Fishing Report For Harris Lake, NC

Current Report: Good To Very Good

FALL. Now that Fall is in full swing, bass here have moved shallow, following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays around 4 to 18 feet of water. Bass grow big in Harris Lake, in part due to the proliferation of grass and vegetation. Grass provides, cover, oxygen and warmth when the water begins to cool down. It is also a great hiding place for baitfish and sunfish. Many tournament anglers report good success with vibrating jigs around grass, docks and brush. Currently topwater, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are catching most of the bass. The mouth of Buckhorn Creek, among others, is a good place to find bass during post spawn. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 8 to 20 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, timber, brush piles, flats, points and creek channel edges. They can be found from 10 to 30 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move into 8 to 15 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 2 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 6 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 6 to 20 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms, jigs, worms, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 3 to 15 feet of water, on square-bill crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 20 to 35 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing rip rap banks, like the one around Harris Lake County Park.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

FALL. Baitfish, which are moving into shallow flats, coves and bays, are drawing crappie into these areas. If you like catching 2-pound crappie, you'll love crappie fishing in Harris Lake. Local crappie enthusiasts report good catches on both live minnows and crappie jigs. Crappie are feeding heavily, in preparation for the cold Winter. Anglers report that 10 to 25 feet of water is where most bites are coming. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 25 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 20 to 35 feet of water. Most are caught around deep brush piles, creek channel bends, submerged timber, and main-lake structure. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 8 to 15 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 to 18 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 10 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 12 to 20 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 12 to 20 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

Current Report: Good

FALL. Bluegill are a primary food source for predator fish in Harris Lake, and the small ones help bass to grow big. Those that survive beyond eating size for bass, grow to good size on their own. Cooling, Fall weather dropped the water temperature in the shallows which is luring bluegill into the 5 to 12-foot shallows along the shoreline. The Harris Lake County Park pier coves in Upper Buckhorn Creek, rip rap banks, weedy areas with drop-offs and docks are all holding good populations of bluegill. Later in Fall, as the shallows get colder, bluegill will move into 8 to 15 feet of water, in the same areas.

WINTER. Cooling shallows have driven the bluegill back to deeper cover, in water ranging from 6 to 18 feet deep. In areas with no cover, anglers typically find them around sharp drops, into even deeper water. On warmer sunny days, in shallow coves, expect to find bluegill in 4 to 8 feet of water. Small baits, on light tackle, worked slowly tends to get the best results.

SPRING. In early Spring, bluegill migrate from winter holding areas toward the shoreline areas, and are typically caught around 5 to 15 feet deep. As the water warms to the mid 70's they will begin the spawning ritual, building nests in 1 to 6 feet of water. Many of the bigger bluegill prefer to spawn a bit deeper, depending on water clarity. After the spawn, bluegill drop to 10 or 12 feet of water. Small spinners and swimbaits, or jigs tipped with small pieces of nightcrawlers are good choices for catching a lot of bluegill in spring. A hook, line, weight and bobber, with small pieces of worms, also catches lots of bluegill.

SUMMER. Following the spawn, most of the bigger bluegill migrate to deeper water, around 6 to 12 feet deep. They prefer rocky or weedy areas, often hanging out on steep, rocky banks where they can move up and down to feed without having to travel a great distance. The Harris Lake County Park pier, and around the Avent Ferry ramp are popular Summer holding areas. Small spoons, underspins, and mini-crankbaits are catching some of the bigger bluegill. Earthworms are also catching good numbers. Early and late in the day, anglers catch them in 1 to 6 feet of water.