Dan river striper fishing?

6321 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by crabman00, Apr 22, 2014

gatortrax15

Discussion Starter · Apr 19, 2014

Would anyone be willing to share any information or experience they have fishing for striper on the Dan? I'm looking to put in at the Milton access, generally how deep is the river there? Is there a main Chanel to stay in? Are shad easy to catch in a net? Or any other info that may be helpful to a first timer? Any advice is appreciated

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crabman00

· #2 · Apr 20, 2014

I don't know much about the stripers there except I understand it ain't what it once was.
We fish that area for flathead catfish (ain't what it once was either) a little later in the year. At normal water levels, the depth right at the ramp is ~ 5-7 feet. You can go upstream a short ways and then you get into some shallow rocky areas and if you can find your way through the opening in the wingdam it's clear sailing for a good ways above. If you go during daylight, it's evident where you should and shouldn't go. Night time is a different story as evidenced by the scars and dents in my jon boat.
Normally the depth going down river is 2-3 feet right after you leave the launch area. Most of it shows no well defined channel. Gets a little deeper as you go down river and naturally there are deep holes (8ft) on some of the outside bends. Good thing about going down river is the bottom composition is a much friendlier combination of mud and sand.
I use a small 14 foot jonboat with a 25 hp jet drive, so no problem going down river. I don't go up river anymore in the dark.
Good luck

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gatortrax15

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 20, 2014

Thanks appreciate it!

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papadave

· #4 · Apr 20, 2014

There are some folks with 20' jons who go upstream from Milton. This time of year the water is more likely to be up and muddy - harder to pick out the rocks but gives you more water to work with. You have to pick your way but it isn't impossible at all.
Keep in mind if you go downstream that it's 13 miles of river to South Boston. If you have equipment problems you're in for a long paddle

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Mack in N.C.

· #5 · Apr 20, 2014

under 1500 cfm or so you need a shallow drafting boat to go up....under 900 you need to be a canoe or jet ......I have been in the river (put in at Milton) and run all the way up to Danville in a v hull with a 90 on it but that was at a flow of 3000 and we still had a few tricky spots. Normally I have used my scanoe with a small outboard. papa dave is correct. I wouldn't want to go down cause if you have any problems South boston is a long ways a way....there are 2 private ramps in-between there but you had better know them. we always called the rocky area apox 1 mile up the "fishtraps"

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crabman00

· #6 · Apr 21, 2014

Mack in N.C. said:
under 1500 cfm or so you need a shallow drafting boat to go up....under 900 you need to be a canoe or jet ......I have been in the river (put in at Milton) and run all the way up to Danville in a v hull with a 90 on it but that was at a flow of 3000 and we still had a few tricky spots. Normally I have used my scanoe with a small outboard. papa dave is correct. I wouldn't want to go down cause if you have any problems South boston is a long ways a way....there are 2 private ramps in-between there but you had better know them. we always called the rocky area apox 1 mile up the "fishtraps"

At the flow rate you describe, I think you could probably drive a jeep in the river bed.

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Mack in N.C.

· #7 · Apr 22, 2014

crabman00 said:
At the flow rate you describe, I think you could probably drive a jeep in the river bed.

I like it when it is low as it keeps a lot of people off the water. where I grew up was 19 miles to the Milton ramp.
don't fish it like I used to but still hit it a few times a year.

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papadave

· #8 · Apr 22, 2014

The scanoe and a little outboard is the trick when the water is low!

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crabman00

· #9 · Apr 22, 2014

I like it low as well, but at 1500 cfm i'm not sure you could float a canoe in the river. I've never seen the flow that low.

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