First off, like to say hi to everyone, first real post here.
been fishing a lot lately, off work with a bum back.
been going to Harrier Lake off Sterns road west of Bartlett. (east the railroad tracks)
this is a catch and release only lake.
weedy, shore can be very muddy after a rain, but some of the best fishing i have ever come across.
perch, large and smallmouth, cats, blue gills, walleyes.... been catching a bit of everything.
grabbing around 50 fish per day, 3-4 hours.
biggest so far has been a 16" LMB. had a lot of good sized (7-12")smallies. but you got to toss them back.
been using orange bellied green sided lures with great success, grasshopper lures work great to. when the cicada's come out they should make great bait!
brought a friends kid and using diced ham, he kept me from fishing that day! pulled fish after fish out, must of gotten at least 15 before i got tired of baiting and unhooking! this in about 45 minutes!
and for some reason he was getting a lot of smallies. gave that little zebco rod a work out!
i recommend this lake to someone who likes a lot of action, but not fishing for food.
also good if you got a youngster who you want to get hooked on fishing.
the weeds are a problem, but there are open strips that you can work, plus you can walk all the way around. you will be blazing a trail but that is fun also.
only has a port-o potty and paved parking. no real trail system yet. has a sand bar in the middle that would be great if you could get to it. don't know how deep the water is between it and shore.
want to add that the fish was good all day, gone early at noon and late, fish just were hungry all the time.
Vic
