Kelly Lake in Nacogdoches County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Kelly Lake lies within the bounds of Nacogdoches County, Texas. It stands 246 feet above sea level. At 7 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. For supplies, Nacogdoches is 8.2 miles out. After that come Redland at 14 miles and Lufkin at 18 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Kelly Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Records collected within a few miles name bluntnose darter, dusky darter and channel catfish. The list reflects reported sightings and surveys rather than what is stocked. On Kelly Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 82°F on average, January about 46°F. There is no frozen season to plan round. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Kelly Lake that shapes the whole year. Rain lifts the level and moves fish about.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Bay Lake Club Lake at 3.8 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Kelly Lake in what we hold.