South Carolina · United States

Lake Hartwell SC fishing forecast

62 Good of 100

Lake Hartwell SC is a freshwater fishing spot in South Carolina, United States. Anglers here target Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill. The most productive months are typically February, March, April, October, November, December.

Quick answer

Best monthsFebruary, March, April, October

Top speciesLargemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie

Score now62/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

Today’s verdict

Ranks #301 of 408 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±12 points, from 6 live signals

Helping the score most

Water temperature+15.0Wind+11.0Barometric pressure+4.4

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

05:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

dawn 11:33

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	22.0 °C
Wind	16 km/h from SSE, gusting 47 km/h
Pressure	1013 hPa
Cloud cover	100%
Chlorophyll	20.13 mg/m³
Salinity	0.0 PSU
UV index	0
Precipitation (24h)	1.1 mm
Wind sea	0.0 m
Ground swell	0.0 m at 0 s

The water is running true to season — within a few tenths of the October average of 22.0 °C for this location. The water is mixed to about 45.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Lake Hartwell SC

Lake Hartwell SC currently scores 62 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 22.0 °C. 6 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +15.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Wind +11.0: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Barometric pressure +4.4: falling pressure often triggers feeding
Moon phase +3.0: lunar feeding rhythm
Pre-storm bite +2.4: the classic feed before heavy weather
Thermocline +1.5: a defined layer stacks fish at one depth

What’s biting now

The model expects today: largemouth-bass, crappie, bluegill, smallmouth-bass, warmouth, spotted-bass, redear-sunfish, spotted-gar

Bite windows

Moon

New Moon · 0% lit

Solunar day rating

70 / 100

Best months for Lake Hartwell SC:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-09-13, 73/100

7 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

About this spot

Water type

Lake · Freshwater

Lakes have no tide, so target structure, drop-offs, and seasonal thermoclines where fish concentrate by depth and temperature.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · beach

What you can catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides
Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu
Crappie

Pomoxis spp.
Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

Best months by species at Lake Hartwell SC

Largemouth BassMicropterus salmoides
Smallmouth BassMicropterus dolomieu
CrappiePomoxis spp.
BluegillLepomis macrochirus

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.

FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.