Capt. Frank Askew
info@upcloseoutfitters.com
www.upcloseoutfitters.com

Fished today with a party from Columbia, SC. Started near Duncan Branch access then moved to the Savannah River green 11 buoy and Little lightwood creek looking at underwater pockets in 40 to 100 foot of water with nothing to mark. Decided to head N and found a descent school in Todd’s cove near Savannah Green 23. Fish were positioned in pocket where creeks split over 85 foot of water with trees. Caught 8 or 9 hybrids and a couple stripers. Fish were really mouthing the bait and not biting very aggressively. Did see some schooling action on the surface. This is the only school found the entire day.

Tip: Lots of catfish are being marked in river channels near points. Most arcs are 40-50 feet down. I would not waste time fishing the arcs unless schooling fish or arcs really bunched up were seen. The cooler water has got the striped bass on the move and a more predictable pattern should emerge soon.

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Capt. Frank Askew
www.upcloseoutfitters.com
828-273-0286

Fishing was really tough today. Did a lot of looking and burned 3/4 of a tank. Found one small school near the S8 Red channel buoy. Fish were positioned in 45-85 foot of water just off underwater point. Managed 4 or 5 hybrids. Looked everywhere from Broyles landing to the dam and Beaver dam Creek. Fished with new clients from Greenville, Jason and Thomas.

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Capt. Frank Askew

Had a 1/2 day striper guide on Hartwell today. Started looking to the NW of S17 with only a few single fish marked. Checked a few spots on the way to the dam with nothing too encouraging. Marked a few fish where we caught them yesterday. Looked a bit in the area with not much more. Decided to make a couple drifts where most the arcs were found. Instantly hooked a nice fish in 45 foot coming off the side of a point. The bass weighed 20 pounds even. Fished a bit longer and moved. Finally found the fish two coves to the west in the back of a major underwater creek. Sat on the fish and limited out. Caught 1/2 of the stripers on 1 oz and 3/4 oz mega bait jigging spoons.

20 pound striper on Hartwell

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Had two ladies on board with us today. Found good numbers of fish between Long Point Rec area and the Duncan Branch Access. The Striped Bass were positioned between underwater points in about 75-90 foot of water. Started marking good numbers the first 30 sec we pulled the throttle back. Managed 20 or more in a few hours. Could never really get the school fired up but did manage several on every drift. Wind did not help any.

Stripers on Hartwell

Lake Hartwell Fishing Charters

Tip: When the wind is kicking and it is hard to stay on the school, try motoring up wind of the fish after marking them. Then drift with a drift sock out to slow your drift. Presents the baits more naturally and enables you to vertical jig. Repeat after drifting too far.

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The bass are still in their summer patterns but the hint of fall is already evident. Had a 1/2 day guided fishing trip today with a father and son from Georgia. We fished easy to use lures for most of the day producing descent numbers. We found good schools of bass off of long tapering points with fine gravel. The bass were positioned in 25-30 foot of water on the deep channel side of the points. No fish were taken on top of the points! The points that produced the best were the ones at the first 1/3 of major coves near the main deep water. By idling around numerous points to find the concentrations of baitfish it enabled us to narrow down our search. Once bait fish / a few arcs / and our long tapering points were found all together we caught fish every time. Managed 10-15 smallmouth with one walleye jigged at the train tressel. Check out the picture of the Walleye, it has a curved spine. (birth defect ?) A large thermocline is being marked lately with loads of bait and fish mixed in around 45 feet.

Fontana walleye with curved spine

check out the spine

Tip: As fall grows closer start looking for the bait and bass to move further back in the deep arms leading away from the main lake. The bass often suspend just off the bottom in the middle of the creek where ever bait is present.

Capt. Frank Askew
Up-Close Outfitters
828-273-0286
www.mappingandguides.com

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Asheville NC Bass Boat for Sale Champion 210

Notes: Boat has been covered.
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Call Capt. Frank Askew
828-273-0286

Fished Thursday with client from Baltimore. Searched South and found fish relating close to the Duncan Branch access area. Found several schools in about 95 foot of water in deep pockets between underwater ridges. Fish were relating to certain trees and it was quite hard to get the school fired up. Down lined 35-40 feet and picked a fish up on every drift. The school had some good fish in it and lost 10 or more in the trees. Managed one at 17 pounds waking a swim bait, after we saw a big roll, on 6 pound line. Searched around Gum Branch with no luck. Also found some fish off of T5 in 90 foot of water. Managed 10 or more quality fish with a lot of break offs.

topwater Striper Hartwell Lake

Tip: This time of year you have to get the school fired up. They are a bit sluggish and don’t seem to inhale the bait as they do in the spring or fall. Try getting one bite on live bait and switch to 1 or 2 oz jigging spoons while the fish in still hooked. This can sometimes trigger the school into biting. When it is real hot sometimes you have to sit on the school for a while to get bit. This is when quality electronics come into play. Mark the fish in the trees and be patient.

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Capt. Frank Askew
828-273-0286
info@mappingandguides.com

Had a few trips this past week on Fontana. The fishing is typical summer fishing with fish holding deep. Have found a few largemouths near fresh water springs. Had to search several to find a fish. Plenty of small 1/4 to 1/2 pound fish are stationed on long tapering points. Marking fish on points with the depth finder and drop shotting produced numerous smaller fish. The majority of the better small mouth were found on brush piles at the end of points. These brush piles were strategically placed by us for summer fishing. Managed several quality bass on drop shots and jigging spoons. No fish on bluffs, gravel banks, or bridges.

drop shot brush piles

summer deep structure jigging

Tip: It is essential to locate the ideal structure on the end of points, humps or channel swings. Look for a brush pile in approximately 35 foot of water on the end of a major point. It can hold up to 20 quality bass. Spend a few days searching with the scope then you will know where to fish in the summer.

Capt. Frank Askew
Up-Close Outfitters
828-273-0286
info@mappingandguides.com

Ran a striper trip with Steve and Ron today. Started at first light near saddlers creek. Ran Steve’s boat to familiarize him with his new electronics. Several other guides in the back of the creek. Marked a few fish on the way in but no takers. Looked a bit more to the North of Saddlers with nothing encouraging. Found good bait to the WSW of Savanna River green 19 over trees in 50-80 foot. Lost one good fish in the trees right off the bat. Next moved to west of Anderson Islands and checked a few pocket then to the mouth of Beaver Dam. Marked a few arcs in both areas. Finally moved up around the Apple Island Access area. Found fish positioned in 35-40 foot over 60-80 foot of water off of main point. (hazardous marking buoys) Ran through our live bait and jigged quite a few. Managed one striped bass around 15 lbs. with several pushing 10. Ended the day early with about 20 fish or so. Could of sat on the fish all day but the clients were happy.

double header stripers

verticle jigging striped bass

Really think the fish are stalled this year and are a bit slower moving to the main lake. Allot of fish have been caught lately up to the North of Anderson Islands between Portman’s

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info@mappingandguides.com.