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Feb. 1 BFL could be ‘best fishing we’ll see all year’ at Hartwell

Image for Feb. 1 BFL could be ‘best fishing we’ll see all year’ at Hartwell
The South Carolina Division is hitting Lake Hartwell at the right time to see some huge bags. Photo by Sean Ostruszka
January 14, 2025 • Justin Onslow • Phoenix Bass Fishing League

Anderson, S.C. – The South Carolina Division of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine could be in for a treat at the second event of the season on Feb. 1 on Lake Hartwell. As good of a lake as Hartwell is nearly year-round, there’s just something about February that makes for some of the best fishing of the year.

New for 2025, the BFLs will feature an expanded slate of Regional events, which will give anglers more chances to qualify for the All-American and further minimize travel costs. This expansion ensures that grassroots anglers can fish closer to home on lakes they know and love for a chance to win a $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard as a boater and a new $20,000 cash award as a co-angler, plus qualification into the BFL All-American.

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What to expect

Hartwell, Georgia’s, Max Heaton signed up for the event at Hartwell with one thing on his mind – a three-peat. Heaton won a BFL at Hartwell each of the last two years (both in the Savannah River Division), and each of those events took place later than this one (March 18 and Feb. 24, respectively). A local who lives 10 minutes from the ramp of his home pond, he’s especially excited about the timing of this event.

“February is really the start of some of the best fishing on Hartwell,” he said. “February 1 to the middle of March is the best fishing we’ll see [all year].”

The reasons for that are many: First, by the start of February, the water has usually turned over as colder temperatures settle in and stabilize the lake. Second, as that happens, largemouth tend to group up tighter and become a little more predictable. In addition, bass seem to feed a little more heartily – and in various locations throughout the sprawling 55,900-acre reservoir.

Given those factors, Heaton believes anglers are going to have a ton of options for catching the right five to put up big numbers.

While offshore fishing with forward-facing sonar is always a big player, shallow rock could come into play if the conditions are right.

“It’s a time where you can do whatever you like,” he said. “You can catch some big ones in a ditch. You can troll around on humps all day. You can fish shallow rock. You pick whatever your strong suit is and hope you get five big bites.”

As for techniques, it may be a dealer’s choice proposition. Targeting offshore bass with forward-facing sonar is always a player at Hartwell, but other more traditional tactics still yield big results at the right times and in the right spots.

“This is a time where some of the big largemouth start pulling up shallow, too,” he said. “And if the wind blows and somebody gets on the right few stretches with a crankbait, it can happen that way, too.”

Regardless of preferred methods, one thing is pretty certain – it’s going to take some big fish to win this time of year at Hartwell. Heaton, despite winning the last two years with 18-13 and 19-10, believes there’s a good chance the winning weight is going to start with a “two.”

“You’re always going to see a bunch of 16s and 17s, but 18 (pounds) could win a tournament or 22 could win a tournament. More than likely an 18- or 19-pound bag is going to take it home most of the time, but I see it every year. There’s always the potential for one person to pop off from the rest of the crowd. This tournament’s not one I’d feel super confident winning unless I have low 20s.”