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BASIC INFO:

River sampled:

Roanoke River

 

Fisheries Biologists conducting sampling:

Jeremy McCargo, Katy Potoka and Kevin Dockendorf

 

Date of sample:

April 14, 2014

 

Area(s) of river sampled, and water temps:

Around Weldon from the Gap to Troublefield Gut

 

14C or 57F

 

Boat ramp(s) used to access river:

Weldon BAA

 

Species (spp) information:

·         Spp. captured:

Striped Bass

 

·         Numbers by spp:

100 Striped Bass

·         Size range by spp:

Males: 13-26 inches

Females: 18-31 inches

 

·         Max size for spp:

Female: 31 inches, 13 pounds

 

·         Sex ratio by spp:

93 males, 3 females, 4 unknown

·         Were the fish tagged?

98 striped bass were tagged by DMF staff with yellow internal anchor tags.

 

ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:

River level and other water quality observations (turbity, etc.):

 

High flows at approx. 20,600 cfs

 

Weather conditions on sampling date?

 

Sunny, windy and warm

 

Your observations of other people fishing on the river:

 

We saw quite a few boats fishing the river and saw several anglers catch striped bass. A few bank anglers were casting for hickory shad near the boat ramp.

 

Comments to anglers about your sampling results, and fishing-related conclusions that can be drawn from your data:

 

This was our first official striped bass sample at Weldon this spring. Recent rains have caused high flows in the river and water temperature was 57F. However, striped bass were starting to show up on the spawning grounds near Weldon. The majority of our sample on Monday was small, male stripers, but we did net a few keeper-sized fish. For those die hard shad anglers, we also saw a lot of hickory shad on Monday. Most of the hickory shad were tight to the bank under the overhanging trees, which may make casting to them a bit of a challenge. High water may make casting for them difficult, yet there were still enough hickory shad around for a fun day.

 

Creel Survey Information: April 7 to April 13

 

Striped bass catches remain relatively consistent throughout the river as reported by creel clerks, although the angling effort appears to be progressing upstream with Williamston, Hamilton, Edwards Ferry and Weldon boating access areas having increased boat trailer counts for the creel period.  Anglers were catching and releasing small striped bass while some angling parties were able to catch limits of keeper sized striped bass while fishing the Roanoke River.


 


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Click here to view map.
Note: This map is to be used for general informational purposes only and not for navigation of the Roanoke River. Rocks, logs, and other hazards are likely to be encountered anywhere in this area.
 


Click here to view map.
Note: This map of the Roanoke River Boating Access Areas is to be used for general informational purposes only.

Fisheries biologist, Katy Potoka, skillfully nets a Roanoke River striped bass during an electrofishing sampling run on Monday, April 14.