March 3-2012 / water temp 56 / day before massive front / clouding turning to sunny conditions / 55 degrees
Fished with buddy James of 153 Charters. Fish are relating to very small shad the size of glass minnow now. Found a good population of fish up the Senica between Conoross and the 85 bridge in a secondary cove. Small bait schools would rise with the stripers hot on their tails. Managed 10-15 fish with 6 or so at the 20 pound mark. No bites came on Blue Backs. All fish were caught on medium size Gizzard shad and very small spoons, blade baits, and jerk bait in the natural shad color.
Capt. Frank Askew with a Striped Bass on Lake Hartwell
Tip: Look for fish to be shallow in the secondary coves. Look for small pockets, small rock points within the cove, and bait. Stripers should be rolling this time of year so look for birds and swirls. Don’t mistake the swirl for spots however. There is a clear difference between the two fish rising. Time on the water and you will begin to pick the two apart. Marking shad now is a bit tough. The schools are made up of very small fry so soft returns on you scope is all it will take now.
Tip: After a front passes look for fish to move out of the coves on the main river. They should still be near the bank but take refuge on the timber out there. They will not be far from where they were before the front. Try down lining 20 feet with very small blue back herring.
Capt. James with a Hartwell Striper
“Right now till early June the Striped bass are on fire and you can really catch some real pigs. It is defiantly my favorite time of the year to fish Lake Hartwell” says captain Frank Askew of Up-Close Outfitters.
Book a full day fishing charter with Up-Close Outfitters today to ensure you get a chance at these lake monsters. Fishing in South Carolina with fishing guide Capt Frank can be a trip you will never forget.
Contact us at www.upcloseoutfitters.com or at 828-273-0286
