Photo by Tom Evans

The Savannah River is a silver necklace of water separating Georgia from South Carolina. On this strand there are three pearls -- lakes Hartwell, Russell and Clarks Hill. In these pearls are some silver-sided fish that make anglers forget about all other kinds of silver.

Managers of both Georgia and South Carolina fisheries stock hybrid and striped bass in all three lakes. Those are some of our hardest-pulling freshwater fish, and once you hook one, you get hooked on fishing for them. Tie into a 20-pound striper and you'll have a fight you won't forget.

All together, Hartwell, Russell and Clarks Hill (whose official name is Strom Thurmond Reservoir) contain more than 150,000 acres of water for linesider anglers. That is a tremendous area to fish and can get confusing. These lakes share some similar characteristics, but differ in several ways, too.

Hartwell lies on the very upper end of the Savannah River and is formed where the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers join. Russell is stuck in middle, with its waters backing up to the Hartwell dam, which dam releases water directly into Clarks Hill -- the last lake of the chain and the largest of the three.

Georgia and South Carolina share responsibility and authority for the fish in all three lakes, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the water. Both the states and the Corps maintain boat ramps that offer fishermen easy access to all parts of each lake. Hartwell and Clarks Hill both have some shoreline development, concentrated in limited areas. But Russell remains completely undeveloped, and there are no private shoreline homes and docks.

Reciprocal agreements between Georgia and South Carolina cover the size and creel limits, as well as fishing licenses. On any of the three lakes, anglers may take a combined total of 10 stripers and hybrids, and there is no size limit. Fishing licenses from either state are honored on all the waters of all three lakes.

Blueback herring, found in all three lakes, are a favorite food of stripers and hybrids. The proliferation of this baitfish species has changed the thinking about management and stocking rates on these impoundments: About six years ago, both Georgia and South Carolina agreed to make some changes that will affect your fishing this year.

The differences among these lakes might help you decide which one to fish -- or help you catch fish on the one you like best.

LAKE HARTWELL
Uppermost and second oldest on the chain, Hartwell has 55,950 acres of water to fish. Its main lake stays fairly clear and has many deep points and areas of underwater standing timber. Herring have inhabited it for many years and are an established forage fish.