James Waters at Bob’s Fishing Hole reports that the Winter Series finished up last month, Anglers fish Sundays, 8am to 3pm with a three-fish limit, entry fee $25/person. There are also five-fish limit events on certain weekends.
The events have been drawing a couple dozen, diehard teams/boats and the three-fish limits have been up to 12 pounds. Winter fishing tournaments on the Northwest River are a little new but the fishing and anglers are holding up well and learning new patterns every week.
On Presidents Day (February 20) Bob’s launched 18 boats and 26 anglers that brought back 11 three-fish limits.
Ian VanDyke was first with 3 for 12.96 pounds the event lunker at 7.14 pounds. Mark London tookk second with 3 for 7.20 pounds. Paul Celentano and Josh Whitlinger were third with three for 6.38 pounds.
Bob’s Fishing Hole is located on Rt. 168 (Chesapeake Expressway) on the way to the Outer Banks. It offers anglers access not only to the great fishing on the Northwest River but also to Back Bay.
For the coming season keep in mind North Bay Shore Campground welcomes anglers and has cabins and a bath house for overnight stays. A canal runs right behind the cabins, so you can keep your boat in the water and you are minutes from Sandbridge. This is a great place to use as basecamp when planning a Back Bay fishing trip.
North Landing Beach RV Resort & Cottages is a good place to use as a family basecamp for Back Bay fishing. The resort is first class, has its own ramp and is nearby two others and about 20 minutes from Bob’s Fishing Hole. Book a two bedroom cottage and settle in for a few days of great fishing this coming spring and summer.
Backwater Adventures Guide David Ward notes with the days getting longer and the air and water temperatures getting higher, the fishing in the rivers behind the Outer Banks will be getting stronger this month.
Ward says the water temperatures will rise to the mid to upper 50’s by month’s end.
Flat side crankbaits, vibrating jigs and jerkbaits will be great starters, followed up with jigs and Texas-rigged stickbaits.
If you are looking for accommodations and a new place to fish, consider the AJ Outfitters cabin on the Chowan River near Harrellsville, North Carolina. This is a riverside cabin with pier and nearby boat ramp that offers angler the opportunity to fish perhaps the best bass river in NC.
The Chowan is formed at the confluence of the Nottoway and Blackwater at the border with Virginia and flows into the Pamlico Sound. See our Destination File article in the March edtion for more info on fishing the Chowan.
