Harris Chain of Lakes

Lake Harris

(Lake County): Lake Harris is a 13,788-acre lake located south and east of the City of Leesburg in Lake County. Access to the lake is from Singletary Park on the outskirts of Leesburg on U.S. Hwy 27, at a City of Leesburg boat ramp in Venetian Gardens off of SR 44 (Dixie Avenue), at the Hickory Point recreational on SR 19 south of Tavares, and in Astatula at a ramp on Florida Avenue west of C.R. 561. Lake Harris Lodge is a fish camp located on Lake Harris off US Hwy 19 south of Tavares, and Palm Gardens is located on US Hwy 441 near Tavares. Lake Harris is the second biggest lake in hte Lake Harris chain of lakes and is the 10th biggest lake in the state of Florida.

Largemouth bass fishing is very productive in Lake Harris, especially during the winter months when the bass are spawning. Almost year around you can locate bass along deepwater edges of vegetation and in the canals. Bass can be caught on topwater plugs, plastic worms are a local favorite and crankbaits. Lake Harris and the surrounding canals are great locations for Black crappie, they like to bite well on minnows, look around the Highway 19 Bridge and while drifting the open water areas of the lake.  Shellcrackers often spawn here as early as March while blues frequently wait until April and May. Those seeking bluegill beds are advised to scout 4 to 6-foot depths in grassy areas at the far end of Little Lake Harris, along with the lily pads and spadderdock tracts near the 9th Street Canal near Leesburg. Unusually big and thick shellcrackers can be taken near the 9th Street Canal and in Little Lake Harris.

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