Fishing at McKinney Lake, Richmond County, North Carolina

• Overview

  In North Carolina, McKinney Lake belongs to Richmond County. The country round it is oak and grass from end to end. With some 67 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 1.8 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It ranks high for size among our Richmond County listings. Head to Ellerbe, 9.1 miles away, for anything you forgot. It is 42 miles to Fayetteville, the nearest city. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on McKinney Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Fish documented in Richmond County include pinewoods darter, dollar sunfish, margined madtom and sawcheek darter. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work McKinney Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 79°F for July and 41°F for January. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. The season on McKinney Lake rarely departs from it. Sudden cold puts fish down faster than sustained cold does.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Woods Pond Number 2 is 0.7 miles distant. Signs at McKinney Lake carry more weight than any list.