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Roanoke Rapids dam to Scotland Neck. The famous spring striper run at Weldon. The river tops out around 20 ft. Bathymetry on this water is estimated from its real outline and maximum depth. Use it to shortlist water, then verify with your electronics — and never navigate by it. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 1,642 acres wrapped in 69.9 miles of bank, with a single island in the mix. With a shoreline index of 12.3, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 78% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 24.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 5.9 mi at the beam. Northampton County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Lake Gaston, is 33 mi to the northwest.
Spring puts striped bass in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 6 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Spring striped bass concentrate at Morris Pond Dam tailrace, a prime-rated dam tailrace around 17 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Morris Pond Dam tailrace (17 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Morris Pond Dam tailrace (17 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Morris Pond Dam tailrace (17 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Roanoke Rapids tailrace (15 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: blue catfish in 4 to 20 ft. The depth story barely changes: 5 to 20 ft through summer, 6 to 20 ft in winter. The spot to know is Roanoke Rapids tailrace, a creek channel in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for blue catfish in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 20 ft | dusk | Roanoke Rapids tailrace (15 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Roanoke Rapids tailrace (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Roanoke Rapids tailrace (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Morris Pond Dam tailrace (17 ft) |
Early season flathead catfish use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Even in summer they hold at 5 to 20 ft; winter keeps them in 6 to 20 ft. The chart's best answer is Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) — eddy pocket, 11 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Put Roanoke Rapids tailrace first on the milk run — a creek channel near 15 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Roanoke Rapids tailrace (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Roanoke Rapids tailrace (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Roanoke Rapids tailrace (15 ft) |
When the water first warms, white perch slide up into 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 6 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. Start at Tailout eddy (mile 28.3). It's an eddy pocket holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Morris Pond Dam tailrace (17 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Early season longnose gar use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 1 to 12 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The chart's best answer is Roanoke Rapids tailrace — creek channel, 15 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is midday and the evening. Tie on a rope lure or a small white spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | Morris Pond Dam tailrace (17 ft) | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Roanoke Rapids tailrace (15 ft) | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 28.3) (11 ft) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 22 features, led in depth by Morris Pond Dam tailrace at roughly 17 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for North Carolina waters are set by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission — and special regulations can apply to Roanoke River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official North Carolina fishing regulations →
Roanoke River is about 20 ft (6 m) deep 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.
Anglers target striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, white perch, longnose gar 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. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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.
Fishing on Roanoke River is regulated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Check the official North Carolina regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Gaston 33 mi, NC/VA · Lake Gordon 45 mi, VA · Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) 57 mi, NC/VA · Lake Nottoway 61 mi, VA · Lake Chesdin 64 mi, VA · Falls Lake 69 mi · Southern Branch Elizabeth River 75 mi, VA/NC · Elizabeth River 76 mi, VA/NC · Briery Creek Lake 78 mi, VA · North Landing River 84 mi, VA/NC · North River 87 mi, NC/VA · Back Bay 88 mi, VA
See how Roanoke River stacks up: best channel catfish lakes in North Carolina · best striped bass lakes in North Carolina · best flathead catfish lakes in North Carolina · best blue catfish lakes in North Carolina
Browse all North Carolina fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.