Goodbye winter, hello spring. March through May is the peak season for fishing in South Carolina.
Warmer water temperatures attract fish such as bass, trout, and catfish.
According to fishingbooker.com, South Carolina was recently ranked sixth in the country as one of the greatest fishing states.
Anderson’s Lake Hartwell has hosted renowned fishing contests like as the American Bass Anglers National Championship, Bassmaster Classic, and Major League Fishing Tour events.
“We’re looking forward to the upcoming spring season and coming to Lake Hartwell in April,” said Kyle Curry, Association of Collegiate Anglers’ managing director.
According to usace.army.com, the lake covers around 56,000 acres of water and has a 962-mile shoreline.
Hartwell Lake is easily accessible via Interstate 85.
Here are some of the fishing contests taking place in Lake Hartwell this season.
Jack Hunt’s Memorial Tournament
The fourth annual Jack Hunt Memorial fishing contest will take place on March 30 at 470 Green Pond Road.
Sponsors for this event include Visit Anderson, Palmetto Boat Center, and Green Ponding Landing Event Center.
- The entry cost is $150 per boat.
- To participate in the event, residents must first register at www.pbctournamenttrail.com.
- The first-place prize is $5,000.
- Blast-off, safe light weigh-in, begins at 3 p.m.
Late weigh-ins will incur a penalty of one pound per minute for up to 15 minutes. The entire revenue will be donated to the Long Live Jack Memorial Fund.
Hartwell Slam
The Hartwell Slam fishing tournament marks the Association of Collegiate Anglers’ opening event of the 2024 season.
The collegiate bass fishing contest will be held at Green Pond Landing on April 13 and 14.
Registration closes on April 7.
“This year’s event will feature over 200 two-person teams,” Curry stated in a statement. “The winner will receive over $20,000 in prizes and count for double points towards the coveted Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia race, which is based on each school’s top two finishing teams.”
The Bass Pro Shops School of the Year program, sponsored by Abu Garcia, is college fishing’s only complete national rating system.
Over a year, bass fishing teams and clubs competed at the national, regional, and club levels.
The Hartwell Slam is one of the final tournaments before the winner is crowned in June.
Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut of Auburn University won the Hartwell Slam last year.
“The tournament is evaluated based on the weight of five basses caught by each team,” Curry said in a statement. “Anglers will compete to catch the top five basses of the day. After two days, the Hartwell Slam will be won by the team having the highest total weight of their ten basses.
The top 15 finishing angler teams will automatically qualify for the 2024 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship.
Curry announced that the Hartwell Slam will be aired nationally.”We’ve collaborated with Outdoor Action Television to offer live feeds.
Military Bass Anglers Association
The Military Bass Anglers Association, sponsored by Visit Anderson and Cayms Boats, will have a fishing tournament on Lake Hartwell from May 8 to 10.
On-site registration and a mandatory briefing meal will take place on May 7th at the Hilton Garden Inn of Anderson, 115 Destination Boulevard.
Registration starts at 3 p.m. and finishes at 5 p.m. There will be a mandatory briefing supper on May 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The entry price is $150, and members pay $50 per angler.
The Big Bass cost is $10 per day, with exemptions for life members, visiting directors, and active military.
All boat owners must present a copy of their insurance statement that shows at least $100,000 in liability insurance. Failure to register on-site will lead to disqualification.
Tournament practice days will be held on May 4 and 7, ending at 3 p.m. at Green Pond Landing, located at 470 Green Pond Road.
2024 National Championship Bassmaster College Series.
The 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship, sponsored by Vist Anderson and Bass Pro Shop, will be place at Lake Hartwell on August 22-24.
Anglers weigh in daily and launch from Green Pond Landing and Event Center, located at 470 Green Pond Road.
Approximately 130 university angler teams will compete in the Bassmaster College Series.
“We’re very excited to host the Bassmaster College Series National Championship in Anderson County, Green Pond Landing, and Lake Hartwell,” said Visit Anderson Executive Director Neil Paul. “Anderson County’s leadership has provided us with a championship-caliber facility in Green Pond and the resources to recruit events such as the national championship.”