C E Harry Lake Fishing in Cleveland County, North Carolina

• Overview

  C E Harry Lake is a Cleveland County water, North Carolina side. Beyond the shoreline you have oak and grass. This is a pocket water of some 16 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Blacksburg, 4.7 miles off. It is 35 miles to Charlotte, the nearest city. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on C E Harry Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Open biodiversity records for Cleveland County list striped jumprock, seagreen darter and Carolina fantail darter. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish C E Harry Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 39°F and July at about 78°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Long warm spells define the calendar more than any cold. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It holds true on C E Harry Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Martin Marietta Company Lake sits 4.8 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on C E Harry Lake is worth confirming on the day.