I've recently become semi-retired and am getting back into bass fishing after a hiatus  of about 20 years.  I was an avid tournament fisherman back in the 70's and 80's and was sponsored by the Mann's Bait Company at one time.  So, it's time to upgrade my tackle.  I've still got my well  maintained old tackle consisting of Lew's Speed Spool reels, Daiwa Procasters, Garcia 5000s, and one Quantum KV600CX that I received for Father's day about 5 years ago. I now live in Mount Dora, Florida and moved here from Orlando last year.  I'm only a few blocks from the Lake Dora ramp and will be doing most of my fishing in the Harris Chain here in Lake County.

I've posted in the Tackle forum looking for opinions on new reels.  I look forward to contributing here from time to time.

Welcome!

Hello Ray & Welcome to Bass Resource ~

A-Jay

Welcome aboard, Ray!

 

11 minutes ago, Ray K said:

I've recently become semi-retired and am getting back into bass fishing after a hiatus  of about 20 years.  I was an avid tournament fisherman back in the 70's and 80's and was sponsored by the Mann's Bait Company at one time.  So, it's time to upgrade my tackle.  I've still got my well  maintained old tackle consisting of Lew's Speed Spool reels, Daiwa Procasters, Garcia 5000s, and one Quantum KV600CX that I received for Father's day about 5 years ago. I now live in Mount Dora, Florida and moved here from Orlando last year.  I'm only a few blocks from the Lake Dora ramp and will be doing most of my fishing in the Harris Chain here in Lake County.

I've posted in the Tackle forum looking for opinions on new reels.  I look forward to contributing here from time to time.

Welcome aboard Ray K.  I also fish the Harris Chain - living in Apopka. 

Good to see a neighbor here.  Might even see you on the water.

We will have to keep up to date with each other on what's working.  

51 minutes ago, hezeez@gmail.com said:

 

Welcome aboard Ray K.  I also fish the Harris Chain - living in Apopka. 

Good to see a neighbor here.  Might even see you on the water.

We will have to keep up to date with each other on what's working.  

Be glad to.  I haven't fished the chain in a few years.

Just now, Ray K said:

Be glad to.  I haven't fished the chain in a few years.

Haha, well...I've only fished the chain for a couple of years.  

It was tough to learn at first, but my son (12) and I have been puttin' at least 1 fish in the boat each time we've been out lately, which is better than getting skunked.  

We try to get out fishing at least once a week.

I frequent Little Lake Harris mostly - but want to start exploring the chain more in depth.

Caught a nice one on Lake Carlton last weekend, about 4 lbs.  Best one this year, but nothing to great.  

Just now, hezeez@gmail.com said:

Haha, well...I've only fished the chain for a couple of years.  

It was tough to learn at first, but my son (12) and I have been puttin' at least 1 fish in the boat each time we've been out lately, which is better than getting skunked.  

We try to get out fishing at least once a week.

I frequent Little Lake Harris mostly - but want to start exploring the chain more in depth.

Caught a nice one on Lake Carlton last weekend, about 4 lbs.  Best one this year, but nothing to great.  

I'm about 1/2 mile from the Lake Dora ramp so will probably put in there.  I can access the whole chain if need be.  Which lake is known for the largest fish if there is one?

Just now, Ray K said:

I'm about 1/2 mile from the Lake Dora ramp so will probably put in there.  I can access the whole chain if need be.  Which lake is known for the largest fish if there is one?

This is what I've heard:

Lake Harris - in the Dead River, 9th street canals and on the sand bar near Yalaha are the hot spots, sand bar will probably be best in the upcoming summer months.  

Lake Eustis is supposed to have some big one's too - but I don't necessarily have any details on that.  

 

Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't big ones in the rest of the chain - that's just the word on the street.

 

Hey Ray, 

Here is a website that has some good information on the Harris Chain.  You might find it helpful, you might not.  

If not, just ignore it.

http://www.lakecountybass.com/lake-harris-bass-fishing.html 

Welcome to the forums!

Jeff

Welcome to BR! 

Ray - Welcome to Bass Resource.  Enjoy the forums.

Welcome Ray!

Great having you with us.

Keep us posted on your fishing adventures.

Welcome to the Forum.

Welcome!

On 5/16/2016 at 1:14 PM, hezeez@gmail.com said:

This is what I've heard:

Lake Harris - in the Dead River, 9th street canals and on the sand bar near Yalaha are the hot spots, sand bar will probably be best in the upcoming summer months.  

Lake Eustis is supposed to have some big one's too - but I don't necessarily have any details on that.  

 

Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't big ones in the rest of the chain - that's just the word on the street.

 

So, where are the sand bars off of Yalaha?  Is it where Lake Harris narrows  before going under Hwy 19 to Little Lake Harris?

Greetings Ray and Welcome to the forums

7 hours ago, Ray K said:

So, where are the sand bars off of Yalaha?  Is it where Lake Harris narrows  before going under Hwy 19 to Little Lake Harris?

I'm sorry - I meant shell bar - not sand bar.  The shell bars I'm referring to run along lakeshore drive in Yalaha, down the shore towards the west.  

21 minutes ago, hezeez@gmail.com said:

I'm sorry - I meant shell bar - not sand bar.  The shell bars I'm referring to run along lakeshore drive in Yalaha, down the shore towards the west.  

Got it.  I know that area.  Are the shell bars on shore or, off shore.  Cover?  Depth?  We'll be out on Friday and I'll take a look.

They stretch out from the shore a bit.  Check out the pic below, helps give you an idea - the white is hard bottom - aka shell bar.  It runs along that ditch there - depths range from 5 ft to 24 ft.  

4 minutes ago, hezeez@gmail.com said:

They stretch out from the shore a bit.  Check out the pic below, helps give you an idea - the white is hard bottom - aka shell bar.  It runs along that ditch there - depths range from 5 ft to 24 ft.  

Perfect, thanks.  Is that Garmin lake software?  I have a GPS plotter in my boat but, it only has salt water and the St. Johns River software in it and they want about $200 for the freshwater lake package.

This is actually the Navionics app on my phone.  

Hello and Welcome! 

 

Mike 

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