Freshwater in Corolla?

[robbiecamper]

Hey guys, I have been visiting the outer banks for 32 yrs now, and have surf fished every year. I now have my brother-in-law coming down the last week in august with us to stay in corolla. He hasn't really warmed up to the idea of bottom rigging the surf, and really wants to hit the freshwater around the area. Is ther ANYWHERE to get into some decent freshwater fishing on the north end (preferrably some bass or something with size) or are we just out of luck at this location and or time of year.

Thanks guys!
Robbie C.
Roanoke VA

[kw]

Look West. Currituck sound is all fresh and bass fishing is world class.

[robbiecamper]

Trouble is, we won't have a boat, and I have never seen anything closer to the shore. I have seen alot of ponds up around there, but I'm sure they probably don't hold much. Is there any possibility of hooking bass in the sound from bulkheads or short piers?

[bhorsley]

possible but be careful lots of snakes

[robbiecamper]

Right on, I'll give it a shot...

[vtseal]

Every year I ask the local bait shop guys up there the same question; tell them I'm looking to go fly fishing in the sound, and they look at me like my head is screwed on funny. The tackle shop guy this year actually told me he gives it a shot every couple months, but has lived there for years only only foul hooked a largemouth. He said the seatrout were good along the bridges; but nobody seems to know much about the little islands or western shore. Low salinity up that far.

I've gotten into a few redfish while wading in the late summer, but never much else (not chasing the largemouths so I don't know about them). I've kayaked some and gotten into a few fish as well; but sayed close to shore due to time constraints. You could probably do some damage with patience & a kayak up there, get over to some of those little marshy islands...

Was down there last week and got out in the sound only 1 day (windy the rest of the time). Tons of baitfish 1.5 - 5 inches long; but NOTHING visible chasing them; really disappointing.

Something tells me that a rental kayak and portable fishfinder would do wonders for you...

Good luck.

[robbiecamper]

See..THAT is good reply. Thank you for taking the time to post the reply the way you did. That was exactly what I was looking for, and I appreciate your insight and information.

The same thing happens to me with the local bait shops up there. I ask about the freshwater and they really sidestep the question, like it's a big secret or something. I understand some of the ponds are private and all that, but I just want to catch something bigger than the small spot and such in the surf. In all my years vacationing in Corolla, I have only cought TWO fish over A pound. Don't get me wrong, I love the surf fishing, but I just want to see if the area has more to offer. I just hate how the local shops won't give you a straight answer, but I would hate it even more if there really wasn't any fish up there.

Oh well, thanks again for the reply.

[ChesapeakeChip]

Last year in November I rented a place in Corolla to have the extended family for Thanksgiving. I think the development was called Wale Head. It is the first development south of the Food Lion. We bailed the bass in the small waterways that traverse the development. We had them up to 4 pounds with most being in the 1-2 lb range. It was like 30-40 fish per day and we were just play fishing.

I’m sure they only want residents and renters in there, but I believe you’d blend in without trouble.

[robbiecamper]

Hey Chip,
What were they hitting on, and were you fishing any particular time of the day?


Thanks,
RC

[ChesapeakeChip]

We were there in November and the water was pretty cold so the bass were somewhat lethargic. We were using 6” & 7” Texas rigged worms fished slow. The times just varied based on when some of the kids would get a whim to fish. For us the action was better later in the day when the water had warmed a little. We only fished the one water way that ran directly behind our rental. These water ways snaked all through the place and a lot of them are on green ways you could access. I’m generally not one to advocate trespassing but I don’t think you’d be bothering anybody and the turnover is weekly so new faces wouldn’t raise suspicion.
From my past bass fishing days I believe in the summer you’d find low or no sun periods the best. Since I haven’t been there during the summer and I don’t know what the water vegetation is like I’d carry an assortment of weedless lures along with your other stuff. My guess is their diet is mainly minnows, frogs and bugs.

[ChesapeakeChip]

I just looked up where we were. Our rental was on Mercury and we fished the waterway between Mercury and the ocean and it was loaded with bass.
You turn onto Orions Trail off Hwy 12. If you look on Google Maps you’ll see the various patches of fresh water. I would believe any of those would hold bass provided the depth is sufficient to prevent a winter kill.

[robbiecamper]

Perfect, we'll be staying in the southern end of monterey shores (right up from the true value) so a quick bike ride and we'll hopefully be on the fish!

Thanks again!

[longcaster]

Don't forget to get your freshwater fishing license.