Hartwell Striper ?

Team Reelsmoke made our first trip to Hartwell this weekend hoping to find some Striper. Two days of scouting and I realize I'm going to need some local help this place is huge. Here is what didn't work, any pointers on creeks and presentations would be greatly appreciated.

We put in at Green Pond landing and fished 2 creeks that were up stream from there and 2 down stream as well. We got Dollar Bill Gizzard shad from LHOC early Saturday morning and put them in the water just past the bridge on 26 mile creek the area look promising but no takers, talk to a couple locals guys at bait store that said that was a good area, from the RR bridge to the next 2 bridge's upstream. After pulling both sides this Creek we reeled in and went looking for better action. Went up the Seneca River about 1/2 way to Coneross creek saw a few birds and a few Striper boats but no real great marks. Left that area and went down to Tugaloo River went about 1/2 way up it still no takers.

Not sure if we should have brought Herring? We mostly fished free line behind planner boards but did have 2 down lines going for a good while.

Hartwell is more of a trophy lake. It's a low density, larger fish fishery. I think you were in the right areas. Anywhere above 85 is productive this time of year.
Look up the striper kings website, They fish out of hartwell.

Are you fishing the SBC in a couple weeks? Info is going to be pretty tight lipped until that's over.

I'd cut your losses and head down a lake to Thurmond/CH. you got big fish and also plenty of smaller fish and hybrids while you wait for that big bite.

Thanks Bioguy for the reply, it's good to know we were somewhat near the correct locations for this time of year.
We were Pre Fishing this weekend and entered in the Amature "Open"division of the SBC, we will have 2 less hours to fish than the Pro class so picking the right location to start is very helpful.

We didn't mark very many brush piles for crappie in these creeks, striper in the lakes around me usually can be found near these brush piles as well. The lake was down 10 foot so I thought we would mark brush in the 20-25 foot water.

good luck! Like Bioguy said there won't be anyone helping you out this close to the tournament. Its gotten hush hush here lately. To much money on the line for anyone to be helping out!

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Originally Posted by cantcaresb

good luck! Like Bioguy said there won't be anyone helping you out this close to the tournament. Its gotten hush hush here lately. To much money on the line for anyone to be helping out!

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Cantcaresb, Thanks for wishing us Good luck...We have found that there are some people willing to point you in the right direction without giving away the secret spot, the guys at the LHOC, a couple guys fishing the 26 mile creek in a jon boat and then believe it or not 2 guys fishing the pro class were very nice and took time to share some local knowledge about the creek. I appreciate them and anybody else that takes time to respond.

Hartwell is a very good place, but like lanier can be very baffling. Be sure to check regulations before putting a flllet knife into a striper. The state wildlife people issued warnings years ago about pcb's in stripers,hybrids, and other fish. Dnr should have a current list.

Getting any info from the striper kings is like squeezing blood from a turnip. HA!:) Good luck in the tourney and be sure to post your results here.;):)

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Originally Posted by Ttexastom

Hartwell is a very good place, but like lanier can be very baffling. Be sure to check regulations before putting a flllet knife into a striper. The state wildlife people issued warnings years ago about pcb's in stripers,hybrids, and other fish. Dnr should have a current list.

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Texas, no worry about us taking any fish out of Hartwell to eat we are a catch and release Team. Hartwell surely looks like a good fishery with all the available creeks and rivers, baffling, confusing, challenging, and I'm sure rewarding if you can figure it out. This place ain't no joke, the more I research the more determined I am to put in the time it takes to make the 2.5 hours drive to fish it. We have found Smith Mt. in Virginia To be similar with nice trophy Striper, many rivers and lots of accomplished fisherman.

gabowman, don't know if you remember but I sent you a PM a while back seeking information on Hartwell Striper. You were kind enough to respond, that information and other post on CDC is the information I used to start my search. It's hard to network with people if you are afraid to ask questions or to hard headed to take advise of reliable sources. With 36,000 post I'd say you are as reliable source as it gets. I know you are a crappie fisherman that has had schools of Striper tangle every line you had out from time to time. I'm sure your son who is a Striper fisherman has some good intel on Hartwell. Some of your knowledge had to rub off over the years. I will post our results, we have had some success other times we have got our butts kicked but that's fishing.

Coneross creek was always good to me this time of year, tugaloo river above i85 another. Caught many by accident fishing in bass tournmanets. My limited experience with stripers, has been that blueback herring seem to work well.

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Originally Posted by reelsmoke

gabowman, don't know if you remember but I sent you a PM a while back seeking information on Hartwell Striper. You were kind enough to respond, that information and other post on CDC is the information I used to start my search. It's hard to network with people if you are afraid to ask questions or to hard headed to take advise of reliable sources. With 36,000 post I'd say you are as reliable source as it gets. I know you are a crappie fisherman that has had schools of Striper tangle every line you had out from time to time. I'm sure your son who is a Striper fisherman has some good intel on Hartwell. Some of your knowledge had to rub off over the years. I will post our results, we have had some success other times we have got our butts kicked but that's fishing.

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I am not fishing the tournament, but I will tell you that I had a pretty decent day fishing in the back of a few creeks mid lake Sunday. 2 fish in the 20's, and several teenagers. Had a couple that I couldn't turn around on the first run that got in some trees.
And just remember that "elephants eat peanuts"

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Originally Posted by cantcaresb

I am not fishing the tournament, but I will tell you that I had a pretty decent day fishing in the back of a few creeks mid lake Sunday. 2 fish in the 20's, and several teenagers. Had a couple that I couldn't turn around on the first run that got in some trees.
And just remember that "elephants eat peanuts"

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Cantcaresb, Thanks I get what you are saying, sounds like you could give the pros a run for the money with fish like that. I owe you one, I'm going to PM you a picture of my boat maybe we can run across each other in the next 2 weeks.

Last post on Hartwell Stripers from Team Reelsmoke . The Extreme cold made keeping bait alive a tough chore! We were unable to bring in a fish to weigh in when it counted. We did catch 2 Stripers prefishing and learned a good deal about the lake. Thanks to all those that offered information. Special Thanks to Captain Cody he called and brought some extra bait to me Friday night before the tournament. So on to the next trip, the next Tournament, we'll keep fishing learning and making new friends.

it was rough on hartwell saturday! not a lot of fish caught by anyone.