Hayes Lake Fishing Guide, Lewis County, Washington

• Overview

  Hayes Lake stands in Lewis County, Washington. Elevation runs to 187 feet. At 16 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Ground here is low by Washington standards. For supplies, Centralia is 1.1 miles out. Further out sit Fords Prairie (1.1 miles) and Chehalis (4.2 miles). Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Hayes Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Lewis County cover Coho salmon, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, largemouth bass and cutthroat trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Hayes Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 64°F and January reads 40°F. Warm months push fish deep; cool months bring them back. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Hayes Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. There are toilets half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Fort Borst Lake at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Hayes Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.