The state of Florida has many great bass fisheries that have been made famous by huge catches in professional bass tournaments. The “Sunshine State” is a bass fisherman’s paradise and attracts anglers from across the country, especially during the winter months. There are plenty of great places to stay and one of the most popular is the Harris Chain of Lakes, located roughly an hour from the city of Orlando.
Not long ago, the Harris Chain of Lakes was a challenging fishery that made it hard to find a consistent bite and usually included low winning tournament weights. Over the past decade, it has continually gotten better and might be the best bass fishery in the entire state. The tournament weights are impressive and there is always a shot at catching a fish of a lifetime on these waters.
Here is some info about the lakes, how they are set up, and what you need to know to make your trip successful.
How it Sets Up
As the name implies, the Harris Chain is a collection of lakes connected via a canal system. The entire system is large at 75,000 acres and comprises eight different lakes: Apopka, Harris, Griffin, Eustis, Dora, Beauclair, Carlton, and Yale.
Each of the lakes can be the best on any given day and offer surprising diversity even though they are all connected. They vary in size and cover, but the grass is the biggest key here on all of the lakes, and there are many different ways to catch fish here, depending on the season.
One of the keys in all seasons is to locate hydrilla as it acts as a bass magnet, and you will likely always be around fish if you find this type of vegetation. Another primary cover here is reeds; the standing vegetation is always a good place to look for bass.
Winter and Spring on the Harris Chain
The seasons tend to blur together in Florida, with a good portion of the year being hot, humid, and rainy. The rest of the time, in winter and spring, you can expect pleasant temperatures and a good chance of finding bass in all three stages of the spawn during the colder times of the year.
Fishing in Florida during the winter and spring months heavily depends on the weather. The effects of cold fronts on Florida strain largemouth is well documented; they simply do not like the cold. A drop in air temperatures almost always slows down the bite, and anglers should adapt by fishing extremely slow and targeting the thickest vegetation in the area. No matter the weather, the best bite usually happens midday and into the evening when the air temperatures are at the highest points of the day.
Summer and Fall
Most who visit Florida for bass fishing tend to come in the winter months to get away from the colder weather in other parts of the country, but as the air temperatures heat up, sometimes the fishing does as well. There is an excellent bite all summer long for bass anglers who find bass in offshore grass. Crankbaits, worms, and ChatterBaits are top choices.
Another thing to watch is for an early morning shad spawn on the base of hard objects like docks and reeds, as it can produce some excellent bass fishing. The same is true of the annual bluegill spawn, as this can be a great time to catch a trophy bass feeding on the spawning panfish.
Top Techniques for the Harris Chain
Florida bass in fishing, in general, is simplified compared to many other states. Soft plastic baits dominate here in all seasons. Soft stickbaits, swimming worms like the Zoom Ultravibe Speedworm, soft jerkbaits, creature baits, and beavers are always good options. Darker colors like black and blue and Junebug are a must, with watermelon and green pumpkin shades are great options for cleaner water situations.
Aside from soft plastics, anglers should pack their boxes with lipless crankbaits, topwater frogs, and ChatterBaits as they catch fish in all seasons. Two other top techniques for the Harris Chain of Lakes are jerkbaits that can be fished around scattered grass or points in the reeds along the bank. Deeper diving crankbaits also account for many bass here in the canals and around deeper grass in the lakes.
Where to Stay
One plus for fishing in the Harris Chain of Lakes is that there are plenty of amenities around the lake, including the city of Leesburg. There are countless hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and tackle shops to give you everything you need for a great experience on this noted fishery.
Another excellent option for the camping type is Lake Griffin State Park, located right on Lake Griffin, which is historically one of the best lakes on the entire chain. Getting there from Lake Harris takes time with a long canal ride and several no-wake zones, but there is a ramp right at the park for those staying at the park. It also has activities for the entire family with hiking trails, plenty of wildlife, and kayak rentals on site.
The Harris Chain has blossomed into one of the best bass fishing spots in all of Florida, and bass anglers can expect to catch good numbers of bass, with the potential for some monster bass. The location in central Florida makes it a popular spot for vacationers and professional tournaments and is well worth the visit for any bass angler. The beautiful setting and great fishing keep fishermen coming back year after year.
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