Lake Hartwell’s crappie are biting
Crappie fishing is excellent during the fall, and fast action for slabs is already hot at Lake Hartwell, near Anderson, SC.
Crappie fishing guide Rodney Donald, from Townville, near Lake Harwell, said the fishing is productive and will improve over the next several weeks.
Donald and his crappie-catching friend, Shannon Prince, are lifelong fishermen of Lake Hartwell. They recently took several outdoor writers attending the SC Outdoor Press (SCOPE) meeting on a Hartwell crappie adventure. The event was hosted by Lake Hartwell Country Tourism.
Donald said either jigs or minnows produce throughout the fall.
“My favorite pattern is using Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS) to find crappie on brush piles,” Donald said. “The key is finding the crappie, and when I find them, casting a 1/16-ounce jig, and count it down to the depth fish are marked on the Livescope.”
Prince follows the same pattern, but said he’s quick to employ minnows if the bite is slower than he wants.”
Crappie are finicky creatures, and what generates bites at one brush pile may differ from what they want at another, Prince said.
Reel slowly
“Being prepared to present a variety of options in this clear-water lake is the best way to load the cooler with slabs,” he said.
On our trip, Prince targeted brush piles ranging from 6 feet deep to 14 feet deep, and we caught most of the fish on slip float rigs, baited with live minnows.
“At this time of year, these crappie hotspots can be swarming with dozens, or even hundreds of fish in a small area,” Prince said. “The Livescope shows both their depth and the distance from the boat, allowing fishermen to know exactly where to cast.”
Prince said to cast beyond them. When using the float rig, wait a moment to allow the float to stand up, indicating the bait has reached the depth you’ve set with the bobber stopper.
“Reel slowly and work the bait straight through the school of fish,” he said. “And on most days, that triggers a solid bite from a Lake Hartwell crappie.”
Be patient
When using jigs, Donald advised anglers to cast beyond the brush pile and allow it to sink and watch it on the Livescope. Once it reaches the depth of the top of the fish, start reeling, twitching the rod, and keep the lure at the top of the school of fish. The sonar shows the fish in real-time, and if a crappie follows the jig, reel slowly and be patient. If that doesn’t work, twitch it away from the fish quickly, then stop. Often a slab crappie can’t allow it get away, and will inhale the lure.”
Capt. Donald guides year-round and can be reached at 864-356-0143 (or through his Facebook Page, Rodney Donald).
For details on planning a trip to the area and accommodations, restaurants, and general information, contact the Lake Hartwell Country Tourism office on its website at lakehartwellcountry.com or by calling 864-646-3782.
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