Fishing Hay Lake in Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, British Columbia

• Overview

  Hay Lake is one of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako listings for British Columbia. The ground round it is lake country bush. With some 68 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 4.9 km on foot. Some 66 km away sits Vanderhoof, the nearest settlement. Then Fort St. James, 112 km, and Prince George, 116 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Hay Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako include sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, pink salmon and Chum salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Hay Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 13°C, while January sits near -12°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near late April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Hay Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Lavoie Lake, 4.2 km away. For Hay Lake in particular, ask before you travel.