Thread: Roanoke River Stripers

I was in Scotland Neck shad fishing on Sat afternoon. We caught plenty of shad but they were close to being spawned out. The striper fishermen were looking rather bored. It typically is not as crowded down there. I think there were maybe 15 or so trailers at the ramp and we often couldn't see or hear another boat on the river.

A slug of fish have moved up to Weldon and more are on the way. I've not rockfished at Scotland Neck - only done so as far down as Halifax which is a little closer to Weldon than Scotland Neck.

As far as how the river channel goes, its about the same after you get past the big rocks at the Weldon sewer outfall until you get to Plymouth. Kind of a bathtub shaped channel with some sand/gravel bars and holes around sharp bends but nothing like trying to go upriver. Stay midchannel as you go around a bend. At the current river levels, the biggest thing to watch for are drifting trees.

Originally Posted by hockey86

Sorry to change the subject from crappie but I was curious if anyone has hit the Roanoke after stripers recently? I went a couple of years ago to Weldon and it was fun and aggravating. Tons and tons of fish but also tons and tons of boats. We ended up catching a couple hundred stripers during the day then sleeping on the boat and catfishing at night. I thought about going further down the river around Scotland Neck and see what I can get done. Have any of you run your boat thru that part of the river? Wanna hit them before the make it to Weldon which should be now. Just curious.

Thanks. I would have no problem going to Halifax. I may end up going to Weldon but I would rather not have to fight the huge pile of boats there.

Also,you could wait until keeper season closes,the crowd dies way down then.Some years it's after seasons closes when the bigger fish show up more.I don't like the huge crowd,but do like to keep my 2 fish though.

Mikefish and Redboat are also experts on Roanoke River striped bass. If they haven't been already, I'm sure they will be going soon.

Yup you have people anchored and people drifting and boats running up and down river around the folks anchored and drifting.... I'll be there Saturday...

I've fished from Weldon to Plymouth and the river is about the same everywhere. Even with all the boats, it's a lot more fun fishing in Weldon due to the amout of fish there. They seem to be more scattered as you go downstream. We're headed up there tomorrow for our first trip this year.

Matt and Tony, I will be there too. Let's keep in touch tomorrow.

Waiting on the report!
Mike

Take a kid outdoors!