Fishing at Hart Lake, Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  This water sits in Saint Louis County, Minnesota. The water sits 1,394 feet up. The water covers some 47 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Some 22 miles away sits Hoyt Lakes, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Aurora at 23 miles and Gilbert at 23 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hart Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Saint Louis County cover yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker and rainbow trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Hart Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 65°F for July and 4°F for January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan any trip to Hart Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Lower Comstock Lake, 0.9 miles away. Treat Hart Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.