Hartman Lake Fishing near Salcha, Alaska

• Overview

  Hartman Lake falls in Fairbanks North Star Borough, part of Alaska. It sits at 774 feet above sea level. Small at around 21 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. A shoreline of some 0.9 miles keeps the choices simple. Salcha sits 6.6 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Anchorage is the closest city, 241 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Hartman Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Fairbanks North Star Borough: northern pike, Arctic grayling and least cisco. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Hartman Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 60°F; the cold one sits at -4°F. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid October. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Hartman Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Little Lake, 1.2 miles out. Signs at Hartman Lake carry more weight than any list.