Hay Hill Lake in Richmond County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hay Hill Lake lies in Richmond County, Nova Scotia. Salt water lies 4 km off. It covers about 8 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. For supplies, Eskasoni 3 is 35 km out. The nearest city of size is Sydney, 53 km away. Nearby alternatives: Fox Cove Lake near enough 1.5 km, Seal Rock Lake some 1.9 km off, Lower Marie Joseph Lake near enough 2 km, Upper Marie Joseph Lake some 3.3 km off and Church Lake near enough 3.6 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Hay Hill Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name Atlantic salmon, striped bass, American eel and alewife. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Hay Hill Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 18°C in August and bottoms out near -6°C in February. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Hay Hill Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Fox Cove Lake is 1.5 km distant. Check the position at Hay Hill Lake before loading the car.