The student news site of Benilde-St. Margaret's School in St. Louis Park, MN

Lake Harriet

September 28, 2020

Northern+Pike+%2841+inches%21%29+caught+in+Lake+Harriet.

Charles Hansen

Northern Pike (41 inches!) caught in Lake Harriet.

Lake Harriet right in the heart of Minneapolis is a well-known lake by many throughout the state. With Lake Harriet being known for the bandshell restaurant, sailing, swimming, walking your dog around the lake. This seemingly dirty lake might surprise you. The lake is a great fishery and is actually spring fed. With Lake Harriet not being a very large lake and being quite round in shape, it makes up for it with its depth. With Lake Harriet reaching a max depth of 85 feet, it is a surprisingly deep lake for the area.

Fishing in Lake Harriet can oftentimes be very rewarding. Lake Harriet gets a lot of fishing pressure yet still holds many fish. Mainly fishing from shore, many people catch a variety of panfish like bluegills, crappies, perch, etc… Just a bobber, hook, and a worm seems to do the trick here. Bass fishing in here is prevalent as well, all along the shore casting out a wacky rigged worm or any kind of soft plastic will produce some fish.

Lake Harriet offers a large amount of small northern pike all throughout the lake, shallow and deep. Although some large northern pike lurk these waters as well. Casting out spinner baits, crankbaits, and swimbaits along the weedlines should produce fish. A live sucker minnow will produce fish as well.

Northern pike are not the apex predator in these waters. Lake Harriet is home to some monster muskies. Muskie fishing on Lake Harriet can be surprisingly rewarding. Lots of muskies are pulled out of Lake Harriet with some large ones too. Live sucker minnows seem to be a local favorite for these muskies, yet casting bladed baits like cowgirls along the sailboats seems to work pretty well. Trolling large crankbaits or spinner baits along the outside weedlines tend to be good. Focus on 11-18 feet of water for the most muskie action.

Walleye have been known to be caught out of this lake yet are a pretty rare catch out of here. Large carp are also offered in Lake Harriet to give a good tug on the end of your line. The gas motor restriction on Lake Harriet offers a bit of a challenge, yet if you shore fish the lake, or have a trolling motor, you’re all set to go.

 

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