Jerk baits are also catching some good fish. Check conditions before venturing forth. “Many of us probably would be better fishermen if we did not spend so much time watching and waiting for the world to be perfect.” — Norman Maclean. Yellow perch, catfish, crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass are the normal catch, although an occasional walleye or muskie is taken. However, expect reduced water clarity from algal blooms in Fishing Bay and the Back, Bohemia, Sassafras, and middle Chester rivers. Ken Penrod’s Unlimited fishing reports give you an updated and professional guide to what is happening in the waters near you, providing you with the latest in water and fishing conditions. POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Dropoffs, adjacent to shallow sand or gravel banks, are holding bass. POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - For shore anglers, the ledges in front of the Dickerson Power Plant continue to provide some action for smallmouth bass, walleye, tiger muskie and channel catfish anglers. Fishing for flathead catfish in the dam pool has been good along with a mix of flathead, blue, and channel catfish in the lower river. Bass are biting in The Spoils for anglers fishing small grubs and Silver Buddies at the base of the dropoffs. The mouth of the Patuxent, the area from Point No Point to Point Lookout and Smith Point has been a great place to jig or troll for striped bass suspended off the bottom in some of the deeper channel edges ranging from 30 feet to 40 feet deep. Soft plastic jigs and metal jigs are being worked close to the bottom. As the sun warms the water, switch to top-water lures, such as Rebel Pop-R, Rapala floating minnows and Heddon Tiny Torpedos. However, for those hearty cold-weather anglers, all water conditions maps, plots, and satellite pics will be continuously updated and posted. Smallmouth bass action is very slow, although a few good fish are being taken on hair jigs, tipped with live minnows or plastic chunks. The Southern Maryland Chronicle(SoMDC) is an all-digital news source for SoMD. Northern snakeheads usually sit out the winter months but can be enticed with large minnows under a bobber. LAKE MOOMAW - Fishing is very slow. Lake Habeeb received 2,000 rainbow trout, Casselman River received 1,500 rainbows, and Youghiogheny River received 1,500 rainbow trout. Boaters will compete for a top … The following are some general conclusions reached in this report about water quality in the District of Columbia: • The Potomac River has improved over the past five years, as indicated by decreased … Get regular updates on Maryland’s waters sent to your inbox with our Eyes on the Bay newsletter. Trolling along the steeper channel edges with … Pieces of bloodworm on a bottom rig is the best way to catch them. Further offshore, deep-dropping for swordfish and blueline and golden tilefish will be the focus of most who travel to the canyons. This method should produce numbers of bass as they cruise the dropoff, searching for food. Bank anglers, fishing from the dams are occasionally taking a catfish or bass on live bait. Fish have ranged from 22.8 inches to 36.4 inches in length, and 5 pounds to 25.9 pounds in weight. June 22, 2018 Fishing Report, Potomac River Watch Few angling reports have come from the upper Potomac, its North and South branches, and the Shenandoah. LAKE ANNA - Bass fishing is fair to good, with fish in the 3-7 pound range taking jigs and live minnows in 5-10 feet of water, near cover. If you can find access to an approved shellfish area with clear water, watch for a low tide, and put on a pair of knee boots or waders and you can wade out and pick them up as you spot them on the bottom. The deeper holes from Dickerson to Edwards Ferry are holding some good smallmouth. The lower section is considered a tail water and flows out of Hunting Creek Lake. Flows from the dam have been extremely low for about a month. The Potomac above Washington, D.C. is a fascinating river. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The western side of the shipping channel is also providing some trolling opportunities. Striper fishing is also fair, with some medium sized fish being taken in the Blackwater arm of the lake. Brown/orange jigs and smoke grubs are the better baits for bass, while crappie are hitting small minnows and jigs. Once again heavy inline weights will be needed to get umbrella rigs or tandem-rigged bucktails down to 30-foot to 40-foot depths along the channel edges. In the lower Susquehanna River there is a deep hole below the Railroad Bridge (opposite the Perryville condominiums) where yellow perch begin to congregate in the winter months. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows, around brush piles and boat docks on the South side of the river as well as bridge pilings. When the surrounding waters become a bit frigid, the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant warm-water discharge always gets the attention of fish nosing into the warm water,  This can hold particularly true for species such as speckled sea trout and puppy drum that most likely wish they’d left Maryland waters and headed south earlier with their buddies. Anglers have been encountering diving seagulls and breaking fish ; most of the best sized striped bass are being found deep underneath the smaller striped bass that are breaking water. Small minnows, Hopkins spoons and plastic grubs are taking these fish. POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Walleye activity is reported at the base of Great Falls and the mouth of Difficult Run, in Mather Gorge. Crappie are generally suspended over creek channels, at the 12-15 foot level. We send out a weekly email! The 2020 recreational striped bass season closes Dec. 10 for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay. Many have switched to heavier jigs and as the striped bass are holding deep and winds and currents complicate the function of keeping jigs close to the bottom. Use an exposed hook where possible, as the strikes will be very light and hooking the fish may be difficult. Fresh cut bait, clam snouts and chicken liver are good choices for bait. Channel catfish are active in all of the tidal rivers and will also provide good fishing. Others are having luck trolling crankbaits and bucktails, and smallmouth bass and walleye can sometimes be part of the mix. Shore anglers are taking them on Ratl-L-Traps, Silver Buddies and small crankbaits. To see the latest water clarity conditions, check Eyes on the Bay Satellite Maps. Several States Aren’t Counting. Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 7 Update: Some very big rock are now being caught in the Lower Bay near the mouth of the Potomac for those interested in catch-and-release action, according to reports from Angler's, with chartreuse ZMans getting them biting. In small ponds and creeks, largemouth bass can be found in waters that are not so deep, but they still will call for small baits that are retrieved slowly and close to the bottom. Anglers will still be able to fish in the bay but will have to practice catch and release. Striper activity is centered on the creek mouths, and below the dam, in Roanoke Rapids Reservoir. The project is in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Sign up online. It may take a couple of ounces of metal weights to hold a bottom rig to catch them with pieces of bloodworm. Some anglers “dead stick” soft baits that have their favorite fish scent on them and watch for a subtle pickup. IN NO EVENT SHOULD ANGLERS ATTEMPT ICE FISHING. In shallow ponds, fish these minnows near the dam, around the trees or other structure. Lake Cohoon gave up a number of nice pickerel this past week. When News Matters, It Matters Where You Get Your News. Live bait and jigs are the best choice. Lower Potomac River Maps. Most of the best striped bass fishing here at season’s end tends to be on the eastern side of the bay in the Eastern Bay area and the mouth of the Choptank. The other warm water areas to consider are near the water discharges of your local power plants. Casting beetle spins close to the bottom or slowly retrieving a lip-hooked minnow are two of the best ways to fish for them. 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