Harris Chain Fishing Report - Whats working right now?

[Hez]

Hey guys!

Wanted to start a discussion on the Harris Chain in central Florida.  Anybody have any up to date news?  Hot Spots?  What have the fish been hittin' on?  

I was out 2 weeks ago and caught 3 dinks right after sunrise on a crank, but nothing more.  Going to be heading out this weekend - anybody have any info to share?  

Thanks!

[Caia326]

I dont know if this will help or not as its been several years since I've been there but I remember catching a number of fish off Johnsons Point in Big Lake Harris on soft plastic jerk baits .

[bralexander]

On 4/4/2016 at 11:10 AM, hezeez@gmail.com said:

Hey guys!

Wanted to start a discussion on the Harris Chain in central Florida.  Anybody have any up to date news?  Hot Spots?  What have the fish been hittin' on?  

I was out 2 weeks ago and caught 3 dinks right after sunrise on a crank, but nothing more.  Going to be heading out this weekend - anybody have any info to share?  

Thanks!

Just checking back on this, did you get out in the Harris Chain last weekend? Interested in what you caught/ what you used. I might be over there on Sat and am always looking for tips.

Thanks

Bruce

[Hez]

I did go out, but the water was rough - so I wasn't able to get much fishing in.  Plus there was a tournament going on, so there was a lot of pressure on the lake.  

I plan on going again this weekend - hopefully have better weather, and get better results.  

  -  This was the ride back.

[bralexander]

That looks like a crazy ride! I didn't end up over there till much later than I thought, so I didn't do any fishing either. 

Hezeez, that boat looks interesting. Do you have any pics? I am not a huge fan of aluminum boats but that looks like a "vintage" boat in very good condition from what I could see in the video. 

Bruce

 

[Hez]

It's a 14 ft 1963 Richline - with a '88 30 HP Johson on it.  I bought the boat for $300 in January, and spent some time fixing up the inside.

I replaced all of the benches and the transom with "fir", marine grade plywood - added a battery compartment for dual batteries in the center seat.  Added navigation lights, trolling motor, put some seats on it...I love it man...it's my boat.  

I haven't decided what to do with the outside of it yet...maybe next year I will take that project on.  I just wanted to get on the water.

I don't have that many great pictures yet...but here are some of the pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hez]

2 hours ago, bralexander said:

That looks like a crazy ride! I didn't end up over there till much later than I thought, so I didn't do any fishing either. 

Hezeez, that boat looks interesting. Do you have any pics? I am not a huge fan of aluminum boats but that looks like a "vintage" boat in very good condition from what I could see in the video. 

Bruce

 

HAHAHA!!  It was a crazy ride...I was holding on like crazy...then I got brave and got the camera out lol...when I went out that morning...the lake didn't look anywhere near that rough...

[bralexander]

Nice job on the boat! Very cool seeing something that old being used as it was intended and still being in good shape.

I know what you mean about how quick the conditions change over there. I lived a couple miles from the boat ramp off of 441 and would see it be calm in the morning and mess in the afternoon. I mainly stuck to the canals and the dead river when I fished out of my kayak over there. My sister in law lives over there and I occasionally do some bank fishing when visiting now a days. 

Bruce 

 

[Hez]

Thanks man, was my first rebuild - of course, there are a few things I will do different/better next time.  

Yeah, I live off of Ponkan, in Apopka - so Lake Harris is about the closest fishery to me.  I fished Lake Beauclair and Lake Carlton last year, but tend to like Lake Harris more.  I have not ventured off in the dead river  or 9th street canals yet...but sometime in the near future.  Just trying to get comfortable on the lake, build some confidence, and get to know the area better.  

Moved here from Houston about 5 years ago...absolutely love it so far. Lake Harris just seems hard to fish lol

[bralexander]

Being in Apopka I am hoping you have been out on the Wekiva River... I have only been out there in a kayak recently but the fishing is good! I always go in at katies landing or wilsons park, but those are for non motorized launches only. I think further up the river is ramp but I cannot remember the name off hand. If you get out there before sunrise there is a window of maybe a couple hours where you can catch loads of bass. Throughout the day you can catch some up under the vegetation and around the edges but they are everywhere in the morning. Someone tipped me off on using a silver/back fluke with the paddle tail and they absolutely destroy it out there! There were times when every other cast was a bass. Nothing huge but nice fighters.

Bruce

[Hez]

Really?  No...have not been out there...due to the motor restrictions...is there anywhere that a motorized boat is allowed?  That's interesting...thanks for that info.

[bralexander]

Yeah,unless they just changed something, you can go all the way until the state park with a motor. I used to work at the state park and the fishing in the motorized part was always better anyways. There used to be a boat rental/launch just down from Katies but it closed down a couple years ago. So I am not sure where the next ramp is now.

Bruce

[Hez]

Ok, cool...I will have to check that out, thanks. 

[bralexander]

No problem, if I remember correctly, this is the exact one I use out there-

Bruce