That appears to be the name of the game right now on Lake Hartwell. Someone who knows that game well is our photographer Dalton Tumblin, who lives near the lake, and attended nearby Clemson University, where he also competed on the bass fishing team.
“From what I’ve seen so far it looks like the cane piles on the main lake are a huge factor,” he said. “Guys are only giving each spot 10 to 20 minutes and then moving on.”
Dialing it in even more, the best cane piles are those located on main lake points, which makes sense. The bass have the benefit of moving shallower or deeper, depending on light and feeding conditions. And, those points extend their ambush cover. When a school of blueback herring gets near, they ambush them and feed.
Like Dalton pointed out, covering a lot of water will be essential. The bait and the fish are on the move, and being on the right place at the right time can bring success.
Dalton is currently on Bassmaster Elite Series pro Patrick Walters, who is using a soft plastic fluke and topwater to imitate the blueback herring.