Lake Hartwell, South Carolina Fishing and Lake Maps

Lake Hartwell is located in the Northeast Georgia Mountains and Upcountry South Carolina. It is a beautiful lake formed by a Corps of Engineers dam on the Savannah River near Hartwell. Lake Hartwell is approximately 56,000 acres with more than 960 miles of shoreline. Fishing is one of the most popular activities at Hartwell. Fish species include largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass and hybrid bass. Numerous recreation areas, fishing piers, and bank fishing areas provide ample fishing opportunities.

The prime season for Striped bass is late December through early March. Night fishing is most productive June through September. Stripers run from the 5 to 35 pounds with some larger 40 to 50 pound fish being caught. The lake record for Striper is over 59 pounds. Herring are a preferred bait. View a fishing report.

The average size of the Hybrids is 2 to 5 pounds. The lake record for Hybrid is over 20 pounds. Shad and herring are preferred. View a fishing report.

Bream, bluegill, shell crackers, and pumpkinseeds congregate under docks, around piers, and in submerged brush at Hartwell. Worms, crickets, and other insects are productive. Bream is a great fish for teaching youth to fish. Fish range from a few ounces to a pound and larger. Black and White Crappie are one of the most popular sport fish in Lake Hartwell. Try using minnows around piers and submerged brush. Crappie may range up to 5 pounds but expect to catch more in the one pound range. Largemouth bass are easily the most sought after fish at Hartwell. Largemouth can be nearly any time of the year with a variety of bait and lures. Look near the shore where they most commonly feed. A typical largemouth will likely be in the 1 to 8 pound range. A variety of live and artificial baits will attract largemouth bass.

Check to see if limits apply, rules, and regulations apply where you are fishing.

Those managing Hartwell do an admirable job. Fisheries habitat improvements include the maintenance of deep water and shallow water fish attractors and felling trees into water along the shoreline. Also, there are a total of 2 million acres of mountain and national forest within an hour of Hartwell Lake.

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