Lake Hartwell fishing report

  Bass: Fair. Only the hardiest of souls are patrolling Hartwell's waters with any regularity, but if you dare the fish are catchable. Keep an eye and a topwater lure ready for surface-schooling fish, but in the meantime throw crankbaits 6 to 12 feet deep or work rigged worms 15 to 30 feet deep.
Striped/hybrid bass: Fair to good. "There aren't many people fishing, but the ones who are are catching some fish," said Leroy Long at Long's Fishing and Marine. The "red bank" at Coneross Creek is a likely location, as are most locations just inside the mouths of feeder creeks. Look for schooling fish in bigger water in the afternoons and hit them with bucktails. Use live herring in the creeks, 20 to 25 feet deep.
Crappie: Good. Again, care must be taken. You might be better off casting from the banks around bridge pilings and brush piles; work 6 to 15 feet deep with small minnows or jigs.

Lake Jocassee fishing report

  Trout: Fair. Water pumped back into Jocassee from Lake Keowee last week dropped the thermocline from 80 to around 95 feet, which means trout fishermen must keep going deep. "The water coming in was 10 degrees warmer, and that seemed to give the trout lockjaw," said Ken Sloan of the Jocassee Outdoor Center. The impact was felt quickly, as only three fish were weighed in by the 33 anglers in last Saturday's first Jocassee Trout Tournament of the season. Sloan suggests vertical drifting with large minnows or pulling spoons or minnows 90 to 95 feet deep in the dam area.
Bass: Fair. Throw Zara Spooks or buzz baits early and late. Anglers can also catch redeye bass with jigging spoons 60 to 70 feet deep. Surface water temperatrue is in the upper 60s.
Catfish: Good. Hit the mouths of the rivers with big minnows or cut bait fished along bottom.

Lake Keowee fishing report

  Bass: Fair to good. Look for schooling bass. Keep a Rat-L-Trap or other crankbait handy, particularly early and late or on overcast days. Deep-water anglers report good catches using drop-shot rigs 40 feet deep.
Crappie: Good. Work the bridge pilings and submerged brush with minnows or mini-jigs tipped with small minnows 8 to 16 feet deep.