Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Roanoke River
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Roanoke River: what the data says
Roanoke Rapids dam to Scotland Neck. the famous spring striper run at Weldon. The river tops out around 20 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Striped Bass fishing at Roanoke River
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer fish stay in 6 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Morris Pond Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A flutter spoon (deep) or a umbrella rig (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Blue Catfish fishing at Roanoke River
Start shallow in spring: blue catfish sit in 4 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Roanoke Rapids tailrace is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for spring blue catfish. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 20 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Roanoke River
Spring flathead catfish on Roanoke River hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. Summer fish stay in 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) is the standout, a eddy pocket at roughly 11 ft, rated prime for spring flathead catfish. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday |
Channel Catfish fishing at Roanoke River
Spring channel catfish on Roanoke River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Roanoke Rapids tailrace: a creek channel around 15 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday |
White Perch fishing at Roanoke River
Spring white perch on Roanoke River hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 28.3), a eddy pocket in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for white perch in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. A small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Longnose Gar fishing at Roanoke River
Spring longnose gar on Roanoke River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 1 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Roanoke Rapids tailrace: a creek channel around 15 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is midday and the evening. A rope lure or a small white spinner covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Morris Pond Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Rochelle Pond Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Roanoke Rapids Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Roanoke Rapids tailrace: creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.5): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.4): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 24.9): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 30.1): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 32.0): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 28.3): eddy pocket, around 11 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.6): eddy pocket, around 11 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 11 ft
- Current seam (mile 19.3): current seam, around 11 ft
- Weldon rapids: rock pile, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is Roanoke River?
Roanoke River is about 20 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Roanoke River?
Anglers target channel catfish, striped bass, flathead catfish, blue catfish, longnose gar, white perch on Roanoke River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Roanoke River?
Morris Pond Dam tailrace is the top-rated area: a dam tailrace in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Roanoke 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.