Spring Lake in Hardeman County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Spring Lake in the Hardeman County part of Tennessee. It lies 525 feet above sea level. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Bolivar at 15 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Memphis is 58 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near. Indian Creek Watershed Number Four Lake sits 7.5 miles away and draws most of the attention.

• Where to Fish on Spring Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish documented in Hardeman County include gulf darter, dusky darter and brighteye darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Spring Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 38°F to 79°F. The surface stays open the year round. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Plan around that when you fish Spring Lake. Fish feed harder before a change in weather than after it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Crystal Lake is 0.4 miles distant. None of that is settled for Spring Lake in what we hold.