7/28/2017 Northern Chesapeake & Delaware Fishing Report Update:
We talked to Herb’s Bait and Tackle and Captain Bones to find out how fishing has been up north and on the Susquehanna, and heard that this week, rockfishing has picked up and many anglers are coming home with dinner. Most people catching fish have been going out in the early morning or late in the afternoon, and casting topwater plugs to rip-rap and on the flats. Stripers are also near the Conowingo Dam, and have been biting primarily in the early morning. All that said, everyone's a bit worried about how the storms expected this weekend will affect things; flash flood watches and up to three inches of rain are expected, through Maryland, Delaware, and up into PA to Philadelphia.
Bass fishing has been fair, due to hot weather this week. Most good bass fishing has been on the river banks and also in area ponds, especially in the back of Concord Pond. Senkos worms have been the best bass bait this season, and are what most guys have been using. In addition to bass, most of the local rivers are holding pretty significant numbers of catfish and white perch. Most have moved from banks into slightly deeper water due to this weeks' heat but the storms and the cool-down expected this weekend could quickly change that. Catfish have been taking night crawlers, and perch have been hitting grass shrimp. Perch and catfish are still in the C & D Canal, too, though fishing there isn't quite as good as it's been in the recent past.
Crabbing has finally picked up, and Herb’s has heard reports of watermen bringing home a few dozen crabs from the Elk River. We should expect to see crabbing get continually better up north.
7/21/2017 Northern Chesapeake & Delaware Fishing Report Update:
Herbs Tackle Shop reports that anglers casting around the Conowingo Dam are getting decent striped bass action, with 22- to 25-inch fish mixed in with the smaller ones. Topwater lures have been the best way to catch rockfish, however, with large amounts of water moving through the dam this week, some anglers have also been drifting live eels through it. Joe Yack reported fish in around 10 to 20 feet of water on the bay during his recent trip on the water, and caught rockfish on light tackle near bottom. The Susquehanna flats are also producing some fish, however most have been smaller in size. Most of the action both around the dam and on the flats has been in the mornings around sunrise, and drops off after the sun is in the sky. There's also been some striper action reported from the lumps north and east of Pooles.
White perch have been heavy in local rivers, and don’t seem to be very particular about what time they’re biting. As usual, they’re hitting bloodworms and grass shrimp. The C & D canal continues to produce decent white perch and some catfish, though not as steadily as earlier in the year. The large and smallmouth bass bite in the creeks of the Northeast, Elk, and Bohemia has continued to be strong. Most bass have been hitting small lures such as Rapalas, spinners, and plastic worms. Some catfish are also biting in the same areas and are in the deeper water near Turkey Point..
A few crabs are showing up in the rivers, however the crabbing has been slow at best. Heading south to the middle bay where crabs are plentiful is a determined crabbers' best bet for taking home a crab feast.
7/14/2017 Northern Chesapeake & Delaware Fishing Report Update:
Bass fishing in the northern Chesapeake has been stellar lately, and fish are being found in abundance throughout most local rivers and creeks. Herb’s Tackle Shop reported that largemouth bass are particularly heavy in the North East River. Herb’s recommended using poppers to target the bass, and casting around structure and it’s shadows where the bass may be hiding from the heat. In addition to being a popular bass lure, poppers are also being used around the Conowingo Dam to catch rockfish. The Susquehanna flats have had a steady early morning topwater bite, however most anglers who have been catching more than a few fish have headed out early, and fished the flats at daybreak. Increasing water temperatures have been driving many of the fish further south, and anglers who want to bring home dinner might consider fishing Love Point or Podickory Point to find larger stripers, and a more reliable bite.
If you’re looking for an action-packed day of fishing with non-stop bites, the best bet is heading to your local creek or to the C & D Canal for perch and catfish. Most anglers targeting catfish are using chunks of cut bait and clam, and the perch will take grass shrimp. Try fishing the shrimp under a bobber on a shad dart, or on a top-and-bottom rig.
Crabs have still been rather scarce the northern tip of the bay yet, however those willing to run down south into the Upper and Middle Bay should come home with a crab feast for dinner.
7/8/2017 Update:
Herbs Bait and Tackle recommended traveling up the local rivers and creeks into shallower waters to fish for perch, large and smallmouth bass, and catfish. Bass have been abundant around Turkey Point, and have been biting top water lures cast around structure where they like to hang out during the day. Good numbers of fish being caught up North in the Maryland region have been around the Conowingo Dam, this past week. Day break has seemed to be the best time to fish around the dam, and many anglers who have gotten there early brought home large fish. Rockfish have been biting topwater lures and jig heads with plastics casted down river, and when turbulent waters begin to run from the dam, casting directly into them should have you hooking up a big one. For those who don’t mind the run South, Swan, Podickory and Love Points have remained active, and fishing has been more consistent than around the dam.
Sarges told us that locals have been using bait to catch both catfish and perch, and using blood worms for the perch in particular. Most perch have been around structure; however catfish have been more so in river channels or deep holes near shore. Crabbing up North has been better than in past weeks, and is slowly picking up as the crabs move north.
Anglers are also targeting perch and catfish in the C & D Canal. Bloodworms are the best bet for perch, and the catfish are eating cut fish and chicken livers.