Fishing Lake Hartwell

AKA: Hartwell Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
Lake Hartwell Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
Today's Weather & Forecast
Boat Launch Ramps
Fishing Boat Rentals
Marinas
Local Fishing Guides
Fishing License
Campgrounds & RV Parks
Map
Contact Info

Lake Hartwell, GA

Popular Fish Species Lake Hartwell, GA

Lake Hartwell Popular Fish - Striped Bass

Striped Bass Fishing

Due to their large size, striped bass are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Lake Hartwell. They are plentiful, run in schools and can grow to bragging size. In Spring and Fall work the upper end of the lake where water is flowing into the lake. Look for deeper water in the river channel, as a holding place for stripers. In Summer and Winter, stripers hang out in deeper water during the day Morning often draws the stripers to much shallower water, look for them from the surface down to around the 20-foot range as they feed on shallow-running schools of bait. The lake is filled with plenty of baitfish and sunfish to to keep the fishery thriving. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers which are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Live bait is very effective here, and stripers can be caught year round.

Crappie Fishing

Crappie anglers can fish for both black crappie and white crappie at Lake Hartwell. These two species tend to school separately. However, once located around cover, you may catch both species, as they often use the same cover. For best results when fishing for crappie, light line and small hooks are key, especially when fishing live or prepared baits. Crappie jigs are also productive her in a wide variety of colors. This is a good place to catch quantities of nice, fat slabs. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk.

Lake Hartwell Popular Fish - Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid Striped Bass Fishing

Hybrid striped bass, also known as wipers, are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Lake Hartwell, as they are plentiful and grow to bragging size. As a hybrid of striped bass and white bass, they have great potential for spawning massive numbers and growing to large sizes. Fishing for hybrid stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and schools of hybrid striped bass are likely to be in the area. Mornings, during Fall, hybrids can be caught on topwater or shallow running lures, as they are feeding on baitfish at the surface. When they move deeper, fish finders improve your odds of locating both bait and schools of wipers. Live bait, spoons and jigs are very very effective here, and these hungry fish can be caught year round.

Lake Hartwell Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, striped bass and hybrid striped bass at Lake Hartwell in Georgia.

Extending hundreds of tentacles over a 600 square mile area, Lake Hartwell is a well renown bass fishing lake and is a favorite of many legends of the sport. The 56,000-acre lake is located on the north-eastern border of the state, at Hartwell, GA. Anglers can explore 962 miles of shoreline in search of bass, catfish, crappie, walleye, bluegill, sunfish, striped bass and hybrid stripers.

More than 50 boat launch ramps provide easy access for pleasure boats, pontoons, bass boats and other fishing boats. There are places all around the lake for launching canoes, kayaks and small watercraft. Humps, bumps, islands, points, creek channels, ledges and backwaters all over the lake provide cover for the bass and baitfish alike. Marinas, stores, restaurants and boat rentals are available to improve your weekend fishing trip.

Primary fish species residing in Lake Hartwell

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Lake Hartwell Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Harbor Light Marina
Rentals: Pontoon boats
706 356-4119

Harbor Light Marina South
Rentals: Pontoon boats
706 356-4119

Hartwell Marina
Rentals: Pontoon boats
706 376-5441

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Big Oaks Recreation Area Boat Launch Ramp
Located the southern tip of the lake, off Dam Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Bruce Creek Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Century Drive, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.

Carters Ferry Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Carters Ferry Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Crawfords Ferry Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Crawfords Ferry Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Elrod Ferry Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Elrod Ferry Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Gum Branch Tournament Fishing Facility Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Vanna Waller Road, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Gumlog Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Tugaloo State Park Road, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Hartwell Marina Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Hartwell Marina Drive, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Lewis Drive Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Lewis Drive, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Long Point Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Old 29 Highway, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Mary Ann Branch Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Hatton Ford Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Paynes Creek Campground Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Paynes Creek Campground Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Pineywoods Road Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Pineywoods Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Powderbag Creek Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Powder Ramp Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Reed Creek Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Reed Creek Heights Drive, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.

Rock Springs Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Rock Springs Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Marinas

Harbor Light Marina
1476 Harbor Light Marina Rd
Lavonia, GA 30553
706 356-4119

Harbor Light Marina South
15 Knox Bridge Crossing Rd
Lavonia, GA 30553
706 356-4119

Hartwell Marina
149 Hartwell Marina Dr
Hartwell, GA 30643
706 376-5441