Stripers are Schooling on the Surface
Capt. Preston Harden
December 23, 2011
Lake Hartwell - Freshwater Fishing Report
Water temp 55
Water level 9 ft below full pool
Fishing has been very good with schooling fish in the surface most mornings and afternoons. They were impossible to catch in November as they would only eat tiny threadfin shad. The water has cooled and the stripers and hybrids are eating artificials and live bait. They are still doing better with the smallest flukes and 1/8 oz, jigheads. My favorite is a scrounger jighead and a tiny white zoom fluke. Jigging spoons in 30 to 40 feet bounced off the bottom works during mid-day and bright sun conditions.
Look for seagulls to lead you to the schools. They are "up lake" in the rivers and majors creeks. Fishing will be good until the water gets below 48 degrees. Then they will not eat herring until later in the spring. They will eat umbrella rigs trolled or small jigs and flukes cast to active fish.
Happy Holidays,
Preston Harden
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