Harris

Harris Lake is a 67 acre lake within Superior National Forest with 44 (65%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake is located east of Whiteface Reservoir. The lake is accessible by a rugged � mile long trail off of the Northeast Grade. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked in odd years since 2003. Harris Lake was last assessed in 2010. Harris was surveyed during the summer of 2018 to update information about fish populations and to evaluate the success of the Walleye stocking program. Walleye abundance of 3.6 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye average length was 17.5 inches and all fish aged corresponded to stocked year-classes, suggesting poor natural reproduction of Walleye in Harris Lake. However, anglers should expect decent fishing for Walleye in Harris Lake with many stocked year-classes contributing to the fishery. Northern Pike abundance of 1.2 per gillnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average length was small at 19.6 inches. Bluegill abundance of 13.0 per trapnet lift was average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes, but size was small and growth is slow. Bluegill average length was 4.9 inches, but a few fish over 8 inches were captured. Bluegill size structure should improve as the strong 2014 and 2015 year-classes mature. Yellow Perch abundance was average but size was small.

Harris Lake is a 67 acre lake within Superior National Forest with 44 (65%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake is located east of Whiteface Reservoir. The lake is accessible by a rugged 3/4 mile long trail off of the Northeast Grade. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked in odd years since 2003. Harris Lake was last assessed in 2003. Harris was surveyed during 2010 to update information about fish populations and to evaluate the success of the walleye stocking program. Walleye abundance of 3.7 per gillnet lift was up from 2003 (1.7) and was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye average length was 15.1 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2002 to 2009 were represented except 2004, 2005 and 2006. One exceptionally old individual was captured from the 1989 year-class. Seventy percent of the walleyes aged were from the 2007 year-class. Ninety-three percent of the walleyes aged corresponded to stocked year-classes. Northern pike abundance of 1.8 per gillnet lift was up from 2003 (0.5) and average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Historically, the northern pike CPUE has been low in Harris and has ranged from 0.3 (1996) to 4.0 (1974). Average length was good at 28.6 inches and growth was very fast compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Growth rates of northern pike from Harris are currently the fastest documented in the Duluth Area. All year-classes from 2004 to 2007 were represented, with one exceptionally large fish (45 inches) from the 2000 year-class sampled. Bluegill abundance of 23.4 per trapnet lift was up from 2003 (12.4) and average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average length of sampled bluegills was 4.9 inches and growth was slow compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2001 to 2007 were represented. Special 1/4" trapnets captured 1 YOY bluegill with a length of 1.0 inch. Yellow perch abundance of 37.3 per gillnet lift was up substantially from 2003 (2.8) and was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average length of perch was 6.4 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Perch from all year-classes from 2003 through 2009 were represented, except 2008. The 2005 and 2006 year-classes were strong, contributing to 92% of the overall sample size. Special 1/4" trapnets captured 1 YOY yellow perch with a length of 1.9 inches. Other fish species sampled included blacknose shiner, golden shiner, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish and white sucker. Information was collected on aquatic vegetation, substrate and water quality. Twenty-three aquatic plant species or species groups were identified along 10 transects. Bushy pondweed, large-leaf pondweed and sweetgale were the most frequently found plant species (90% of transects) followed by floating-leaf pondweed, ribbon-leaf pondweed and the sedge group (80% of transects). The most common substrate types were boulder, rubble and detritus which were identified along 100%, 80% and 60% of the transects, respectively. Results of laboratory water analysis indicate Harris is an alkaline, moderately soft water lake with low fertility. Harris Lake was included in an index of biotic integrity (IBI) assessment in 2010. In addition to standard gillnets and trapnets, beach seines and backpack electrofishing equipment were used to index species richness of the nearshore lake habitat.

Harris Lake is a 67.1 acre lake within Superior National Forest with 43.8 (65%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake is located east of County Road 4 and has two user-developed access locations off of the Northeast Grade. Walleye fingerlings were stocked in 1989, 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2002. The primary management species is walleye. Walleye abundance of 1.7 fish/gillnet was below the average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye abundance declined from 4.5 fish/gillnet in 1991. Sixty-five percent (11) of the fish aged were born in years that walleye fingerlings were stocked. Mean length was 14.8 inches. Growth was relatively fast with the length at age 4 of 16.2 inches. Northern pike abundance was low, 0.5 fish/gillnet, but similar to the catches of 1996 (0.3 fish/gillnet) and 1991 (0.5 fish/gillnet). Yellow perch abundance was 2.8 fish/gillnet and was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Bluegill abundance was 12.4 fish/trapnet and was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Bluegill abundance has decreased over the past three assessments (39.0 fish/trapnet in 1991 and 22.0 fish/trapnet in 1996). Mean length of bluegill was 4.9 inches. Growth was average with a length of age 4 bluegill at 4.4 inches. Forty-nine percent of the bluegill aged were age 5 with ages 2-4 also present in large numbers.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Pumpkinseed in Harris. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Harris. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Harris has a maximum depth of 38 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Harris is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Harris in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.