NWR DEAD!?!?

Hey guys , we fished a crappie tournament on the 22nd of Oct. and not 1 "I SAY AGAIN NOT ONE!!!" Crappie was caught from anyone. 2 weeks before this the river was full of them. I know these storms can have a toll on them for sure. I belive that the oxygen has been depleted from the river pushing them out to who knows where. We ran from Bobs all the way to Tulls Creek looking for some good water but it looked as rusty and oxygen depleted as it did close to Bobs. I sure hope the fish come back and not take a year or so rebound. Has anyone got any reports on any trip there? I sure would love to here a positive report.
Thanks, JC

Dang, I was wondering how the river was doing, now I know. Were other species of fish caught?

I fished NWR once last week and twice this week in both NC and VA. Used a Silver Buddy each trip and didn't get a bite. On each occasion in an attempt to avoid getting skunked, resorted to red wigglers. I figured a flier, catfish, perch or something would hit this live bait under a cork or bottom bounced. I never got one bite. Hardly anyone fishing. Talked to a couple of guys after stripers, but they had no bites either even though their electronics indicated that the fish were at the usual hole. I would not have gone back this week, but I am fine tuning my old 80's Honda BF100 (10 HP) and giving it some run time. The fish (all species it seems) are definitely stressed in the aftermath of the flood. Oxygen depletion sounds correct.

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Originally Posted by TapOut64

Dang, I was wondering how the river was doing, now I know. Were other species of fish caught?

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We talked to a couple of Bass fishermen and they said that that hadn't done anything sence the storm! The only thing we saw moving was the gar!

I've been a few times since the high water went down, and the water looks like coffee all the way down to Tulls Bay. It's going to take a while for the tanic water to get washed out. Fortunately the water is cool enough that I don't think the fish have been killed, they just are not feeding.

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Originally Posted by Pa Boat

I've been a few times since the high water went down, and the water looks like coffee all the way down to Tulls Bay. It's going to take a while for the tanic water to get washed out. Fortunately the water is cool enough that I don't think the fish have been killed, they just are not feeding.

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I agree. While I have not been there I have talked with a few guys who have. The week after the hurricane (well, about 10 days easy) was terrible fishing. However, talking with guys who fished this past weekend, the fish are starting to bite again. I do believe there was a fish kill, but that is generally only in the upper reaches of the river. Down river doesn't seem to get it as bad. However, the fish don't normally bite until the water conditions (oxygen, PH, etc.) start to normalize.

I was out 10/24, fished from the house on the river just south of Moyock creek two of us never got a bite. Haven't seen this since the last hurricane.