Hargis Lake Fishing near Chelsea, Alabama

• Overview

  Hargis Lake stands in Shelby County, Alabama. Elevation runs to 548 feet. This is a pocket water of some 19 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Head to Chelsea, 2.7 miles away, for anything you forgot. Westover follows at 3.7 miles, then Highland Lakes at 3.9 miles. This one is safely inside the county line. Count over twenty within 15 miles of here and dozens within 30 miles.

• Where to Fish on Hargis Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Nearby survey and observation records mention green sunfish, redeye bass, Alabama bass and black bullhead. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. Fish Hargis Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 79°F, the coldest about 42°F. There is no frozen season to plan round. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. That shapes the year on Hargis Lake. A rising level usually fishes better than a falling one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. A rest area sits about 170 yards from the water. There are toilets half a mile off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Chelsea Game Preserve Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Hargis Lake before loading the car.