Fishing at Hayes Lake, Rutherford County, North Carolina

• Overview

  Hayes Lake is a Rutherford County water, North Carolina side. Height above sea level is 732 feet. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Rutherford County list holds plenty of bigger water. Nearest town is Forest City, 8.5 miles off. Charlotte sits 59 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Hayes Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Rutherford County cover striped jumprock, redbreast sunfish and seagreen darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Hayes Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 78°F and January about 39°F. It fishes twelve months of the year. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hayes Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Jolleys Lake sits 5 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Hayes Lake.