Harris Lake (Lake Wedowee)
Harris Reservoir 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 contains 10,660 acres. Completed in 1983, Harris Lake is the youngest hydropower lake in the state.
A 13- to 16-inch slot limit was placed on black bass (largemouth and spotted bass) on October 1, 1993. (A slot limit means that only fish shorter than 13-inches and longer than 16-inches can be harvested from the lake. Bass that are between 13- and 16-inches must be released.) The objectives of the slot limit were to restructure the bass population by protecting fish in the slot that were deficient in numbers, reduce the numbers of smaller fish (8- to 13-inches), and increase the numbers of larger fish (longer than 16-inches).
Since the implementation of the slot limit, numbers of smaller bass are declining and numbers of fish longer than 14-inches are increasing. Growth rates are improving, as is the plumpness of bass. These improvements are a direct result of educating anglers on the importance of removing (harvesting) bass smaller than 13-inches. Continued harvest of small bass is necessary to ensure sustained improvements in the fishery.
Crappie had a good spawn in 1997 that is maintaining the fishery. However, lean years in 1998 and 1999 could slow crappie fishing until another strong spawn occurs. Remember, Harris Lake has a 9-inch minimum length limit on crappie.