McKinney Lake Fishing
Richmond County, NCWRC District 6, 73 acres.
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Fishing McKinney Lake, North Carolina
In Richmond County, McKinney Lake is a lake that falls in NCWRC District 6. Surface area on the federal dam record: 73 acres. Its dam, Mckinney Lake Dam , blocks the Hitchcock Creek and dates to 1939. About 4 miles separate the water from Hoffman.
Count 1 mapped launch around the shore, 0 in the Commission program. Public access areas here are owned by NC WRC.
NCWRC biologists on McKinney Lake
“In 2016, an applied fisheries management program was initiated at McKinney Lake that included the implementation of a feeding program and other established fisheries management techniques.”
“As a passive gear, trap nets are dependent upon fish movement for success, and this wasn’t reliably the case for Bluegills at McKinney Lake.”
Quoted from NCWRC fishing summary fact sheets for McKinney Lake (source). Checked October 2026.
Boating access on McKinney Lake
- McKinney Lake Fish Hatcherypaddle access, 10 trailer spaces, NC WRC
Bank and pier fishing areas at McKinney Lake
- McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery1 pier, owner NC WRC, open
Boating access near McKinney Lake
- Indian CampIndian Camp Lake, 3 miles east
- Kinney CameronKinney Cameron Lake, 4 miles east
- Crappie LakeCrappie Lake, 4 miles northeast
- Scotland LakeSandhills Gl Pond, 6 miles east
- Crawford LakeCrawford Lake, 8 miles south
- Hinson LakeHinson Lake, 9 miles southwest
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Creel and size limits on McKinney Lake
The statewide table below is the full limit set for McKinney Lake.
- It is unlawful to fish at any time in the waters or on the property of any state fish hatchery, including Bones Creek from the Lake Rim Dam to the U.S. 401 Bypass (Raeford Road). You may fish on McKinney Lake Reservoir at McKinney Lake State Fish Hatchery.NCWRC other fishing regulations
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Sunfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Striped and Bodie bass | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| White bass | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Walleye | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Rock and Roanoke bass | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Blue, channel and flathead catfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Trout (undesignated waters) | 7 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC splits some limits at I-95 and I-77; the rows shown match where McKinney Lake sits.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
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| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinney Lake | 73 | 1 | ||
| Sandhills Gl Pond, Richmond County | 3 miles north | 0 | ||
| Indian Camp Lake | 3 miles east | 1 | yes | |
| Broadacres Lake | 4 miles east | 20 | 0 | |
| Kinney Cameron Lake | 4 miles east | 1 | ||
| Crappie Lake | 4 miles northeast | 20.5 | 1 |
The area around McKinney Lake
Other reservoirs by McKinney Lake
- Sandhills Gl Pond, Richmond County3 miles north
- Indian Camp Lake3 miles east
- Broadacres Lake4 miles east
- Kinney Cameron Lake4 miles east
- Crappie Lake4 miles northeast
Counters a drive from McKinney Lake
- Glenns Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Rockingham, 11 miles
- Aberdeen Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Aberdeen, 15 miles
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Southern Pinessporting goods store, Southern Pines, 16 miles
- Morgan Bait Distributorsbait and tackle shop, Biscoe, 24 miles
- Bob's Sporting Goodssporting goods store, Biscoe, 24 miles
Towns within a drive of McKinney Lake
- Hoffman4 miles
- Dobbins Heights8 miles
- Ellerbe9 miles
Counties that hold McKinney Lake
- Richmond Countyseat: Rockingham
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McKinney Lake, the common questions
Which county is home to McKinney Lake?
Look in Richmond County, NCWRC District 6, about 4 miles from Hoffman.
How many acres does McKinney Lake span?
Federal dam data say 73 acres.
What ramps reach McKinney Lake?
1 launch, with McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery listed first.
Which species are worth targeting at McKinney Lake?
No species list exists for it.
Are hatchery fish added to McKinney Lake?
It is not on the 2026 stocking lists.
Are there size limits at McKinney Lake?
No special rule; statewide rows apply.
Which license works on McKinney Lake?
The $32 resident inland license, from age 16.
Where does the pool sit at McKinney Lake?
No USGS or USACE station is matched.
Which counter sits nearest McKinney Lake?
Drive 11 miles to reach Glenns Bait & Tackle.
Spend time on McKinney Lake
The license page has every North Carolina limit.