Cold Front Could Push Harris Chain Bass Up Shallow In Time For Aft Division 20 Tournament
A cold front is moving across Florida this week which should drop the water temperature in the Harris Chain of Lakes and bring the bass up shallow in a pre-spawn stage just in time for the Ram American Fishing Tour Harris Chain Division 20’s 4th tournament of the 2016 season.
“Fishing should be good, better than 80- to 90-degree weather, but it’s supposed to warm back up this week, too. Hopefully, they will stay moved up and won’t go back out,” said Sean Wilt, Division 20 tournament director.
Wilt said it’s been taking limits in the high teens to win on the Harris Chain, but if the fish have moved up shallow it probably will take more than 20 pounds to win Saturday.
“They will be in the canal fronts on grass lines, lily pads, eel grass, stuff like that,” Wilt said. I do a lot of flipping and throw some lipless crankbaits most of the year and most of the guys probably will be doing that Saturday.”
The Harris Chain is comprised of a series of lakes – notably Lake Apopka, Lake Carlton, Lake Dora, Lake Eustis, Little Lake Harris, Big Lake Harris, Griffin Lake and some others, many unreachable by boat because of roadways, Wilt said.
“It’s a big fishery and it’s a popular destination. The Elite Series has been here a couple of times and they just filmed the elimination round of Major League Fishing here on the Harris Chain.”
After Saturday, the rest of the Division 20 season runs Feb. 13, March 12, April 9, May 14 and June 11-12. Anglers pay a one-time membership fee of $25 and the entry fee is $70 per tournament.
“You can register at the ramp and if it’s your first tournament we will waive the late fee,” Wilt said.
Wilt said he averaged five or six core anglers per tournament last year – his first as tournament director – but this year entries have doubled.
“I am drawing more guys from out of the area than in the area,” he noted. “Guys are driving a couple of hours from Jacksonville, Tampa and Deltona to fish with us.”
The group of regulars is almost like a fishing club, Wilt said.
“We all know each other. We do it for fun and you win all the money. There seems to be a group of guys who commit to a whole year and we’ve all become friends. We help each other out and we are not overly competitive – but we are competitive,” he said.
“Come see us.”
Ram American Fishing Tour – Harris Chain
Sat, Jan 9, 2016
Harris Chain
Buzzard Beach
Call Sean Wilt at (352) 653-0299
http://www.americanbassanglers.com/districts2016.php?Division=20
