Harrys fish camp (in april)

Freshwater Freshwater
1

Thinking about going up to Harry’s fish camp and staying for a few days. My spring break is like the 1st week of April so I wanna do a mini vacation or a staycation… I know you can stay at Harry’s for relatively cheap so it seems like aggood option. I just don’t what will ne biting. The crappie and shellcrackers right? Hopefully a good bass biye I guess too. Is catfishin a valid option then? I can catch a few bass I just don’t know about anything else. I know some of yall have stayed there so any info yall can pass along would be greatly appreciated!

Hunter P. Hames
11’ Tarpon 100
19’ Sea Fox 125 merc

2

Ok great help yall. Catfish are shallow, and cut bait is best right? How do I fish for crappie. Worms under a float right? Where can I buy or can I catch bait, around harrys (diversion canal area)?

Hunter P. Hames
11’ Tarpon 100
19’ Sea Fox 125 merc

3

i would think you could find some shellcrackers on the flats outside the canal.redworms or blue worms on the bottom. some use a cork without a stopper to help detect a bite.catfish should also be plentiful as well.good luck

4

Thanks. I’ll try. I’ve been digging up old magazines and suck with a little help. How would I go about on my rigs for shellcracker on a float? Crappie fishing? And brim? Is there baitsokd ay Harry’s? Where can I get herring and minnows?

Hunter P. Hames
11’ Tarpon 100
19’ Sea Fox 125 merc

5

I don’t honestly recall if Harry’s sells bait. I think they sold herring. I have a PILE of frozen herring and could probably spare you some for a day’s cut bait. I came home today with 30 that were 10-12" long.

But take some sabiki rigs with you. By then there should be herring in the lakes. Just drop a rod straight over with a 1-ounce pyramid or bank sinker on the bottom (reel it up a foot or two to avoid snags). Set it in your rod holder. Often times if you get a fish on it, the time it takes you to set down your main rod means you’ve filled up the empty hooks with fresh live bait.

6

crappie will probably be done by then. Bass and shellcracker should be pretty good.

7

Thanks for the info. Headed up next Monday! What size and model hooks do you use for catfish on that drift/Ohio rig with the sinker and cork on it? Also just a standard gold Aberdeen hook for bream, and what all do you use for crappie? Thinkin for crappie ill fish live minnows or tube baits, but I don’t know how to fish them, or really what to look for in a crappie honey hole. Docks, and brushpiles good then?

8

For catfish, I vastly prefer circle hooks. I like larger ones— 6/0 to 8/0, they give a good stout hookset and work well with big cut herring. (btw if you don’t already have some herring, PM me, I have some frozen I can hook you up with Yakman).

In the Diversion, you’ll want 1-3 ounce egg sinkers, a stout swivel, and possibly a small cork in front of the hook to keep it off the bottom.

For crappie, look for overhanging trees (they love the shade) and brush sticking up. It’s hit or miss if you don’t know the area.

Watch out for nutcases in overpowered tri-toons.

9

Thanks! I’ll PM you tomorrow. If I’m not drifting, ill just fish a Carolina rig? Like the ditches and cuts and holes on some flats, a 3/4 or 1 ounce sinker is good right? Or should I get bigger

10

I would take some 2-3 ounce egg sinkers (I have a few that I’ve cast if you need them). I’d start with 3/4 or 1 ounce but if the current is ripping you may need more. Carolina rig would be fine. Most folks prefer to use a small float to get the bait off the bottom a foot or two.