Harris Lake (Wedowee)
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Fish and Fishing in
Harris Lake
(Lake Wedowee)
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Harris Reservoir, locally known as Lake Wedowee, is located in east-northeast Alabama on the upper Tallapoosa River in Randolph and Clay Counties near Wedowee. The reservoir is 24 miles long and covers 10,660 acres. Completed in 1983, Harris Lake is the youngest hydropower lake in the state.
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A regulation change allowing all sizes of spotted bass to be harvested became effective 1 April 2006. Largemouth bass are still under the 13 to 16 inch slot limit. (This means that only largemouth shorter than 13 inches or longer than 16 inches can be harvested from the lake. Largemouth bass between 13 and 16 inches must be released).
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| Spring electrofishing samples in 2007 indicated that the largemouth population size structure was such that numbers of fish from 12 to 25 inches approached or exceeded the statewide 75th percentile for each respective size range. Growth rates for largemouth ages 1-4 were average compared to other reservoirs throughout the state. |
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The 2007 sample also revealed a build up of quality size spotted bass (11 to 14 inches) unprecedented since sampling began on Harris Reservoir. Hopefully, this will translate into more preferred size (14 to 17 inches) spotted bass for the 2008 fishing season. Spotted bass growth, measured as mean length at age, in Harris Reservoir is slow. In fact, it was below the statewide 25th percentile for ages 1, 2 and 4 spotted bass in 2007. Age 3 growth was below average compared to the statewide average.
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| Condition (plumpness) of both largemouth and spotted bass remains poor. This is a reflection of the infertility of the lake coupled with a dense bass population that does not experience much harvest. District II fisheries personnel believe that spotted bass harvest in the 13 to 16 inch size range, in conjunction with a concerted effort to remove as many largemouth and spotted bass below 13 inches as possible, should result in increased numbers of desirable sized bass as well as improved growth and condition (plumpness) for largemouth and spotted bass in all size groups. Unfortunately, harvest effects on the black bass population are not evident to date |
| Bass club tournament data for Harris Lake can be found at: www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/where/reservoirs/quality/. |
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Crappie were not sampled during spring 2007 electrofishing. However, the 2005 sample yielded many large crappie. All crappie sampled were in the quality to trophy size range. Eighty-six percent of crappie sampled exceeded the 9 inch minimum length limit, with 71% longer than 10 inches.
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Alabama Power Company has improved fishing by providing habitat in this lake. Coordinates of these habitat improvements are available as an Excel spreadsheet or a GPS download from www.alabamapower.com/lakes/fishdata.asp.
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Links (disclaimer):
Fishing license information may be found at: www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/license/. Instant licensing is available via the Internet (2% fee), via the telephone by calling 1-888-848-6887 ($3.95 fee), or at 900 vendors and probate offices in Alabama. All youth age 15 and younger fish for free.
Possession and creel limits for Alabama public waters are listed at: www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/
Bass fishing quality at Harris Lake is assessed from bass club tournament results here.
If you are a member of a bass club, please consider being a part of our Bass Angler Information Team. We use information from clubs to help better manage your lakes for fishing.
State fish management information and Alabama reservoir location, size and elevation are listed at: www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/where/reservoirs/
Current water levels may be found for Harris Dam at: http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/al/hydro.html
Information about the Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association can be found at: www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/grassroots/lwpoa/index.htm
Some large boats and houseboats may be prohibited on Harris Lake.
It shall be unlawful to intentionally stock or release any fish, mussel, snail, crayfish or their embryos including bait fish into the public waters of Alabama under the jurisdiction of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries as provided in Rule 220-2-.42 except those waters from which it came without the written permission of a designated employee of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources authorized by the Director of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to issue such permit. The provisions of this rule shall not apply to the incidental release of bait into the water during the normal process of fishing.
Flat Rock Park-Harris Reservoir (Swimming, Picnicking, Hiking, Fishing) hours 9:00 a.m. til 8:00 p.m., seasonal. From Lineville, take Blakesferry Road, south approximately 7 miles; (256) 396-2338 or (256) 396-5093.
The Fisheries Section's District II Supervisor can answer specific questions about Lake Wedowee by sending mail to: dan.catchings@dcnr.alabama.gov.
Prepared by: Fisheries Section, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This site is presented for information only; the Fisheries Section cannot be responsible for the quality of information or services offered through linked sites, disclaimer. If you discover errors in the content or links of this page, please contact Doug Darr. Thank you.
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