How did you do out there?

 

Has anyone pulled anything of any size out of there. I went one and couldnt reep my rod in the water for more than a miniute. All small channels. I quit counting at about 20. Ought to big some big channels in there as well.

 

Mckellars is not the place to find big catfish. Now that I think about it...Fort Bragg isn't the place to find big catfish. There are some decent bass managed lakes on post that produce several 1-3lb LMB every time I go. As far as catfishing on post...I have fished Keist, Mckellars and Andrews Church with good quantity but low quality. I do however use Mckellars to catch brim/bluegill before a trip to the fear.

 

i have caught an 18 lb. channel out of mckellar you just have to fish in the cove area but it requires a little bit of walking through tall grass and fighting with snakes lol but well worth it.

 

Are you talking about the cove on west side or the cove on the east side of the lake? I have fished the cove on the east side for bass and pulled a few really nice ones out. All the catfish I have caught out of Mckellars have small and caught all on a 3 inch shallow diving suspension minnow. It's weird to catch catfish in this manner but, I was fishing for LMB and they kept hitting....by the dozen! I might have to try Mckellars at night and check it out.



Update...
I went to Mckellars today after class and headed to the east cove...pulled out 3 LMB between 1-2 LBS in roughly 30 min. I did see a several very large and aggressive fish, LMB I'm sure, pounding the shore deep in the cove. I tried to get my line back there but, there was no room to get a decent cast. Maybe a machete will be in my packing list next go around.

 

haha yes .....i have gone back to both sides but it is hard to get too....there are lots of snakes though so i would suggest wearing some form of leather or thick rubber boot....i have caught several catfish between 5-15lbs out of their but lately i have been fishing on the cape fear mostly trying to land a big one before i am done for the year!! if you ever want someone to hit the lake with you let me know i am always ready to fish

 

lately i have been fishing on the cape fear mostly trying to land a big one before i am done for the year!!

Done for the year? Never! Best catfishing Iv ever had was last january after the ice storm on the caape fear. A warm front came through after the ice and really turned the fish on. Ice was falling off the steep slopes on the banks and I was out by myself with four rods in the water with more than one fish on at a time. Nothing under 8lbs that day. Biggest was 17lbs. All blues. Lost count at about 15 fish.

 

Hey new to the site as a memeber anyhow. I have caught a ton of cat at mckellers but my biggets which was about 10 lbs 31 inch. was at wyatt lake. Im curiouse if anyone could help me out on the BEST lake to go to on Bragg? Ive fished just about all of them and i cant seem to do to well. I have a small boat so im able to get out there but i just cant get anything worth my time. Any give me some ideas or help i would appreciate it.

 

Welcome to the site, riverhunter!

 

All the lakes on bragg are pretty good but some are highly pressured. My personal favorite is boundry line lake off of mcarther road. Iv caught my biggest bass (out of ft. bragg lakes at least) in this lake last february. The bass was almost 6lbs. Iv seen large "trophy" bass pulled out of Mott lake that were about 8lbs. These lakes can produce good fish but, in my opinion, due to the size of the lakes and the pressure they recieve "finesse" is the key. Smalll diameter preferably flurocarbine line and finesse type plastics using small weights (mainly to stay on top of the weeds) work best IMO. I caught my 6lber on a rapala-type small suspending jerkbait. Iv never done much catfishing on the lakes except for mckellers so I cant say much about that. I here they do stock channels in the lakes so they should be in there. Also Iv never had ANY luck at Texas or Smith lake. Neither of these lakes offer good shore access and the weeds are so thick I could barely get my trolling motor or outboard through them at texas lake and its impossible to run any type of motor in smith lake. These lakes would be good for a kayak or canoe.

 

Ive srubbed out on boundry excpet for little blue gills. Been awhile since ive got me a nice bass. Got any tips or tricks for out there? Ive been all over that lake. Maybe im just losing the skill. HELP...

 

I have been here on Bragg for about 6 years now and fished pretty much every lake on post. Mckellars, Wyatt and Keist are your best bet for catfish. Keist, Holland and Simons are my personal favorites for bass. Keist will produce a good number of bass but, mostly small however, I have seen some large bass in there walking the shoreline. Holland holds some large bass and not too many people go there cause it's so far away. If you are looking to catch large catfish...just go to the Cape Fear or Pee Dee with some live brim or eel. You can buy eels at Gander Mountain off Skibo Rd. Cape Fear offers much better fishing, since you have a boat, if you are willing to drive 30-60 minutes. The Pee Dee is a great river to fish for large cats but is about an hour and a half from post. The Cape Fear has several access spots: Lillington, Avets Ferry, Lock and Dam 3(closed at the moment), Fayetteville has several boat ramps but is not so great to fish, Tar Heel, and Lock and Dam 2 in Elizabethtown. The only ramp I know on the pee dee is off of HWY 74. My personal favorite is Lock and Dam 3. If you have questions PM me of ask here.

 

Riverhunter, did you ever get my PM?