Use a light weight to ultra light weight rod with a simple reel with a drag option. A light line and wet flies are recommended.

Habitat & Distribution

The Roanoke Bass are found in North Carolina and Virginia in the following river systems:

  • The Tar river
  • The Neuse River
  • The Roanoke River
  • The Chowan River

As all the river systems are geographically very close to each other, the climatic differences between the rivers is very slight and each river gets its start in the Appalachian mountains.

Not a Lake Fish

The Roanoke Bass is not found in lakes and reservoirs. They prefer the upper portions of their habitat where the water is moderately fast, clear and often has a rocky or sandy bottom. Since they are not found in lakes and reservoirs, there are no lake techniques to offer here. Instead we will take the time to cover some of the basics behind fishing for Roanoke Bass.

Food Preferences

The Roanoke Bass eats pretty much anything that a stream or river has to offer in its headwaters. In the spring, Roanoke Bass feed on more insects that fall into the river from trees along the river edge such as caterpillars. They also enjoy dragonflies and damselflies.

Other popular baits include leeches, crayfish, fathead minnows, gizzard shad, golden shiners and worms.

Bait Casting

Casting can be very simple and effective with no more than a simple light weight rod and reel combination with a six pound test line, a small hook and a Float. The key is to have the bait stand between six and 12 inches above the river floor. Go with a small float so nibbles are detectable. Most often Roanoke Bass will school with Rock Bass, Sunfish and Perch.

Fly Fishing

Use a light weight to ultra light weight rod with a simple reel with a drag option. A light line and wet flies are recommended. The only reason to go with a weighted 3 over the weighted 2 (ultra light) rod is if there are other fish species in the river that are likely to strike out at the flies.