the Hartwell topwater bite is on. Main-lake points, humps and brushpiles are key to this June bite.

“This morning, I’m running some stuff I haven’t checked in while, and I already have three bass in the boat that total about 9 pounds,” Cole said. “My wife and I fished a tournament this weekend and finished second with 17 pounds. The topwater bite is insane right now.”

The summer topwater bite on the northeast Georgia lake is truly one of the best aspects of bass angling in the Peach State. Largemouth and spotted bass will often travel from more than 20 feet deep in order to strike topwater baits of different shapes and sizes. Cole said the bass are setting up over drops right now, and today he’s finding bass about 7 feet deep.

With all of that in mind, Georgia Outdoor News wants to serve readers with specifics on what it’ll take to successfully boat as many bass as possible when you visit Hartwell. Expectations are always high for the topwater bite but as is the case with any body of water and any genre of lure, nothing gets it done 100 percent of the time without fail. Thanks to Cole at Spot Chaser Guide Service, we’ve gathered some information on the baits and presentations that’ll help you the most.

Suggested topwater…

Heddon Zara Spook (Chrome)
The side-to-side action seems to drive bass crazy in the summer time. It has a way of calling them up from depth and the strike is always fun—just make sure you’re ready for it. The lure, which started as a wooden piece in the 1920s, has had its name since the late 1930s. It should work well for largemouth and spotted base. It’s not out of the ordinary to gain the attention of a striper or two.

Ima Little Stik (Chrome)
When it comes to action, this one can be similar to the Spook. The Little Stik 135 is 5.5 inches long and tips the scales at one ounce. Like most topwater plugs, it’s plenty substantial enough to sling around with a baitcaster. The different ways the Little Stik can be fished make it a great lure. You can pop it along with some jerk actions or walk it back with a fairly steady retrieve—walk the dog.

The Lake Hartwell Page: Fishing Reports, Archived Articles

Looking a little deeper…

Jig (Color unspecified)
Most anglers will tell you that the jig is one of the oldest, most reliable lures out there. There’s also a plethora of ways to fish it. Starting with color suggestions here, it’s always wise to try and match the jig colors up with the type of baitfish you’re seeing. You can flip the jig, let it sink, and swim it back up quickly to cover a lot of water, but Cole, in his latest fishing report to Georgia Outdoor News, favors letting it work deep and fished slowly in the brushpiles and on the drop-offs.

Yamamoto Senko (Green Pumpkin)
The Senko is a north Georgia staple and Wilson suggests using it on a Carolina rig. All you need is a bullet sinker, a barrel swivel, a short leader of less than 20 inches, and an offset hook to make it happen. One of the reasons a Senko is so effective is its ultra soft texture that allows it to move in such a way that is so provocative for bass. It’s also the reason you need to have plenty on hand because if it’s working and the bass are biting, using a Senko twice is pretty much out of the question.

Lizard (Green Pumpkin)
Some will say this soft plastic bait, in this color, can be used all over the state. If the water is clear, the 5- and 6-inch varieties should be just right. If the water is murky due to rain and visibility is low, it might be worth opting for the large 8-inch lizard to help garner more attention. Again, Wilson suggests the Carolina rig and speaking from experience, it’s not a bad idea to toss a lizard in the middle of schoolers if you can find them.