Crappie USA will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2021 with a Super Event March 5-6 on Lake Hartwell in Anderson County.

Presented by Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, the Crappie USA tournament has a guaranteed $10,000 payout for one-day events and $20,000 for two-day events. The three two-day events are rescheduled from 2020 due to COVID-19.

Visit Anderson, the county’s tourism organization, was able to reschedule fishing tournaments that cancelled last spring due to COVID, according to executive director Neil Paul. Anderson County hosted its full slate of planned fall tournaments at Lake Hartwell, and even pick up two new events that moved from other locations. With 56,000 acres of surface water, Lake Hartwell has become the site for high-profile fishing events including the American Bass Anglers 2020 Ray Scott Championship, FLW’s college and high school series and FLW’s Bass Fishing League All-American Championship.

Hartwell crappie begin their preparations for the spawn in March and early April when water temperatures reach the high 50s and low 60s, according to event organizers. At that time, crappie begin the transition from the lake to small creek channels and more shallow water. Brush piles are numerous on the lake and vertical jigging is expected catch a lot of crappie. The public is invited to attend the tournament weigh-in held at Green Pond Landing, giving non-competitors the opportunity to learn how the big ones are caught. Interviews of the top 5 teams are conducted following the weigh-in with social distancing rules in effect.

Free Crappie Kids Rodeo

A free Crappie Kids Fishing Rodeo will be held in conjunction with the tournament at Chris Taylor Memorial Park, 5 Jim Ed Rice Circle in Anderson. An adult must accompany all participating children. The event is free to all children 12 years of age and under. Sign up for the Kids Rodeo is Saturday morning, March 6, at 8:00 am with fishing from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.

The Crappie USA Kids Fishing Rodeo is a chance for area children to get out and enjoy nature, do a little fishing and win some prizes. All participants are eligible for a chance to win one of the six Crappie USA $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships are awarded annually at the CUSA Classic. To date more than $379,000.00 in scholarships have been awarded.

How to Enter

Participating anglers must be a member of the American Crappie Association (ACA). Teams may consist of one or two anglers, with a third member allowed if the angler is under the age of 16 years old. Participants can register on the CUSA website. Teams also can enter by calling (502) 384-5924 or at the mandatory pre-tournament seminar the night before the tournament begins. Entry fees are posted on the website.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Officials from the Hartwell Dam and Lake Project recently released the latest Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) for the reservoir.

“We felt like the previous SMP served the project well but needed minor clarification of some requirements. Also, this updated SMP incorporates information provided by residents, state agencies and others to set a more sustainable path for managing public land surrounding the lake,” said Aaron Wahus, Operations Project Manager. “The most significant change is the revised SMP now requires an inspection by a state licensed electrician of the electrical system on a dock every five years before renewal of the permit. This new requirement will begin for permits authorizing electrical service expiring on or after February 1, 2021.

Dock owners may now use solar DC power to provide electrical service to a dock. Solar power does not require recertification every five years. “Not only is solar a clean, safe energy source, it also minimizes impacts to public lands by eliminating the need to trench-in traditional power lines,” Sandy Campbell, natural resources manager at Hartwell Lake, said. “Solar power eliminates possible shock hazards for swimmers. It also eliminates inconveniences for dock owners needing to ‘chase water’ when reservoir levels recede.”

Additionally, utility rights of way and improved walkways are now considered supporting facilities for a dock, therefore can only be permitted if a dock is authorized. Property adjacent to Limited Development Areas (aka “green areas”) with greater than 20 feet of shared boundary line that are “non-dockable;” have until May 15, 2021, for approval of supporting facilities with installation due by expiration of the shoreline use permit.

The 2020 Hartwell Lake SMP and summary chart highlighting the changes and the associated Environmental Assessment can be viewed and downloaded at: https://go.usa.gov/xEt5j. All permit holders should receive a post card from the Corps informing them of the approval of the 2020 Hartwell Lake SMP with information on how and where to obtain a copy.

For questions regarding this issue, please call the Hartwell Lake Office at 706-856-0300.