Hart Lake, British Columbia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Hart Lake is one of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George waters in British Columbia. Elevation runs to 713 metres. The water covers some 54 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 3.7 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Head to Prince George, 62 km away, for anything you forgot. Mackenzie is 100 km and Vanderhoof 102 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Hart Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Regional District of Fraser-Fort George include Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Hart Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 15°C on average, January about -10°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Hart Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A pier 630 m from here gives a platform over deeper water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Bear Lake is 1.8 km off. Where Hart Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.