UTERStriped bass fishing in North Carolina freshwater
In North Carolina freshwater, striped bass peak October–May and are around year-round, spawning in March–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Roanoke River at Weldon — stripers up from the sound to spawn: the April run.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Striped bass in North Carolina freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeak
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchSpawning
- AprilSpawningRoanoke River at Weldon — stripers up from the sound to spawn: the April run.
- MayPeakTail of the Weldon run.
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish striped bass near Roanoke River, Lake Norman, Jordan Lake
Mountain trout and walleye lakes, Piedmont reservoirs for bass and stripers, the Roanoke's April striper run at Weldon, and blackwater coastal rivers for shad and bream.
What to use for striped bass
- Live eelsHooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 42–80°F water, best at 50–68°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch striped bass in North Carolina freshwater?
Peak season is October–May, with fish spawning in March–April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Striped bass are here year-round. April: Roanoke River at Weldon — stripers up from the sound to spawn: the April run.
Where do striped bass hold in North Carolina freshwater?
Look on bridge, dock / pilings, river, reservoir, lake — around Roanoke River, Lake Norman, Jordan Lake, Fontana Lake, Lake Gaston, Nantahala River.
What is the best bait for striped bass in North Carolina freshwater?
Live bait: live eels, menhaden (pogies), herring, bloodworms. Live eels: Hooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for striped bass in North Carolina freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and change — read the current rule at https://www.ncwildlife.org/fishing/regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing.
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