North Landing River Fishing Map & Spots (VA/NC)

Hatch outlook

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

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Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours here are interpolated from real agency depth surveys (state DNR / USACE). Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at North Landing River

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

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Fishing North Landing River: what the data says

19 km of the North Landing River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 18 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.

The outline encloses 9,621 acres, worked by 28.9 miles of shoreline. With a 2.1 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Call it 12.1 mi long by 4.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. Back Bay sits 4 mi east — the closest neighbouring chart.

Striped Bass fishing at North Landing River

Start shallow in spring: striped bass sit in 5 to 18 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 5 to 18 ft covers summer, 5 to 18 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4), a creek channel in the 11 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	5 to 18 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 2.5) (10 ft)	Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn)
Summer	5 to 18 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 2.5) (10 ft)	Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled)
Fall	5 to 18 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 2.5) (10 ft)	Topwater walker, Jerkbait
Winter	5 to 18 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)	Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon

Blue Catfish fishing at North Landing River

Spring puts blue catfish in skinny water — 4 to 18 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 5 to 18 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 18 ft. Spring blue catfish concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4), a prime-rated creek channel around 11 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	4 to 18 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)
Summer	5 to 18 ft	dawn & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)
Fall	5 to 18 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)
Winter	5 to 18 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)

Flathead Catfish fishing at North Landing River

Come spring, look for flathead catfish tight to the bank in 5 to 18 ft. Through summer count on 5 to 18 ft; the winter hold is 5 to 18 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4). It's a creek channel holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 18 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)
Summer	5 to 18 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)
Fall	5 to 18 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)
Winter	5 to 18 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)

Channel Catfish fishing at North Landing River

When the water first warms, channel catfish slide up into 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 5 to 18 ft game here, winter a 5 to 18 ft one. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4). It's a creek channel holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)
Summer	5 to 18 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)
Fall	5 to 18 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)
Winter	5 to 18 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)

White Perch fishing at North Landing River

Spring white perch on North Landing River hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 18 ft. The chart's best answer is Current seam (mile 2.5) — current seam, 10 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	4 to 15 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)	Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver)
Summer	5 to 18 ft	dawn	Current seam (mile 2.5) (10 ft)	Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon
Fall	5 to 18 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 2.5) (10 ft)	Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait
Winter	5 to 18 ft	dusk	Current seam (mile 2.5) (10 ft)	Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes

Longnose Gar fishing at North Landing River

Come spring, look for longnose gar tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 1 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 18 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4). It's a creek channel holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in midday and the evening. A rope lure or a small white spinner is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	midday	open water	Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow)
Summer	1 to 12 ft	midday & dusk	open water	Rope lure, Small white spinner
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)	Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy)
Winter	5 to 18 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) (11 ft)

Notable structure

The chart marks 7 structure features on North Landing River; the deepest is Riffle & run (mile 0.6) at about 11 ft.

Riffle & run (mile 0.6): rock pile, around 11 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4): creek channel, around 11 ft
Current seam (mile 2.5): current seam, around 10 ft
Riffle & run (mile 11.9): rock pile, around 9 ft
Riffle & run (mile 6.3): rock pile, around 8 ft
Current seam (mile 8.1): current seam, around 8 ft
Riffle & run (mile 10.0): rock pile, around 8 ft

North Landing River fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Virginia waters are set by the Virginia DWR — and special regulations can apply to North Landing River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Virginia fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is North Landing River?

North Landing River is about 18 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.

What fish are in North Landing River?

Anglers target striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, white perch, longnose gar on North Landing River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.

Where is the best fishing spot on North Landing River?

Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish North Landing River?

For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

What are the fishing regulations for North Landing River?

Fishing on North Landing River is regulated by the Virginia DWR. Check the official Virginia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Back Bay 4 mi, VA · Currituck Sound 18 mi, NC/VA · Southern Branch Elizabeth River 20 mi · North River 21 mi, NC/VA · Elizabeth River 27 mi · Mobjack Bay 54 mi, VA · Lake Mattamuskeet 74 mi, NC · Roanoke River 84 mi, NC · Pamlico Sound 85 mi, NC · Little Wicomico River 92 mi, VA/MD/DE · Lake Chesdin 99 mi, VA · Lake Gaston 112 mi, NC/VA

See how North Landing River stacks up: best channel catfish lakes in Virginia · best striped bass lakes in Virginia · best flathead catfish lakes in Virginia · best blue catfish lakes in Virginia

Browse all Virginia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.