As most Lake Hartwell fishing guides will confirm, spots and largemouths are the primary players when fishing for bass on Lake Hartwell. There are various locations and strategies for targeting one or the other.
The spotted bass is not native to the Savannah River drainage. Over 20 years ago, they began appearing in surveys carried out by biologists, and they have increased in abundance ever since.
Spotted bass will usually congregate, meaning they provide an excellent option for anglers looking to enjoy Lake Hartwell fishing in open water. They also offer excellent opportunities for catching limits, yet less big-fish potential.
Having said that, spotted bass can sometimes get fat in Lake Hartwell because there is a big population of blueback herring.
In terms of Lake Hartwell bass fishing for largemouth, the current population includes high numbers of fish that are weighable but are at the smaller end of the spectrum due to high recruitment over the past few years.
While big fish do still exist, quality fish numbers are somewhat reduced. Having said that, the heaviest limits brought to the scales will almost definitely include at least a few decent-sized largemouths.
