Hayes

Hayes Lake is a 180-acre impoundment on the south branch of the Roseau River, located entirely within Hayes Lake State Park, 18 miles southeast of Roseau, MN. The lakeshore is undeveloped and provides ample fishing opportunities to anglers off its many small bays and points. The state park provides several amenities including a swimming beach, fish cleaning building, campsites, two fishing piers, a concrete boat ramp, and canoe and small boat rentals. Carry-in canoe access is located near the campground and rentals can be arranged through the park office. No gas-powered motors are allowed on Hayes Lake and boaters must utilize a paddle or electric motor to navigate the lake. A Minnesota state park pass is needed to access Hayes Lake, but a fishing license is no longer required to fish the lake. All other statewide fishing regulations for inland waters apply. Hayes Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet and stratifies during the warm summer months. The lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass, with Bluegill managed as a secondary species. Winterkill events have been reduced through the installation of a hypolimnetic draw-down tube in the dam structure in the 1980s and has allowed the fish communities to sustain themselves through natural reproduction. In addition to the lake itself, a quality fishery exists in the Roseau River below the Hayes Lake dam. Largemouth Bass night electrofishing catch rates have varied from 8 fish/hour to 19 fish/hour since 1996. In 2024, catch rates were 8.5 fish/hour with fish ranging from 6 to 19.7 inches with an average of 13.5 inches. Sixty-six percent of the population of Largemouth Bass sampled in 2024 that were longer than 8 inches were also longer than 12 inches. The Largemouth Bass population in Hayes Lake is healthy and consists of fewer but larger fish. To protect the larger size structure in the lake, catch and release practices are encouraged for Largemouth Bass in Hayes Lake. Bluegill in Hayes Lake are lower in abundance but consists of larger individuals. Spring trap nets in 2024 averaged 5 fish per net, had a size range of 1.5 to 10.4 inches, and the average length of caught Bluegills was 6.6 inches. To protect the quality size of Bluegills in Hayes Lake, selective harvest is encouraged. Northern Pike are another popular game fish in Hayes Lake. Northern Pike are abundant in Hayes Lake with sampled fish ranging from 11 to 33 inches in 2024 with an average length of 23.2 inches. Hayes Lake has a healthy Northern Pike population and should continue to provide anglers with a great fishing opportunity. Other fish anglers may target in Hayes Lake include Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Perch. Black Crappie abundance has increased in recent years. Trap net catch rates have increased in each survey since 2004. Black Crappies ranged from 2.7 inches to 11.8 inches in 2024 with an average length of 6.2 inches. Pumpkinseed abundance in Hayes Lake is low, but the average size in 2024 was 5.6 inches. Yellow Perch abundance has fluctuated between surveys from low to moderate abundance for the size of Hayes Lake. In 2024, the average length of Yellow Perch was 6.3 inches. While abundance of Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Perch are low in Hayes Lake, quality-sized fish are present in the lake and should continue to provide anglers with additional fishing opportunities.

Located entirely within Hayes Lake State Park, Hayes Lake is a 180-acre impoundment on the south branch of the Roseau River. The lake is located 18 miles southeast of the Roseau. The undeveloped shoreline of Hayes Lake provides visitors plenty of shoreline angling opportunity in many of the small bays and points. The lake has numerous amenities including a swimming beach, fishing cleaning shack, camping, two fishing piers, a single-lane concrete boat ramp, and canoe rentals. Canoe access is available as carry-in located near the campground and rental can be arranged through the park. No outboard motors are allowed on Hayes Lake and boaters must utilize a paddle or electric trolling motor. A Minnesota state park pass is needed to access Hayes Lake. A fishing license is no longer needed to fish Hayes Lake. All other statewide fishing regulations for inland waters apply. Hayes Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet and stratifies during warm summer months. Primary fisheries management is for Largemouth Bass and Bluegill is managed as a secondary species. Installation of a hypolimnetic draw-down tube in the 1980s has reduced winterkill events in Hayes Lake and since 1993, the fish community in Hayes Lake has maintained itself by natural reproduction. In addition, a quality fishery exists below Hayes Lake in the Roseau River. Largemouth Bass night electrofishing catch rates have varied from 9 fish/hour to 19 fish/hour since 1996. In 2019, catch rates were 12.9 fish/hour with fish ranging from 3.1 inches to 17.5 inches with an average length of 9.2 inches. Average weight of Largemouth Bass is just below one pound (0.9 pounds). Sixty percent of the population sampled in 2019 during night electrofishing were longer than 12 inches, relative to the number of fish greater than or equal to 8 inches. The Largemouth Bass population in Hayes Lake is healthy and has individuals weighing over 4 pounds. To protect the quality size structure of Largemouth Bass in Hayes Lake, catch and release is strongly encouraged. Bluegill in Hayes Lake is characterized as having low to moderate abundance. Based on spring trap netting, size distribution of Bluegill is made up of larger individuals (up to 10 inches). To protect the quality size structure of Bluegill in Hayes Lake, selective harvest is encouraged. Northern Pike are also a popular game fish in Hayes Lake. Northern Pike are abundant in Hayes Lake and the average length is between 18-22 inches weighing approximately 2 pounds. Overall, Hayes Lake contains a healthy Northern Pike population and should provide anglers a great fishing opportunity. Other panfish inhabiting Hayes Lake includes Black Crappie, Pumkinseed, and Yellow Perch. Black Crappie abundance in Hayes Lake is increasing, trap net catch rates were higher than in the previous three surveys. Black Crappie length ranged from 5 inches to 12 inches in the 2019 survey. The average length of Black Crappie sampled with trap nets was between 7 to 8 inches for trap nets. Pumkinseed abundance is also low, but the average size in 2019 was 5.3 inches. The largest Pumkinseed sampled was 7.2 inches in length. Yellow Perch gill net catches and average length increased from 2014. Average length of Yellow Perch sampled with gill nets and trap nets was between 6 to 7 inches. Black Crappie, Pumkinseed, and Yellow Perch are in low abundance in Hayes Lake, but quality-sized fish inhabit the lake and should provide anglers plenty of fishing opportunity.

Located entirely within Hayes Lake State Park, Hayes Lake is a 180-acre impoundment on the south branch of the Roseau River. The lake is located 18 miles southeast of the Roseau. The undeveloped shoreline of Hayes Lake provides visitors plenty of shoreline angling opportunity in many of the small bays and points. The lake has numerous amenities including a swimming beach, fishing cleaning shack, camping, two fishing piers, a single-lane concrete boat ramp, and canoe rentals. Canoe access is available as carry-in located near the campground and rental can be arranged through the park. No outboard motors are allowed on Hayes Lake and boaters must utilize a paddle or electric trolling motor. A Minnesota state park pass is needed to access Hayes Lake. A fishing license is no longer needed to fish Hayes Lake. All other statewide fishing regulations for inland waters apply. Hayes Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet and stratifies during warm summer months. Primary fisheries management is for Largemouth Bass and Bluegill is managed as a secondary species. Installation of a hypolimnetic draw-down tube in the 1980s has reduced winterkill events in Hayes Lake and since 1993, the fish community in Hayes Lake has maintained itself by natural reproduction. In addition, a quality fishery exists below Hayes Lake in the Roseau River. Largemouth Bass night electrofishing catch rates have varied from 9 fish/hour to 19 fish/hour since 1996. In 2014, catch rates were just above 11 fish/hour with fish ranging from 6.7 inches to 22 inches with an average length of 13 inches. Average weight of Largemouth Bass is just below two pounds (1.74 pounds). Seventy percent of the population sampled in 2014 during night electrofishing were longer than 12 inches, relative to the number of fish greater than or equal to 8 inches. The Largemouth Bass population in Hayes Lake is healthy and has individuals weighing over 6 pounds. Hayes Lake provides anglers the opportunity to catch memorable-sized Largemouth Bass (over 20 inches). To protect the quality size structure of Largemouth Bass in Hayes Lake, catch and release is strongly encouraged. Bluegill in Hayes Lake is characterized as having low to moderate abundance with good growth rates. Based on spring trap netting, size distribution of Bluegill is made up of larger individuals (up to 10 inches). To protect the quality size structure of Bluegill in Hayes Lake, selective harvest is encouraged. Northern Pike are also a popular game fish in Hayes Lake. Northern Pike are abundant in Hayes Lake and the average length is between 20-24 inches weighing 2-3 pounds. A 37 inch pike was sampled in 2014, suggesting 40 inch fish may inhabit the lake. Overall, Hayes Lake contains a healthy Northern Pike population and should provide anglers a great fishing opportunity. Other panfish inhabiting Hayes Lake includes Black Crappie, Pumkinseed, and Yellow Perch. Black Crappie abundance in Hayes Lake is low; however, trap net catch rates were higher than in the previous two surveys. Black Crappie length ranged from 5 inches to 12 inches in the 2014 survey. The average length of Black Crappie sampled with trap nets was between 6 to 7 inches for both trap nets and gill nets. Pumkinseed abundance is also low, but the average size has increased from 4 inches in 2009 to 6 inches in 2014. The largest Pumkinseed sampled was just below 8 inches in length. Yellow Perch gill net catches and average length decreased from 2009. Average length of Yellow Perch sampled with gill nets and trap nets was between 6 to 7 inches. The largest Yellow Perch sampled in 2014 was just below10 inches. Black Crappie, Pumkinseed, and Yellow Perch are in low abundance in Hayes Lake, but quality-sized fish inhabit the lake and should provide anglers plenty of fishing opportunity.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass in Hayes. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Hayes. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Hayes has a maximum depth of 28 feet and a mean depth of 10 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Hayes is from 2024.

No invasive species are on record for Hayes in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.