Harris Chain of Lakes

Why the Harris Chain of Lakes?

The Harris Chain of lakes is incredibly fertile and contain mostly stained green color water. The primary cover is Kissimmee grass, eelgrass, lily pads, reeds, and bulrushes. There is some clear water, but it is limited to the backs of residential canals and the spring creeks that feed the lakes. If you are fond of fishing light tackle in crystal clear water, you will have quite a shock in these waters.

These are big fish lakes with robust and healthy bass, requiring stout tackle and power techniques. Finesse tactics work well in these lakes and canals; as always, you take your chances of breaking off a nice fish when using lite tackle. There is generally the same pattern on this chain of lakes as any other in Florida; two distinct main patterns to Harris Chain bass fishing is open water main lake fishing and canal fishing. The different two popular ways of fishing are deep holes and site fishing.

The seasons and the weather dictate which pattern is best for a particular time. Word of advice, if you not around them, find them. They generally in groups on this chain of lakes.

Lake Eustis

One of the more popular lakes in the Harris Chain of Lakes is Lake Eustis which covers 7,806 acres and is connected to Big Lake Harris through the mile-long Dead River and Lake Griffin through Haines Creek. Both Haines Creek and the Dead River have excellent fishing in season. 

Surrounding Lake Eustis are numerous residential canals that can be very productive at certain times of the year. It is also the home of the famous “Gator Hole,” a deep sinkhole at the end of a natural canal leading off the main lake. This hole produces scores of bass and can deliver the fish of a lifetime if you are there at the right time. For most of the year, the canals have the most consistent action in Lake Eustis.

There are two public boat ramps on Lake Eustis. Between Tavares and Leesburg on State Road, 441 is the popular Buzzard Beach ramp. The Eustis city ramp is located on Lakeshore Drive just south of the City of Eustis.

Dora, Beauclair & Carlton

Together, the East Harris Chain of lakes, Dora, Beauclair, and Lake Carlton cover 4,475 acres. They are connected to Lake Eustis on the north through the Dora Canal and Lake Apopka to the south through the Apopka Beauclair Canal. During the recent drought, Game Officials and local anglers planted a considerable amount of new reeds in these lakes. 

These reeds are now flooded and have begun to fill in the shoreline. Lake Dora is traditionally the first to turn on in the spring and does hold bigger fish at times than the rest of the chain of lakes. Again, Kissimmee grass, reeds, and bulrushes are the predominant cover. The boat docks in this lake, especially along the north shore, can be very productive during the middle of the day.

The Southside

South of Lake Dora is Lake Beauclair and tiny Lake Carlton. Through a small inlet on the southern shore of Lake Beauclair, Lake Carlton has an entrance. Both of these lakes are known for giant bass. Most big fish are caught by flipping, pitching, and using wild shiners on the boat docks and reeds. Many local and professional anglers have placed brush piles in these lakes. 

The Apopka Beauclair Canal system is a sizable area of clear water that holds bass year-round. The entrance to these canals is near the southwestern shore of Lake Beauclair. There is a lot of water to be fished, and it is all excellent at times. The so-called “Clear Canal” is located here, a significant sight fishing area in the bedding season.

Many tournaments have been won in this area for those willing to make the long run. There are three public boat ramps on the East Harris Chain of lakes; two on Lake Dora and one in Lake Jem. The Lake Jem ramp is on the Apopka Beauclair canal.

Changes made to the Harris Chain of lakes.

In the early nineties, Florida Fish & Game implemented a five-bass 14″ daily limit that went a long way to improving the overall success of the Harris Chain of lakes for Florida bass anglers in Leesburg, Florida. Catch and release caught on with anglers and guides all over Florida since 2001, after a severe drought created an artificial drawdown that re-grew mile of eelgrass, pads, and shoreline cover. 

During the drought, game officials and residents also replanted acres of beneficial reeds in large areas of the Harris Chain of lakes. Water levels have now returned to normal, and the chain is producing good numbers of bass. Many 10 and 11 pound fish are l each spring and an occasional giant in the 12 to 13-pound range.