Harriet

[Griggs]

I just moved and I now live about a mile from Lake Harriet. Since I live so close I figure I HAVE to fish it =)

I've never fished any of the Mpls lakes before, the no motor has been quite a turn off and just my stereotype of all of them being swamps. If someone who really knows something about Harriet could tell me how the Walleye fishing is there, I'd really appricate it. Thanks!

[bailey27]

I used to fish Harriet quite a bit 5 to 10 years ago. Finding the walleyes was hit or miss, and then the sizes were also hit or miss. I have caught many keepers, my biggest being 6lbs, and countless cigar sized walleyes as well. If you are fishing from shore, my money spot was near the bird sanctuary. There is a nice sand bar that runs out from shore in front of the bird sanctuary that was built a few years ago. If you have a boat there is a lot of structure you can hit but I would start on the east side of the lake working the weedline drop off. Be prepared to lose rigs on Muskys because there are a ton in that lake and they can be pretty aggressive. I usually just fish this lake for musky now as I have found a better walleye spot not too far away. Good luck.

[Griggs]

Cool, thanks. I'll be fishing from a boat, anybody else with any experience out there?

[slick814]

THe onlyexperience I've had with it involved crappies, a couple of small bucketmouths, and a very aggresive & hungry Musky.

Heck, I didn't even know there were 'Eyes in Harriet. I do know that it's underrated for Crappies, especially thru the ice.

Last year while casting around the sailboats for some Largemouth, I caught a little 10" er. Was taking my time in reeling it in when I saw a boil coming up behind it, and started cranking like mad. I lifted the little bass out of the water just as the biggest Musky I've seen in the water came out of the water after it.

But no Walleyes, sorry I can't be of help there.

OH... and the electric motor thing isn't bad, actually. It's not like Harriet is a big body of water, you can cover the whole thing nicely with a trolling motor, and it's kind of a weird but cool, "BWCA in the city" feeling...

[Shack]

I would run down to Harriet Island. You would have much better luck running in walleye their. Also you would have all kinds of differnt fish to chose from. Just a thought.

[Griggs]

gosh, sounds like I might have to just go there for Muskies. I wish there was somewhere nearby that was decent for eyes...

[SkunkedAgain]

Well, the best lake in around town is Minnetonka. Of course, there are many great lakes in their own right. Calhoun is good for walleye as well and not many boats actually go out there to fish.

[CommonSense Guy]

I caught a 29 incher out there two years ago. However the lake is choked with milfoil. My advice is head to Nokomis and troil around the shoreline at night with raps.