Harwood Mill Reservoir: Big Side Vs Little Side

[MarcD]

Playing hooky tomorrow, half day on the lake and picking up a marriage license in the afternoon! Back to Harwood- So Ive fished both sides over the years, and have spent more time on the big (airport) side. never had much luck, until recently...on the small side. Folks always talk about the bass being on the small side (Grassy humps, matted in the back, sunken dam...) but i am dying to give the big side(open water, a decent looking submerged point or two, creeks and deeper water) a try- to get it out of my system mostly- but mainly since I havent fished it in years. My question: is the big side really that much less productive? Any locals want to sound off here? 

[Darren.]

Playing hooky tomorrow, half day on the lake and picking up a marriage license in the afternoon! Back to Harwood- So Ive fished both sides over the years, and have spent more time on the big (airport) side. never had much luck, until recently...on the small side. Folks always talk about the bass being on the small side (Grassy humps, matted in the back, sunken dam...) but i am dying to give the big side(open water, a decent looking submerged point or two, creeks and deeper water) a try- to get it out of my system mostly- but mainly since I havent fished it in years. My question: is the big side really that much less productive? Any locals want to sound off here? Im kinda crippled in the deeper water without electronics, but 

 

There's more room for the bass to roam on the big side

 

Have a go at this PDF from the VADGIF about the 2012 Harwood's Mill fishery:

 

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/reports/2012%20Harwoods%20Reservoir%20Bio%20Rpt.pdf

 

Concentrate on points and coves. If you can get to the long cove that's closest to the airport along the right side, hit the numerous laydowns there. The grass has been really high there lately, probably because they're keeping the water level low to keep it from disrupting bridge construction down by the dam on rte 17.

 

Also around the island, the small channel is pretty interesting , deep and grassy. Then down under the overhead wires that cross the lake. There's supposed to be an old roadbed there. I've had some success along the shoreline, others I know have had success throwing drop shots and cranks there.

[MarcD]

There's more room for the bass to roam on the big side

 

Have a go at this PDF from the VADGIF about the 2012 Harwood's Mill fishery:

 

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/reports/2012%20Harwoods%20Reservoir%20Bio%20Rpt.pdf

 

Concentrate on points and coves. If you can get to the long cove that's closest to the airport along the right side, hit the numerous laydowns there. The grass has been really high there lately, probably because they're keeping the water level low to keep it from disrupting bridge construction down by the dam on rte 17.

 

Also around the island, the small channel is pretty interesting , deep and grassy. Then down under the overhead wires that cross the lake. There's supposed to be an old roadbed there. I've had some success along the shoreline, others I know have had success throwing drop shots and cranks there.

Thats awesome- a huge confidence builder to hear this. Had a very productive few hours on the little side Saturday, including a 13# blue cat on a senko- but the big side is the place I want to catch em. Dad rowed me around there with nightcrawlers and bobbers as a kid, so when I daydream about a trophy, or getting jig experience, my mind reels to the big side of HMR. Thanks for the input buddy!

[Darren.]

Thats awesome- a huge confidence builder to hear this. Had a very productive few hours on the little side Saturday, including a 13# blue cat on a senko- but the big side is the place I want to catch em. Dad rowed me around there with nightcrawlers and bobbers as a kid, so when I daydream about a trophy, or getting jig experience, my mind reels to the big side of HMR. Thanks for the input buddy!

 

Great! I've caught some nice bass on the big side. My PB came on the small side, 7 1/2 pounder. But I know there are bigger ones there. 11 pounders have been caught on both sides. Last year a guy caught a 10 lb bass right from the dock on the big side.

 

A buddy and I were fishing near the docks on the big side one evening when a boat with 3 dudes came up to use asking if we had a scale. I offered them my digi scale and he pulled a bass out of his livewell that weighed 8.10. A beauty he caught down along the far end near the brick water processing plant.

 

Good luck!

[MarcD]

Great! I've caught some nice bass on the big side. My PB came on the small side, 7 1/2 pounder. But I know there are bigger ones there. 11 pounders have been caught on both sides. Last year a guy caught a 10 lb bass right from the dock on the big side.

 

A buddy and I were fishing near the docks on the big side one evening when a boat with 3 dudes came up to use asking if we had a scale. I offered them my digi scale and he pulled a bass out of his livewell that weighed 8.10. A beauty he caught down along the far end near the brick water processing plant.

 

Good luck!

Dang- big numbers in this post Darren ..truth be told, a good friend landed an 8.6 on the Small side just a month ago. My trophy hunt on HM has definitely begun- Cheers!