even some flounder fishing up here on the Roanoke

In reality, we usually catch 1 or 2/year. This was the first of the year.

.salt spray and....a long ways from being over.....

Now that's more like it......but this one is a nice NC blue marlin caught by the Run Off and Capt. Brian. Sounds like things are cranking up on the coast and I'm ready for some salt spray and the cobia.

There are still a huge amount of fish up on the Roanoke, but with cool nights, rising water and "love in the air", they can be a little tough during the middle of the day.

The best way to catch them right now is with a fly rod. For light tackle fishing, we're having to resort to bait, each boat caught 50-70 yesterday afternoon on bait. This morning, that many on the fly.

I may be staying another week up here in order to get some of the topwater action. This is a long ways from being over....

rising water, rising temps, lots of fish

The water is rising a bit, they're letting more through the dam to let levels down in Kerr Lake. So far, all is good, they are doing it slowly and is having a positive effect on the fishing. A lot of fish are coming up the river. On Saturday afternoon, the spawning action was incredible, not so much yesterday, but it looks like its coming together again today.

Top water, zara spooks, have been good early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Watch your depth finder, they'll be hard to miss. ZOOM Fluke in white/chartuse/pink or any combination works great, either fished on a 1/2 oz. jig head or rigged with a 5/0 Gamagatsu offset j-hook.

As those who have fished with me know, you need to "snap", "pop" and "zip". .

There are A LOT of fish in the river and A LOT more downstream. Water levels are ideal and the fishing should remain excellent through the end of May.

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