All About Fishing Lake Hartwell & All About Fishing Lake Keowee

LICENSE: You may fish anywhere on Lake Hartwell with a valid license from either Georgia or South Carolina. Keowee requires a South Carolina license.
Youth under 16 are not required to have a license.
 South Carolina licenses are available at Bass Pro Shops or see: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/purchase.html
Georgia licenses are available at Bass Pro Shops or see: http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/
To catch or possess Trout a Trout stamp is required and other rules apply.

SEASONS: You may fish any time of the year in Lake Hartwell or Lake Keowee.

FISH of Lake Hartwell & Lake Keowee:

• BREAM  (Bluegill, Redbreast, Shell cracker,  Pumpkinseed) - Bream congregate under docks, around piers and in submerged brush. They are easy to catch using worms, crickets, and other insects as bait. Bream are responsible for introducing more youth to fishing than any other fish. Common sizes range from 3 ounces to 1 pound with the record shell cracker exceeding 5 lbs. A daily limit of 30 total Bream applies.
• CRAPPIE (Black Crappie and White Crappie) are one of the most popular sport fish in Lake Hartwell. They are often caught in large numbers using minnows around piers and submerged brush. Crappie may range up to 5 lbs. with the "Typical" catch ranging from 1/2 lb to 1-1/4 lbs. A total daily limit of 30 applies.
• LARGEMOUTH BASS - More time and money are spent in the pursuit of this fish by anglers than any other species. They may be caught at any time of the year feeding near the shore in early morning. In Lake Hartwell and Lake Keowee they are most commonly fished for using artificial bait. Large mouth bass range up to 16 lbs. with the "Typical" catch ranging from 1 to 8 lbs. A daily limit of 10 fish applies. Fish caught in Georgia waters shorter than 12" must be released immediately.
• HYBRID BASS - A cross between a male white bass and a female striped bass, hybrids may grow to 20 lbs while the "Typical" catch is 2 lbs to 3-1/4 lbs. Hybrids are a strong and aggressive fighter making them a favorite of Lake Hartwell fishermen. Bait includes shad and blueback herring. A limit of 10 total Hybrid and Striped Bass applies.
• STRIPED BASS - The granddaddy of sport fish in Lake Hartwell, Stripers range up to the recent (2/2002) record of 59-1/2 lbs with a "Typical" catch ranging from 3 to 10 lbs. Fish in the 15 to 30 lb. range are routinely caught. Preferred bait is blue back herring. Striped bass will sometimes push schools of bait fish to the surface then feed in a frenzy. A limit of 10 total Hybrid and Striped Bass applies.

CORPS of ENGINEERS
COE Fishing Guide for Hartwell, Richard B. Russell & J. Strom Thurmond Lakes
COE Fishing Page: http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/hartwell/fishing.htm

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR HOME PAGE - http://www.dnr.sc.gov/
2006 South Carolina Fish Consumption Advisories - http://www.scdhec.net/water/fish/Advisories/hartwell.htm
South Carolina Fishing Trends - http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/cec/news/news.html#fresh

GEORGIA DNR HOME PAGE - http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/
Georgia Fishing License - http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/wild/fishingreg/licreq.html
Georgia Fishing Regulations - http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/wild/fishingreg/
Georgia Fish Consumption Guidelines - http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=32
Georgia Fish Identification - http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=28

Fishing Reports:
South Carolina Fishing Trends - http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/cec/news/news.html#fresh
Fish'n & Hunt'n Reports Hartwell - http://www.fishnandhuntn.com/hartwell.html
Fish'n & Hunt'n Reports Keowee/Jocassee - http://www.fishnandhuntn.com/jocassee-keowee.html
Ken Sturdivant - http://www.probass.net/fishrpt/lake_hartwell__georgia.php
http://www.probass.net/fishrpt/lake_hartwell__georgia.php

FISHING GUIDES & GUIDE SERVICE:
http://www.lakefronthartwell.com/fishing_/fishing-guides-services.shtml

BAIT & TACKLE:
Carolina Reels: Cleaning & Repair of most major brands (864) 225-4265
Chris's Bait - Blueback herring, trout, gizzard shad -1035 Gaffney Rd. Anderson (right off hwy 81 South) (864)226-1434  (864)934-7123
The Bait Shop: 105 Jenkins Circle, Townville, SC - (864) 261-6008
John's Bait 'n' Stuff: 107 Jenkins Ferry Rd (Jenkins Ferry Landing)  Martin, GA  706-779-6769  (706-77WORMZ)

FISHING CLUBS:
SC Crappie Association - http://www.sccrappie.com/

FISHING TOURNAMENTS:
For a list of fishing tournaments and nearby Vacation Rental Homes visit
  http://www.mtnlakes.com/Fishing/Tournaments.htm
 

MAPS & BOOKS For Sale:
The Curiosity Shop stocks a complete line of: Lake Maps, Topographic Maps, Trail Guides, and other books of the area. We have made a few of the most popular ones available for you to order over the net. CLICK HERE to transfer to the Curiosity Shop bookstore page.

BOAT RENTALS:
Big Water Marina: Starr, SC - 310 Big Water Road - Starr, SC - (864)226-3339
Harbor Light Marina: Lavonia, GA - I-85 at Exit 177 - Pontoon boats, Runabouts, Deck Boats 706-356-4119
Jocassee & Keowee Pontoon Rentals: (864) 944-9292   (864) 878-2620
Lake Keowee Marina: Seneca, SC - Old Salem Rd - Boat rental on Lake Keowee 864-882-2047
http://www.jocasseeoutdoorcenter.com/ 864-944-9016

ACCOMMODATIONS: Mountain Lakes Vacation Rentals

OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Anderson Independent Mail
"Bass and Striper Fishing" Magazine
Clemson Chamber of Commerce
Discover Upcountry Association: Travel & tourism info for northwestern South Carolina
Family Outdoors
GORP - GA resources:
GORP - SC resources:
GPS Info: http://www.travelbygps.com/premium/hartwell/hartwell.php
Greenville SC:
Lake Hartwell Association: P. O. Box 312, Fair Play, SC - 888-200-4899
Pendleton District South Carolina:
SC Dept of Natural Resources: DNR Water index page
SC Moon Phases - http://www.stardate.org/nightsky/moon/
SC Sunrise/Sunset - http://stardate.org/nightsky/riseset/
South Carolina Travel Guide: State Web Page Travel guide for all of South Carolina
Oconee Magazine:
US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 25 - (706) 376-0096
Fish Attractor Locations - http://www.dnr.sc.gov/fish/fishattract/hartwellloc.html

MORE Lake Hartwell information: www.Lake-Hartwell.com