Hart Lake, Yukon: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Yukon, Hart Lake belongs to Mayo. The bank is 1,410 metres above sea level. Roughly 97 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The shoreline runs about 7.4 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Mayo. Nearest place of any size is Dawson City, 214 km away. Anchorage sits 833 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Hart Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Mayo include Chinook salmon, mountain whitefish and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Hart Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 10°C in July and bottoms out near -24°C in January. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early June. Ice usually gives way near early June, and forms again about early October. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Hart Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For salmon, swing spoons or flies through the moving water and mind the local method rules. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, McClusky Lake is 35 km off. Confirm before you fish Hart Lake.