Aerial view of Harris Chain’s shallow habitat

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While spawning bass won’t play quite as much as they have in the past, the shallows of the Harris Chain of Lakes will still provide plenty of opportunities for success during this weeks 2024 Lowrance Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain.
Early reports indicate bass are spawning in some areas of the Harris Chain, which includes Lake Eustis, Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Dora and Lake Griffin. Canals connect the lakes, and those are expected to be in play, along with residential canals with boat docks and shoreline vegetation with hard bottoms favored by bedding fish.
The playing field is vast on the Harris Chain with Lake Eustis, Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Dora, Lake Beauclair, Lake Apopka and Lake Griffin all eligible. Canals connect the lakes and residential canals with boat docks and shoreline vegetation with hard bottoms are prominent.
Take a tour of the lakes, and expect to see the 94 anglers fishing some of these same areas. The tour begins at Haines Creek, which connects Lake Dora to Lake Eustis via a lock. No wake speeds require calculating idle time into the day, making time management crucial.
Take a tour of the lakes, and expect to see the 104 anglers fishing some of these same areas. The tour begins at Haines Creek, which connects Lake Dora to Lake Eustis via a lock. No wake speeds require calculating idle time into the day, making time management crucial.
The canals are more than a connecting passage between the lakes. They offer shorelines with mixed wood and vegetation that are ideal for spawning bass.
The canals are more than a connecting passage between the lakes. They offer shorelines with mixed wood and vegetation that are ideal for spawning bass.
Lake Eustis, from the entrance of Haines Creek.
Lake Eustis, from the entrance of Haines Creek.
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This view of the entrance of Haines Creek shows the mix of lily pads and shoreline vegetation used by staging and spawning bass.
This view of the entrance of Haines Creek shows the mix of lily pads and shoreline vegetation used by bass.
The Dora Canal connects Lake Eustis to Lake Dora. Tour boats take tourists for sightseeing tours through the canal and the lakes.
The Dora Canal connects Lake Eustis to Lake Dora. Tour boats take tourists for sightseeing tours through the canal and the lakes.
For obvious reasons, it’s a no idle zone for about 1 mile between the lakes.
For obvious reasons, it’s a no idle zone for about 1 mile between the lakes.
Wildlife is abundant, and it’s not uncommon to see otters, birds and other wildlife.
Wildlife is abundant, and it’s not uncommon to see otters, birds and other wildlife.
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Lake Eustis is in the background from this view inside Dora Canal.
Lake Eustis is in the background from this view inside Dora Canal.
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Manmade structure like buildings, seawalls and docks could be in play near the lakeside towns.
Manmade structure like buildings, seawalls and docks could be in play near the lakeside towns.
This is a prime example of how mixed vegetation and boat docks make ideal transition zones, and even spawning areas.
This is a prime example of how mixed vegetation and boat docks make ideal transition zones, and even spawning areas.
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There are two types of residential canals. This one is densely populated with mobile homes, with the docks nearly connected together.
There are two types of residential canals. This one is densely populated with mobile homes, with the docks nearly connected together.
An angler could play both sides of this canal, with the docks and the shoreline cover on the opposite side.
An angler could play both sides of this canal, with the docks and the shoreline cover on the opposite side.
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The canal entrance for the previous photos connects to the Dora Canal.
The canal entrance for the previous photos connects to the Dora Canal.
Here are more examples of how residential and municipal shoreline development create myriad opportunities and strike zones for prespawn and spawning bass.
Here are more examples of how residential and municipal shoreline development create myriad opportunities and strike zones for prespawn and spawning bass.
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This is the other example of residential canals. Home lots are much larger, spacing out the private docks, with more aquatic vegetation between them.
This is the other example of residential canals. Home lots are much larger, spacing out the private docks, with more aquatic vegetation between them.
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It’s said an angler can choose what suits his style of angling, with such a variety of cover in the lakes.
It’s said an angler can choose what suits his style of angling, with such a variety of cover in the lakes.
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Each lake has its own personality with habitat, with some offering more residential canals, and others stretching the strike zone into backwater areas.
Each lake has its own personality with habitat, with some offering more residential canals, and others stretching the strike zone into backwater areas.
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The residential develop spanning the lakes is mind-boggling in size, with some canals having a main entrance with side canals stretching into the neighborhoods.
The residential develop spanning the lakes is mind-boggling in size, with some canals having a main entrance with side canals stretching into the neighborhoods.
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The takeaway is there are many different scenarios that will develop during the week, and it will be all about which areas provide the best transition and spawning cover by lake.
The takeaway is there are many different scenarios that will develop during the week, and it will be all about which areas provide the best transition and spawning cover by lake.