By Capt. Alan Cain
This spring I will be taking my annual trip to the Roanoke River to guide for striped bass. Just as Louisiana is known for redfish the Roanoke River in North Carolina is known for stripers.
Every year hundreds of thousands of striped bass migrate up river from the Atlantic Ocean and Albemarle Sound to spawn in the rock rapids at Weldon NC. This is the easiest striper fishing you will ever experience due to the vast numbers of fish concentrated into a small area. It is not uncommon to have 50-100 fish days whether fishing fly tackle or conventional spin fishing gear. It’s a great place to bring kids or anglers just getting into fishing…or a good place for the seasoned angler to come and really rack up some numbers on these hard fighting fish.
The season starts in April but the prime fishing is usually late April into early May, which is when I head up there. The only reason I go there is for the opportunity to catch large numbers of fish, so I don’t bother going up there until the fishing gets good in late April. The keeper season ends April 30, but fishing typically gets better after the keeper season is over. This is also good because the boat traffic on the river will drop by over 50% after the keeper season ends.
This fishing takes place near Roanoke Rapids and is only an hour north of Raleigh, right on the NC/VA state line.
I will have other guides with me in Louisiana and on the Roanoke River so we can accommodate larger groups of anglers if needed.
Feel free to give me a call anytime to discuss details for fishing either location.
Fishing will start to really take off here in coastal NC in April, as some of our seasonal fish will start showing up around that time. With the large numbers of juvenile redfish around this winter and last fall this should be a great year.
I will get out a more up to date fishing report on NC once I get back from Louisiana.
I look forward to fishing with you all this year.
Capt. Allen Cain (336-613-2975).
Freshwater Report
Remember when some of the lakes were below full pool and you could see dry banks on the rivers?
Well, not any more. Last week it rained all the water that heaven had. They ran out. Our trout streams are now gushing, the rivers are just below flood stage and water in places like Buggs Island is on the banks and behind the bushes. When the levels stabilize and we get a few warm days, spring fishing will kick into high gear.
There should be some phenomenal trout fishing in the next week or two. As the state continued the stocking, fish have been well dispersed, no longer sulking as a school in the deepest holes. This is a good time to hike below the stocking areas and fish your way back up. With high, stained water, get your ultra light outfit and throw some Super Duper spoons and Panther Martin Spinners and expect lots of action.
Saltwater
Not much happening in Virginia saltwater. Sea bass are out there if you can get to them. Flounder will be moving into our waters soon, but won’t take a hook and line for a few more weeks.
Nothing to report in Nags Head except for skates and dogfish off the piers. The Bluefin tuna are off the Carolina coast, as are yellowfin.
Hatteras
On Wednesday, Puppy drum were reported from south of the Point to Hatteras Inlet. On Thursday, some slot drum were biting at the Inlet. Black drum and slot drum were also beached near Frisco Pier.
Offshore, one boat fished out of Hatteras Harbor on Wednesday and scored with a nice catch of blackfin tuna. Four citations were recorded for the Tuna Duck party.