Hart Vly Lake, New York: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Hart Vly Lake in Hamilton County, New York. What surrounds it is mixed forest. The water measures roughly 12 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Hamilton County standards. The closest town, Dolgeville, is 15 miles away. For a city, Albany is 60 miles off. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Hart Vly Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Hamilton County include lake trout, brook trout, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and brown bullhead. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Hart Vly Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 15°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Hart Vly Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Jockeybush Lake at 1.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Hart Vly Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.