ANDERSON, S.C. — Lake Hartwell is no stranger to big events, and this year the best college anglers from across the country will take center stage for the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. According to Sean Clayton, who fishes the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers division of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, there will be several different bites anglers can chase.
“There’s going to be fish on the bank, offshore and everywhere in between,” the Seneca, S.C., native said. “It is going to be really interesting. It could be anyone’s ball game.”
Tournament dates are scheduled for Aug. 22-24, with daily takeoffs and weigh-ins scheduled to happen at Green Pond Landing each day. The full field will compete the first two days before the Top 12 anglers advance to the championship round.
Teams will not only be competing for the first-place prize, but also a coveted spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, a head-to-head style competition that will send the winner to the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail has seen many different faces of Lake Hartwell over the years, from freezing-cold spring Classics to the late-fall feed. Will Davis Jr. won the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Hartwell last October with a three-day total of 45 pounds, 6 ounces.
Clayton expects the three-day winning weight to be about the same, but he thinks it could be more if a team can unlock a shallow largemouth bite around docks and laydowns. Those largemouth will be feeding on bluegill and will fall for wacky-rigged worms, a variety of topwaters and a frog.
“If someone finds them shallow, they are going to blow them out because a lot of people are going to be offshore and those bass are going to be pressured,” Clayton said. “So, if someone can unlock the code to the shallow bite that will be the team to watch.”
While plenty of big largemouth swim in Hartwell, the growing population and size of the spotted bass get much of the attention. Those spotted bass, along with some largemouth, will chase blueback herring over cane piles, clay points and standing timber.
Topwater baits and Flukes will be some of the best options for the offshore bass.
“Offshore, it is all about the herring,” Clayton said. “We’ve been catching them offshore like that for months now. But they will still bite.”
With either strategy, Hartwell provides a giant playing field and teams should be able to find plenty of real estate to fish.
“Generally speaking, if it is won offshore, it is won below Sadlers Creek toward the dam,” Clayton said. “If it is won shallow, it is won up either the Seneca or the Tugaloo.”
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
