Lac Hayes in Capitale-Nationale: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Hayes belongs to Capitale-Nationale. Height above sea level is 291 metres. Roughly 14 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 2.0 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. The nearest place of any size is Shannon, 10 km away. Fossambault-sur-le-Lac is 11 km away, with Sainte Catherine de la Jacques Cartier at 14 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Lac Hayes

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Capitale-Nationale list lake sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon and longnose sucker. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Lac Hayes that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 18°C and January near -14°C on the long-run figures. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Lac Hayes that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Lac Blanc at 9.6 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Lac Hayes before loading the car.