Cecil Harden Lake,,, Good ,,Bad,, or Ugly

[junior]

Any thoughts, have they started to pull the water down yet?, any stories,,, or suggestions?

Junior

[small boat basser]

Ugly...They don't start pulling the water down until after the Covered Bridge Festival. Then the bite starts to pick up.

[junior]

Thanks,,, now I have a start date, Stay safe out there.
& good luck
Junior

[topwater2007]

I fished 6 hours and caught only 3 white bass and 1 largemouth bass. It was very brutal day. Sore arm, thousand plus casts, pathetic lake.

Unless you are a carp angler.

[junior]

I fished 6 hours and caught only 3 white bass and 1 largemouth bass. It was very brutal day. Sore arm, thousand plus casts, pathetic lake.

Unless you are a carp angler.

Thanks for the info,,,, is the bass limit 16 inches ?

[bassman409]

Thanks for the info,,,, is the bass limit 16 inches ?

Yes, the limit on bass is 16".......... And it is actually a very fine bass fishing lake. Not sure how accomplished Topwater is on bass fishing but that lake can and is a great bass fishery. Not sure why he would say that after one bad day on that lake. I've had many bad day on lakes but that doesn't mean it is a carp lake. Cmon Topwater.......

[topwater2007]

I am not that bad an angler. The weather was perfect for bass fishin on Monday, with the clouds and nice wind.

I threw everything I knew to do. Rattletraps, deep cranks, tube jigs, texas rigged worms, etc...

The bass were not shallow at all, water in the south end of the lake got very clear I assume from the lack of pleasure boaters on the water.

I was marking fish between 25ft in mid-day, to 15ft at 6pm. When I jigged over these fish, they were white bass.

I have two spots on the lake that I have caught bass on, I got nothing at all off either spot.

I might try it again this afternoon.

I am not bashing the lake, just wanted him to know that it is tough fishing up there. I don't know if the DNR even stocks bass in the lake, they put about 29,000 striped bass in there every year though.

I know stripers like to eat shad, but in my opinion any largemouth bass that a striper can get down his throat is a better meal than a shad. I have a feeling the amount of stripers in the lake effects the largemouth population.

Any day on any lake is a learning experience, on the north end I watched an Osprey come down and catch 2 white bass at one swipe. He flew up about 100 feet then dropped one of them. It was great outdoor viewing, and earlier this year I was up in the same area, heard a big shreak, looked up and right over me in a large tree was a big bald eagle.

I have also seen wild turkey fly across the entire lake, and before that, I would have never said a turkey could fly that far. The amazing thing is that they fly across one at a time. One goes, then when he gets about 1/2 way across another one takes off. I watched about 8 of them do that.

I also want to try and catch some of those stripers. A friend of mine caught a 19lb'er, but it was in the tailwater in late fall. I can't get deep enough with a lure to get into their holding area.

So bassman, the lake is pretty huge, you got any general areas you do good at on the big Cecil.

topwater.

[junior]

Thanks to all for the posting, Now I have,,,,,

A time and date when the water should be lowered.

14 in. limit

Top water bite,, and possible crank bait bite.

Big white bass and large mouth bass both can be caught.

The lake is also large & holds some wonderful things to view besides fish.

Sounds like a fun place to spend some time. "Thanks to all" for some GREAT information and help.

Junior

[hardestyeric]

16" size limit....
Eric H.

[YAZ]

I am not bashing the lake, just wanted him to know that it is tough fishing up there. I don't know if the DNR even stocks bass in the lake, they put about 29,000 striped bass in there every year though.

I know stripers like to eat shad, but in my opinion any largemouth bass that a striper can get down his throat is a better meal than a shad. I have a feeling the amount of stripers in the lake effects the largemouth population.
topwater.

Topwater,

Don't get that rumor started again. I have caught hundreds of stripers from all over the country. Not once have I found a LM bass in their stomachs. I'm not saying that they won't. But, like any predatory fish, they will take what is offered sometimes. But I will tell you, LM bass prey on their own more than the stripers do. It is my opinion that fishermen take more of a toll on the bass than the stripers do.

[junior]

I got to fish the lake Sunday, I didn't know the lake was so deep.

We cranked the points and went into the cuts & coves. Early I got a couple blow ups on a buzz bait. Around 10:00 a.m. in about 10 ft of water we got a few bass on crank baits.

Very clean park, steep ramps, deep drops, some fallen trees to worm fish in.
Had FUN,,, found gasoline $2.69 a gal in Danville & caught some fish.

All GOOD!
Junior