Hartley Lake near Fernie: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Hartley Lake sits in Regional District of East Kootenay, out in British Columbia. Height above sea level is 1,466 metres. At 2 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Regional District of East Kootenay. Head to Fernie, 12 km away, for anything you forgot. After that come Sparwood at 18 km and Coleman at 40 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Hartley Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Regional District of East Kootenay include rainbow trout, mountain whitefish and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Treat Hartley Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -10°C to 13°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. It holds true on Hartley Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. There is camping recorded roughly 70 m off. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Island Lake is 14 km distant. Confirm before you fish Hartley Lake.