But, again, checking out reviews can help you with this. The lake offers angling opportunities for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass as well as crappie, catfish, and striped bass. Striper fishing is an attractive sport because of the way the striped bass take a lure or live bait. Thanks to 56,000-acre Lake Hartwell, fishing in this area is renowned by anglers across the state. Have fun fishing for stripers on Lake Hartwell. Here's how to find your own super-sized Lake Russell striper this fall. "Live-bait fishing is the primary focus during May and throughout the summer," he said. But among all the activities you can enjoy out here, its really the fishing in Lake Hartwell that these waters are famous for. modifications. The other deal is bookable online and is still available when we check. I'll bait with live blueback herring. Thats why I was so excited when Chris Youngblood of, 3 Tips For Fishing Stripers On Lake Hartwell, Use a fishfinder to hover over groups of stripers, Drop live bait right above the thermocline, Striper fishing with guide, Chris Youngblood, Spending several hours out on a fishing boat with a stranger can be kind of an awkward situation, but right from the start, I could tell I was going to like fishing with Chris. Yes! On the Tugaloo Side, concentrate your search from Harbor Light Marina to the dam. I have been guiding on Lake Hartwell since 2001, but I have been fishing for stripers since the mid 1980's. Before he got the second rig out, I had one hooked on the first rod. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Striped bass sometimes push schools of baitfish to the surface and feed in a frenzy! Stripers will also go into a feeding frenzy, so there can be a lot of action when youve set out bait all around your boat. Clarity: 1 to 4 feet. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ufohartwell. Don't overlook the many coves and pockets off of the main river channels. This picturesque reservoir is a favorite spot for amateurs and pros alike. In fact, he mentioned that some of the heaviest catches of stripers he makes during a normal year would occur during this midsummer period. Also caught a crappie, several perch, and a couple of catfish. In almost every case when he excitedly said that phrase, one or more of his live-bait rigged rods took a nosedive. "Another excellent place I focus on is the end of long, sloping points. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. and I fish with a fly much of the time. But I do have a different technique or two when trying to single out those huge fish. Read more fishing reports from LakeHartwell and other popularplacesat the AHQ Report! Lake Hartwell is a man-made reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina and encompassing parts of the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca rivers. All that action makes for a fun fishing trip, and thats why its desirable to go out striper fishing with a guide service like Ultimate Fishing and Outdoors. But if youre ok with a short trip with basic equipment, your cost will be less. Fishing on Lake Hartwell is fun and challenging. Theyre congregating in the shallows and the lakes surrounding creeks. Three Black Bass species inhabit Lake Hartwell. If you came in the hope of battling some Hybrid or Striped Bass, and youve got the time, nothing quite does it like a full day trip. "If the fisherman is willing to give up action on numbers of fish, we'll focus on a technique for a striper in the 20- to 40-pound size class. These are the two major arms of the lake and the waters in the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers, and the creeks flowing into them, are the prime fishing areas during May. Checking online reviews of Lake Hartwell fishing guides and companies is an excellent place to start. It's located only about 2 hours from Atlanta, GA, as well as from Columbia, SC, making this honey hole a year-round favorite for local and visiting anglers. When you call, make sure to let him know we sent you! Sure enough, we could see the fish get curious and start coming up toward our bait. That means youve got to act fast or your line and pole can be yanked into the water. Learn more about how you can spend an incredible day on the water with Shad Slinger Fishing Charters . Enjoy a beautiful day in Clarks Hill in South Carolina while chasing one of the most targeted fish in SC and Georgia Striped Bass! The lake has over 56,000 acres and over 900 miles of shoreline. The conditions of your booking with us still allow penalty-free cancellations and Photo Gallery Come to experience the magic of striper fishing in Lake Hartwell with Jerry Limbaugh of Southern Comfort Striper Guide! This all depends on your preferences, experience, budget, and how much time you have, but each approach offers something unique. The drop shot rig can even be fished from shore. All you need to bring with you is your choice of food and drink, along with a chest to carry your catch back with you. Fishing enthusiasts can pursue bass, catfish, crappie, walleye, bluegill, sunfish, striped bass and hybrid stripers. (A) It is unlawful to possess more than two blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) greater than thirty-two inches in length in any one day in Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, or the upper reach of the Santee River, the Congaree and Wateree rivers, and all other state waterways. Lake Hartwell is known for it's Striped Bass and Hybrid fishing, but also holds good populations of Largemouth Bass, Crappie and Catfish. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. If you dont have your own fishing gear (or didnt bring it), a great Lake Hartwell fishing guide will usually have it all for you. We look forward to helping you catch memories that will last a lifetime! And while there are many different techniques you can try out, were here to talk about the [], The state of Georgia deserves its excellent fishing reputation. Billy and his family endured a rainy Good Friday to catch a box full of hybrids with us today. Shop our collection of fishing rods to find the one that best matches your needs. Copyright Southern Comfort Striper Guide 2023 All Rights Reserved We had a blast fishing with captain James . Carolina Outdoors striper fishing on Lake Hartwellwww.scoutdoors.comLike us on Facebook at Carolina Outdoors TV & South Carolina Outdoors Each pack contains six hooks. Make sure to show off your catch on social media and tag us @lakehartwellguide! Just off of I-85, at the South Carolina-Georgia border, youll find Lake Hartwell State Park. What kind of license do I need to fish in Lake Hartwell? Southern Obsession Fishing Charters - Lake Hartwell | (864) 444-7140 1 2 3 Fishing Charters Are you ready to tackle your trophy fish but don't know how? Rick again! Some of the top rated are: According to customer reviews on FishingBooker.com, some of the best rated charter captains in Lake Hartwell are: Who are the top awarded captains in Lake Hartwell? "Topwater schooling action is heart-stopping exciting, especially when there are some 10- to 20-pound stripers ripping baitfish to shreds on the water's surface. It was using his method that caught us the biggest fish of the night! The top lake of the three Savannah River chain lakes, the lake is created by the Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles below the point where the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah. That's what we're looking for.". Stripers put up a good fight on the line which makes striper fishing a lot of fun! 1st time fishermen to this lake or local anglers, having a local guide someone that fishes the lake routinely give you a advantage seeking a trophy fish and a amazing day out on the water. The most significant forage species are blueback herring and threadfin and gizzard shad. What is drop shot rig? Your dates are popular we've run out of trips with this charter! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. LAKE HARTWELL IS FULL, 60'S Bass fishing is good. I'll often mark a lot of fish several feet off the bottom, but if there are some big fish lying near the bottom, that's my key. It can be absolutely outstanding. On June 2nd, 1932, George Perry caught the current world record bass out of Lake Montgomery, an oxbow lake off the Ocmulgee River in southern Georgia. He added that it is essential to get the boat positioned just right, so he studies the layout of the fish as depicted on the graph. But a hard-charging striper or two that becomes hooked seems to turn on the rest of them. A drop shot rig consists of line tied to a hook with a trailing leader that comes to an end with a weight so that the weight is at the bottom and the hook and bait are above it. Here is some footage from pre fishing and a l. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. And, unbelievably, some of the best striper fishing of the year actually occurs during the real hot weather months of July and August. We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience. However, Hamilton said you can also catch some really big fish now. He has a great sense of humor and tons of patience for inexperienced fishers and chatty 12 year olds. "For that reason, I'll usually lower my bait so it's about 3 feet off the bottom," he said. This time we didn't have to wait so long for the fish to bite. Located on the Georgia/ South Carolina border less than ten miles to the west of Anderson, South Carolina, the Hartwell Dam and Reservoir were constructed between 1955 and 1963. You need to . After earning a degree in biology, he spent several years working as a fishing guide, leading trips and teaching others how to catch everything from trout to salmon. Early in the season, theyll dwell in deep waters, at depths of 60 to 80 feet. And as professionals, theyll have some high-quality gear that most casual fishermen wont have, specific to the fish in Lake Hartwell. One of the Southeasts largest and most popular lakes, Lake Hartwell covers approximately 56,000 acres at full pool, has around 962 miles of shoreline, and extends 49 miles up the Tugaloo River and 45 miles up the Seneca River.A very popular fishing lake with abundant underwater timber, Clarks Hill is known for its largemouth bass fishery, a large population of stocked striped and hybrid bass, big flathead and blue catfish, prolific crappie, bream, and more. Blue-back herring is the preferred bait for striped bass. The Game Plan Wendell Wilson and Jerry Kotal are full-time, multi-species guides on Lake Russell, and both are striped bass experts. Theyre the ones who know these fishing grounds and the way fish behave the best. The fish patterns dictate the areas we can most successfully fish. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". For striped bass in August, Chris said the fish go into deep water where its cooler. So, as you can likely tell by now, Lake Hartwell is incredibly diverse. The lake is dotted with recreation areas, boat launches, and fishing piers where all types of anglers can fish the lake. Lake Hartwell is also one of the only two lakes in South Carolina, the other one being Lake Russell, where you can find Walleye. Theyll also teach you which techniques produce the most fish, making them the perfect allies to have by your side. "Fortunately, that's what occurs during May and into the summer. "However, on occasion, you'll find days where all the fish are suspended well off the bottom and you'll have to work that depth. "We enjoy excellent fishing throughout much of the year here on Lake Hartwell," Hamilton said. A five-minute boat run ensued and we quickly worked the same setup. Striper Fishing Fishing Guide Contact Us Gallery Leave Us A Review! You can get up-to-date information on Lake Hartwell fish regulations by visiting South Carolinas Department of Natural Resources. Stripers range up to 2 to 65 lbs, with a typical catch being anywhere between 3 and 15 lbs. Bass: Guide Matthew Justice reports, "The fishing is really starting to pick up as large waves of fish push to the bank. And fishing is no fun if you dont know what youre doing and the fish dont bite. When you go out fishing with a group, you can easily have every person on a pole at the same time. If you want to hit Georgias best fishing spots in search of Bass, Trout, Walleye, Perch, and more, Reel Time Charters is the name to remember. Hamilton added that this is still a lot of water to cover, but it does give him and other anglers a target area to focus on for May fishing. Usually, the fishing starts in the Tugaloo and Seneca River arms in spring and remains strong over summer, when fish move deep into the lake. ABOUT US . You may be lucky to be there when it happens! Lake Hartwell is situated right on the Sothern Carolina-Georgia border, a 56,000-acre home to some of the best fishing in the south. There are two main reasons why you should look into fishing guides: Choosing a guide comes down to personal preference, but there are a few things you should consider: Lake Hartwell Fishing Report April 07th 2023, Lake Hartwell Fishing Report April 01st 2023, Lake Hartwell Fishing Report March 21st 2023. They know the lake. Please keep Kid friendly , Post Striper pictures from Lake Hartwell and ways you caught . Born and raised here in FairPlay lake Hartwell Crappie fishing my whole life! Lake Hartwell isnt a one trick pony fishery, though. If youre visiting Lake Hartwell for fishing, a guide can help you have a more successful trip because they know the lake and the fish that live in it. Typically, I won't fish as deep. | Hamilton added that generally the typical depth to catch fish at this time of the year would be in the 35- to 50-foot depth range; the exact depth of the fish, not surprisingly, may change a few feet either way on a given day. Theres a fish consumption advisory in effect for Lake Hartwell. Where can I catch crappie in Lake Hartwell? You will be provided with all the bait you need for a memorable fishing experience on Lake Hartwell. (May 2008). By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. This corresponds to a 2.5 percent change in the average number of visitors per month to USACE recreation sites per foot of lake level change. Lake Hartwell Striper Fishing Report - June 28, 2020. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Theyll move closer to shore, saving you from a longer trek into the lakes deeper waters. How many times has the Bassmaster Classic been at Lake Hartwell? Boat traffic here is minimal and on most days, youll feel [], Any river that spans 200 miles and two states is bound to sweep you off your feet. No big guys, but thats for the next trip! || Photos || Lake Hartwell The striped bass is the largest fish in Lake Hartwell. James today,the man knows how to keep his customers on steady fishing action an works very hard to keep everyone baited up an lines in the water. The SC 93 and SC 123 bridges are favorite places for Jay Bruce to catch a stringer of big Lake Hartwell slabs. Contact Hamilton (Lake Hartwell Striper Guide Service at 864/304-9011) to book a trip anytime of the year. Add a dozen of fishing tournaments, a vast diversity of species, and a multitude of hotspots to that, and it becomes clear that Fox River fishing deserves a place on your agenda soon. Lake Hartwell Fishing Report - April 2023. Crappie Black crappie, a seasonal favorite of Hartwell anglers, has suffered from the extended drought and low lake levels. 2023 FishingBooker.com. If you feel fine with tackling Lake Hartwell on your own, setting up on one of the banks is definitely the more budget-friendly way to fish here. However, pound-for-pound, Hybrid Striped Bass will grace you with a more thrilling fight. We may have to motor around a bit to find them, but once we do, we'll see some pretty fast action.". Click here for 30 day free trial! University of Georgia. The AHQ Report is your source for exclusive fishing reports, tournament updates, and more! Fish are beginning to show up in their usual summertime haunts on Lake Hartwell. Hartwell: Level: Full at 660. But that action is sometimes sporadic and unpredictable, so most guides at Lake Hartwell see it as a backup plan, sort of a Plan B. Brandon will do his best to make sure you have a fun day full of fishing. I have used many fishingbooker guides and Tim (git-r-bent) ranks in the top 10%. A hot Day for fishing, but Capt Rick made the most of it. "This was an awesome day! However, his bread-and-butter pattern from now through summer is live-bait fishing. Susan, GA. For every one foot increase (or decrease) in lake level, monthly visits to USACE recreation sites on Hartwell Lake increased (or decreased) by nearly 21,200 visitors. All Rights Reserved. When fishing for Lake Hartwell stripers during the month of May, getting an early start to the fishing can be a really good idea. (864) 444-1591 Southern Comfort Striper Guide Jerry Limbaugh of Southern Comfort Striper Guide offers exceptional charter fishing on Lake Hartwell. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles below the point at which the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah. These are often updated each season, so its best to check them out when you start planning your trip. If you haven't enjoyed this type of striper fishing, now's the time and Lake Hartwell is the place. Youll probably be with your fishing guide on Lake Hartwell for a few hours, so you want to make sure that your personalities go well together. Spend a lot of my own time setting up the Brush pile for my Crappie fishing to be excellent! There's plenty of places we can consistently find stripers and hybrids during this time of the year using live bait. Southern Obsession. Can you imagine what itd be like to wrestle a river monster like that? Hartwell striper guide Chip Hamilton with a nice striped bass near the Lake Hartwell dam. "We'll try another point, then we'll start looking for them in the deeper water.". What is a comfortable water temperature for swimming? These Major League Fishing pros share the best tips and advice they've ever received. If you havent had the opportunity to wrestle mustached creatures yet, you should know that theyre some of the best freshwater fighters you can run across. What an awesome day!!! Thats when theyll be on the move, migrating from deep to shallow waters. I have been guiding on Lake Hartwell since 2001, but I have been fishing for stripers since the mid 1980's. I fish year round at least five days a week. What kind of hook do you use for drop shot? To make the most of your fishing trip to Lake Hartwell, consider enlisting the help of a Lake Hartwell fishing guide. Crappie feed all winter, too, making for an easy dinner. Morning surface water temperatures are mostly in the low 50s. Based on 26199 reviews by FishingBooker anglers, data-event-category="Navigation header guest", Full list of top fishing charters in Lake Hartwell, FishingBooker has a Shopper Approved rating of 4.8/5 based on 26199 ratings and reviews. Since the lake is situated on the border between Georgia and South Carolina, you can fish in its waters with either states license. Highly recommend! Spending several hours out on a fishing boat with a stranger can be kind of an awkward situation, but right from the start, I could tell I was going to like fishing with Chris. "Really big stripers are very sensitive to boats and external influences," Hamilton said. Captain Rick went above and beyond to make sure that they had fun and were able to catch some nice fish. Roth is a good captain." The clear favorites for Lake Hartwell anglers are Hybrid and Striped Bass. All rights reserved. SCDHEC recommends that no fish be eaten that are caught in Twelve Mile Creek or in the Seneca River Arm of Lake Hartwell. Winchester's new Big Bore ammo, available in 10 mm, .44 Mag., .357 Mag., and .45 Colt, is specifically designed for big bears in bear country. The consumption advisory for the main body of the lake recommends that people limit consumption of channel catfish and largemouth bass to one meal (eight ounces) per month. So how do you tell the difference? Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. Striped bass are strong fish that grab your bait and dart away, so reeling them in can be a big fight. I may fish clean flats during April and May, but they usually will be near a channel.". It was a fun day of fishing! We had a wonderful fishing trip with Brandon! "Sometimes the boat will spook the fish at first, but they'll usually get used to it pretty quick," Hamilton said. By now, I realized he was serous about the fast-paced action he was expecting. Lake Hartwell is a premier fishing destination in the Southeast. Its the time weve all been waiting for! The warmer water temperatures create the ideal environment for spawning Striped Bass. Among the accomplishments includes the recently concluded Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt initiative, which in 10 years conserved or enhanced 5.3 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, recruited 1.5 million new or lapsed hunters, and opened new access to 750,000 acres for hunting and recreation. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Theres also a great stock of Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Catfish, and Crappie. Southern Comfort Striper Guide | 1080 Mountain Springs Road Anderson, SC 29621 | Phone: (864) 444-1591. Tim is a great guy, knowledgeable, and patient. For example, whenever youre in the mood for some panfish, you can go for White and Black Crappie, as well as Sunfish lurking in the lake. In the above video, NWTF's Jason Burckhalter talks about the group's accomplishments and future plans with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Clarity: 2 to 6 feet. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. Sometimes, when one bites, the other fish literally go on a feeding frenzy and the action is wild. Kaylah, NC. Hamilton said that he is geared up to take advantage of any topwater schooling action. This means you can access the lake from boat ramps in both states. Very enjoyable. We used a trolling motor to keep the boat in the right location and dropped live bait over a very active group of stripers. Many major Pro tournaments held on Lake Hartwell shows the draw for big Bass and Crappie on the lake. Ultimate Fishing & Outdoors | Anderson SC Lake Hartwell fishing guides have Professional Bass boats holding 1-2 anglers and state of the art Electronics and top Rods and Reels needed for you Hartwell fishing adventure, 2 trips today were very successful. But I like the mid-sector because there's a great diversity of humps, points, drops and ledges both in the creeks and along the mai, n river channel. Lake Hartwell is known for its Striped Bass and Hybrid fishing, but also holds good populations of Largemouth Bass, Crappie and Catfish. He said that if you can get one fish excited, the others will often follow suit, and the whole gang will start biting like crazy. On Lake Hartwell, you can catch both of these fish for most of the year. On Lake Hartwell, its all about that Bass. Thats where the smaller fish that striped bass like to eat gather, and thats where you want to drop your bait. If its particularly cold and the bite is weak, you can always count on Crappie. A Lake Hartwell fishing adventure offers up some of the best freshwater angling action in the Southeastern US. The action continued until sunrise and then it switched off like a light switch had been flipped. Hartwell 28 ft 6 persons. It does not store any personal data. What is the world record largemouth bass? Usually, the fishing starts in the Tugaloo and Seneca River arms in spring and remains strong over summer, when fish move deep into the lake. If the wind is not howling, he'll often use his electric motor to work an area. Can you eat fish from Lake Hartwell 2020? The remaining Largemouth, Hybrid, and Striped Bass, however, will greedily bite on a variety of baits. "Unless you have the different keys to success found together, odds of getting into red-hot fishing action is somewhat diminished," he said. I don't get real caught up in the actual size of the bait I use at this time of the year. The beginning of the year marks one of the best times to land Hybrid Bass. "Also, I'll use a free-line rig a lot during this time of the year. Since the basic feeding pattern of the stripers and hybrids is to gorge on roaming baitfish during spring, a live 4- to 6-inch blueback herring is the perfect size to catch the fish. Kayak fishing is becoming more and more popular among anglers, and for a good reason, too. Fall Activities around Lake Hartwell, GA. 710 0. But since the dam lies below the point at which Seneca and Tugaloo rivers merge into the Savannah, Lake Hartwell actually encompasses portions of all three of these rivers. To top it all off, theyll provide you with a boat you can use to navigate the lake. Avoid backlashes by making simple adjustments to your reel and matching your lures to your rod's power and action. To improve your chances of catching fish and ensure youre fishing lawfully, heading out with a guide is recommended. Lake Hartwell Fishing Guides, If you are looking for a premier Bass fishing destination then look no further.