2006 Fishing Prospects
Lake Hartwell is one of three large reservoirs on the Savannah River operated by the U.S. COE. Lake Hartwells 56,000 acres are formed by the Tugalo and Seneca Rivers, which merge to form the Savannah River. Lake Hartwell provides a wide variety of fish habitats that range from rocky bluffs on the upper Tugaloo arm, which are preferred by redeye bass, to shallow cove pockets and sandy flats that are frequented by largemouth bass. Long, gradually sloping points and humps are located on most bends along the main channel, which attract striped bass and hybrid bass. Black and white crappie are drawn to the large expanses of submerged timber in many coves and along the main channel. Boat access is available at many locations around the shoreline at ramps operated by COE and the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites Division. In addition, Tugaloo and Hart State Parks offer lodging, camping, picnicking and other recreational activities.
During the extended drought, sapling pine trees and other woody plants and grasses naturally revegetated the shoreline around Lake Hartwell. The lake returned to full pool in 2003 and inundated the newly established vegetation. This flooded vegetation has provided a safe haven for young bass over the past two years. As a result, small bass (8 10 inches) that have benefited from the abundance of protective shelter will dominate the largemouth bass population in 2005. Besides high numbers of small bass this year, persistent anglers also should be able to hook into more largemouth in the 2 - 3 lb. range. WRD biologists estimated the density of adult bass to be 24 fish per shoreline mile and about one bass in five caught this year will weigh over 2 lb. Lake Hartwell's ability to consistently support good numbers of bass over 2 lb. makes it a favorite location on the bass tournament circuit.
Anglers fishing for crappie should enjoy one of their best years on Lake Hartwell. The abundance of black crappie is up, and fish from 10 12 inches (¾ lb.) will be very common this spring. In addition, crappie ranging from 12 - 15 inches (1½ lb.) also are more plentiful and will account for about 20 percent of the catch. When the water starts to warm in March, anglers should fish for crappie around submerged trees and old road beds in 10 15 feet of water. As the water warms into April, crappie will move into more shallow water. The major cove arms in the upper reservoir, especially Eastanollee Creek, support more crappie than the deeper and clearer waters on the lower lake.
Over the last few years, WRD stocked more striped bass and less hybrid bass into Lake Hartwell in order to create more balance between the two species and increase the trophy potential of the reservoir. In 2005, the results of these efforts will be noticeable in the angler catch. First, anglers can expect to catch nearly equal numbers of stripers and hybrids. Fish ranging from 2 - 4 lb. will be the most common for both species. In addition, the abundance of bigger fish of both species will be higher in 2005, so anglers can expect to catch a few more hybrids in the 4 - 6 lb. range and a few more stripers in the 10 - 12 lb. weight class. Over time, the numbers of hybrids will decline slightly, but the catch ratio of small to big fish should remain about the same. The expanding striped bass population should more than compensate for losses in the hybrid bass population, in terms of numbers and trophy fish.
Numerous bank fishing opportunities are available at the state parks and boat ramp facilities around the lake, but three or four sites are seasonal stand outs. For stripers and hybrids at night during the summer, anglers should fish live herring or cut bait on the bottom at Long Point, located in Hartwell at the COE Long Point Boat Ramp. Walker Creek, which is the most upstream ramp on the Georgia side, offers good seasonal fishing opportunities for white bass, walleye, hybrid bass and striped bass from March through May. These same species also can be caught from the shore a little further upstream at the base of Yonah Dam. Stephens County Park, adjacent to the Highway 123 Bridge, provides good bass fishing along the rip-rap in April. Crappie frequently are caught around the bridge pilings and around the culvert on the upstream side of the bridge during the spring. For more information about Lake Hartwell, visit the COE website at www.sam.usace.army.mil/op/rec.