Fishing Hope MIlls Lake

 Hope Mills Lake

Hope Mills lake is a 150 Acre Blackwater lake located on Little Rockfish Creek right in the Town of 

Hope Mills, NC.    Origianly dammed in 1839 for a millpond the Dam broke in 2003 

during a major flood and the new dam was not in place and closed until June 2008 and refilled in August of 2008. This dam had a fish ladder .   This Dam failed  in 2010 because of a sinkhole and then a new dam was started on in 2016 and finished it January of 2018.   This new dam for whatever reason does not have a fish ladder like the last one.   Why?? 

This Lake has Largemouth Bass , Crappie, Bream, Shellcrackers , Chain Pickerel, cChannel Cats, 

Bullheads probably some Carp and even Flathead catfish.   Also Amercans Eels as an "Eel Ladder was added to the new dam.  Picture of that down below. 

This Lake Also Has Alligators so be aware. 

I will post a lot of the pictures of the area and ammenieties and comment if you fish this lake. 

Warning!   The Lake does have a swimming area  and limited parking so I would avoid it 

Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Also the lake can be divided into 2 Parts.  The lower section below the track is bigger and has 

Bald Cypress Trees on the edge.  Houses are common but the water is deeper.  Above the tracks 

Cypress are found out from the banks and bream and Bass fising around these is better. 

**A permit is need to launch a boat here.  I Copied and pasted the info down near the bottom.***

The Ramp is very Nice but only single lane

 Port a jons for Bathroons

The Fishing Pier or Observation Deck located to the left of the ramp. I have seen on the internet a Big Blue cat caught here .  If I can find it I will post it at the bottom.

The Swimming area is to the right of the Ramp and swimmers cant swim outside the white buoys. 

The Dam   

The Eel Ladder

The Eel ladder is a square metal Box running from the bottom up beside the dam

ending at the lake where it dumps into a basket.  Evidently so they can check 

the basket and see how many made the climb. 

 

You can click on this and make it Bigger and easier to read 

The Lake has a covered Picnic/eating area and when swimming is allowed

they sell refreshments. 

Lower End

Upper End

List of Rules etc for the Lake 

Swimming at the lake runs Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.

All boats, motorized and non-motorized must have a valid permit issued by the Town of Hope Mills Parks & Recreation Department. Boat Permits must be completed in-house at the Hope Mills Recreation Center (5770 Rockfish Road Hope Mills, NC 28348) during normal business hours, and are not available for online registration.

REQUIRED: Please make sure to bring a copy of a valid state watercraft registration and copy of insurance certificate showing liability coverage (if motorized)

HOPE MILLS LAKE IS A NO WAKE LAKE

Annual Boat Permit Duration: April 1 – March 31

HOURS

• Monday - Saturday: Sunrise to 30 minutes prior to sunset
• Sunday: 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm 

No boat in excess of 26 feet in length shall be allowed on Hope Mills Lake, only Class A and Class 1 boats are authorized. Personal Water Craft (PWC) are not authorized for use on Hope Mills Lake AND ARE NOT ALLOWED.

PERMITS

Permits are required for all motorized boats and other vessels used on the lake. Fees listed below apply only to motorized boats. Although no fee, permits are required for all non-motorized vessels (i.e. canoes, kayaks, etc.).

Residents (motorized boats only) 

Daily - $10

Yearly - $55

Non-Residents (motorized boats only)

Daily - $15

Yearly - $120

All permit fees are non-refundable.

• Permit must be displayed on the starboard side of the registered boat at all times during its operation on Hope Mills Lake.
• Non-resident permits may be limited in number at the discretion of the Parks and Recreation Department with input from Town Staff to prevent over-crowding.
• The Hope Mills Parks & Recreation Department reserves the right to deny any request for a permit, and reserves the right to revoke any permit at any time when not abiding by established policies, rules and regulations governing the use of Hope Mills Lake.
• Boats shall be launched and loaded only in areas designated for launching and loading, do not leave boat unattended. 
• Do not operate boat within 50’ of dam.
• NO WATER SKIING
• NO RACING
• NO WAKE
• NO ALCOHOL

Videos -

I could not find the Flathead Video caught from the Deck so if you find it let me know.

I did find the one below that was caught below the Dam.   When the dam was busted 

there had to be several if not many that made it up and then got trapped when the new dam was completed. 

Flathead Caught Below the Lake

Blue Cat caught from the Pier found of the Fishbrain App. 

Thanks,  Mack

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