Local guides share their passion and tips for fishing Lake Hartwell this spring
To fish the waters of Lake Hartwell over many years is to know it like a friend. The vast reservoir, located about an hour south of Greenville, is more rugged than Lowcountry lakes but gentler than true mountain lakes. Its 900 miles of shoreline can feel as calm and quiet as a wild oasis in some places, rowdy and fun-loving in others.
Gliding silently beneath the surface of Lake Hartwell are vast numbers of largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, and hybrid stripers. For local fishers, these sport fish are prizes, caught through a combination of grit, skill, and luck.
March through June is the best period for beginning anglers to head out on the waters. For the seasoned guides who help these newcomers try their luck on the lake, there are few things better than watching novices bring in their first catch or watching more experienced fishers reel in their largest prize. Here are their thoughts for those considering a trip to Lake Hartwell this season.
The anglers
Zeke Boggs, Southern Obsession Fishing Charters
fishingchartersinlakehartwellsc.com
Lake Hartwell in the early morning—I mean, man, you’d have to be on the lake to see it. The sunrise coming over the water at dawn. I’ve got the best office view of anybody you can ask. The quiet, the peacefulness. Time is just standing still. Whenever I take people out in the morning, everybody on the boat, they stop fishing. They want to get pictures of it. They want to pause and take it in.
I’ve been taking people out on the lake professionally for going on 17 years now. Growing up as a kid, I always wanted to be a professional bass fisherman—tournament fishing. God, I guess, had other plans for me. Decided he wanted me to interact with other people, teach people, and hopefully impact people’s lives. The best part of the job is seeing the joy when someone winds a fish in . . . It’s a very fulfilling thing to be a part of.
Captain Mike Harter
mikeharter.com
I’ve been fishing my whole life. Bass fishing in particular—it’s just been my passion forever. Largemouth bass are super smart, so it’s kind of like a battle between man and beast. They’re aggressive and sneaky and it takes a lot of effort. When you’re out there on the water, you’re trying to outsmart the fish in many ways. It’s a puzzle.
I’m big on educating people, whether that’s retired guys in their 70s who just got a boat for the first time or young kids. For someone like me with over 50 years of fishing knowledge, it’s amazing how much things have changed and expanded over the last decade or so. The technology today is so advanced now, which gives us a distinct advantage. We can see where the fish are, know exactly the depth, exactly where to go, and so on.
Rick Dodd, Lake Hartwell Bass Experience
lakehartwellbassexperience.com
I think if you help a child—or anyone, really—get involved in the outdoors, it can be life-changing. Everybody is going to do something in life, whether it’s good or bad. And getting a young person involved in the outdoors will lead them down a better path.
I’m nearly 60 years old now, and what I’ve learned is that to do anything really well, you’ve got to love what you do. For me, being in the outdoors is putting myself in the presence of something that God put on this earth for us to enjoy, and when you work to take control of that respectfully, you can be as good a fisherman as you want to be, so long as you enjoy the process.
For kids especially, being away from hectic video games and social media and all the rest of modern life, to take time to slow down and be outside in a place like Lake Hartwell, it can pull things out of you that you didn’t realize were there.
Lake Hartwell fishing tips from the pros
Easiest to catch (and eat)
- Crappie
- Catfish
- Bluegill / shellcracker
For sport and challenge
- Largemouth and spotted bass
- Striped bass and hybrids
Best times to fish
- Early morning and dusk
- Spring and fall transitions, when fish are actively feeding
- Hot summer days in shaded areas and deeper water
Questions to ask a guide
- How long the trip is and what’s included
- If tackle/bait is provided
- What fish you’ll target
- Cost and cancellation policy
- Whether you’ll keep fish or practice catch-and-release
