Hart

Hart is a 44-acre lake with 41 (93%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake is located 7 miles south of Markham, Minnesota off County Highway #547. Hart Lake, which has no public access, can be accessed on the east end across county road right-of-way and down Coolidge Creek. Hart Lake was stocked with largemouth bass fingerlings in 1969 and 1971, and walleye fingerlings five times from 1969 through 2003 including 2001, 2002 and 2003. Walleye abundance of 1.5 per gillnet lift was slightly higher than 1997 (0.5) and had risen to average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. A total of 6 walleye were sampled during the assessment. Mean length of walleye sampled in gillnets was 22.8 inches and mean length of walleye sampled in trapnets was 21.4 inches. Rate of growth was considered average. Three of the six aged walleye were born in years that walleye fingerlings were stocked. Northern pike abundance of 11.0 per gillnet lift was much higher than the catch rate of 7.0 per lift documented in 1997 and was much greater than average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size of 21.0 inches was small and growth rate had declined from fast in 1997 to slow in 2007. The 2003 year-class was strong and no northerns were older than age 5. Black crappie abundance of 1.4 per trapnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length of 8.5 inches was large and growth rate was average. The 2002 year-class was strong and no crappies were older than age 5. Bluegill abundance of 5.0 per trapnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length of 6.1 inches was average but growth rate was fast. All year-classes from 1999 through 2005 were represented with relative strong 2001, 2003 and 2005 year-classes. Other fish species sampled during the 2007 investigation include brown bullhead, pumpkinseed sunfish, white sucker and yellow perch.

Hart is a small, moderately stained lake located 9 miles east and 2.5 miles south of Melrude, Minnesota. Shallow water is heavily vegetated with occasional blockage of both inlet and outlet by beaver dams. Bluegills and crappies as well as northern pike are the primary species. Fair numbers of northern pike were present in 1997 with an average length of 22.3 inches and a range from 17.3 to 39.8 inches. Low numbers of black crappie and bluegill averaging 7.8 and 8.1 inches respectively were sampled in 1997. Anglers also might occasionally catch walleye, largemouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed or bullheads in this lightly developed lake.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie in Hart. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Hart. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Hart has a maximum depth of 20 feet and a mean depth of 7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Hart is from 2007. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Hart in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.