“Lake Hartwell – A Top 100 Lake…. Most of the Time”
In late June, the folks at Bassmaster released their list of the “Top 100 Bass Lakes in America,” an annual list that is released each year with mixed anticipation. The list features a Top 10 Nationally and then the Top 25 Lakes are ranked (1-25) in each region of the country; Southeastern, Western, Central, and Northeastern. According to the folks at Bassmaster, the data used to compile the list comes from the B.A.S.S. Nation State Presidents and Staff, State DNR’s and Wildlife Leadership, and raw tournament data from events. The list is subjective and creates a lot of chatter among the readers and folks that enjoy the rankings.
Some communities and anglers’ express angst over the list because, if their favorite fishing hole is listed among the best in the country, there’s a perceived expectation that once a hidden gem is discovered, it’s no longer a hidden gem. In the travel and tourism industry, some Destination Marketing Organizations like Visit Anderson take a great deal of pride in having Lake Hartwell listed among the Top 100 Lakes in America. We have used that distinction in our marketing efforts over the years to better market and promote the lake as a destination for fishing and families to gather.
It’s hard to consider that those marketing efforts haven’t worked for us given the number of events we have hosted at Green Pond Landing. Since opening in December 2014, Green Pond has an estimated economic impact that exceeds $100 million to the upstate of South Carolina since hosting the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.
In March 2027, the Bassmaster Classic will once again ascend on Lake Hartwell for a record fifth time. In November, the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will be held at Lake Hartwell. The defending Bassmaster Classic Champion, Dylan Nutt, earned his Classic berth through the B.A.S.S. Nation. These two events are arguably the two most prestigious tournaments that B.A.S.S. puts on each year, and they are scheduled to take place at Lake Hartwell in the next eight months.
Going back to that Top 100 Lake thing again, when Bassmaster released the list of Top 100 Lakes in America in late June, the powers in Birmingham left Lake Hartwell off the list in 2026. Obviously, we are very disappointed by the decision to be left off the list this year. In a year when you’re preparing to host the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and the Bassmaster Classic, you’d have thought that a Top 100 distinction would have been granted to a fishery that’s committed to hosting your two most prestigious events. If that wasn’t enough, you’d have thought that the folks in Birmingham would have granted a Top 100 distinction to a fishery that is hosting the Bassmaster Classic for a record fifth time. It’s Marketing 101. Maybe a better business decision could have been made here. Maybe all those factors were considered and the man with the pen last was asleep at the wheel.
When I approached that man recently during the ICAST Show in Florida, responsibility was ultimately passed around until it came back to me. “You didn’t give us any tournament data like you have in the past,” I was told. As I am reminded in this world, almost daily, those with common sense have a heavy burden to carry because we must carry the load for those that lack certain capabilities in this life. I have come to understand that and have had to accept that.
Since I didn’t share our tournament data as the hundred fisheries across America did, I’ll share my data with you. I realize it’s subjective, but you can decide if you think Lake Hartwell should be considered among the 100 Best Lakes in America in 2026.
In the 5-Alive Fall Series in 2025, five total tournaments were held. The trail began in August with 20.74 winning bag, followed by a 20.87 winning bag in September. October and November saw winning bags of 17.16, 18.60, and 18.57. Big Bass of the events saw three bass over five pounds, two over six pounds.
The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) Championship saw a three-day winning weight that averaged over 15 pounds a day during the fall turnover and a big bass that exceeded six pounds.
The Bassmaster Team Championship in December featured 193 teams and 163 of them weighed a limit on the opening day of the event. The team portion of the event featured a two-day winning weight of 38-9 and a big bass of 6-4. The two-day fish off featured a 39-15 winning weight. The thing to notice about the Team Championship numbers is that the lake produced 20+ pound bags over the course of the four-day event.
The 5-Alive Spring Series featured four events with winning bags of 22.20, 17.10, 18.67, and 16.96. Big Bass of the 5-Alive Spring Trail were 7.62, 4.72, 5.09, and 4.44.
The Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) featured a two-day winning weight of 41.48 and the tournament weighed in four bags over 21 pounds. The tournament big bass was 7.33 and 12 bass over five pounds were weighed in during the two-day event.
Major League Fishing held BFL’s on Lake Hartwell in the Spring and both events featured winning bags that exceeded 18 pounds.
In other events, the S.C. B.A.S.S. Nation took over 18 pounds to win. The Connie Maxwell Children’s Home Benefit took 20.22 pounds to win and featured a 6.12 big bass. The Palmetto Boat Center (PBC) High School Classic in early May took a two-day winning weight of 37.98 pounds and a big bass of 6.75 pounds.
Lake Hartwell, among the most pressured fisheries in the Southeast, continues to produce. With more shoreline than the coast of California, the lake continues to show diversity and offers the opportunity to anglers of every skill level an opportunity to fish their strengths.
Earlier this summer, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) released a guide to the “250 Greatest Places to Fish,” in honor of the 250th birthday of our great nation, with the challenge to get outside and cast a line in one of the listed waters.
We are excited to be recognized among the 250 best waters to cast a line by ASA. See you soon!