Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 28 Update:
Alltackle in Annapolis reported that the yellow perch bite is finally picking up on the western shore, so anglers can quit running to the eastern shore if they don’t feel up for the driving. The Magothy, West, and Patuxent are all sporting healthy populations in the creeks and far up the tribs. Yellows have been very on and off, however, taking quite a bit of searching to locate, but once you’re into them they’ll appreciate a minnow on bottom. Some pickerel are still popping up beside them in the Magothy, but if you’re looking to target them, redirecting your attention to the Pocomoke, Smithfield, or the other mill ponds is a good move.
Angler’s Sport Center let us know that a few catch and release striper are popping up. They’ve mainly been schooling up a little at Calvert Cliffs, (mostly of a slow bite but some big fish in the mix when they turn on), and there have also been fish off Solomons, but they also had a couple reports from the Bay Bridge Pilings this week. The fish coming in have been chunky, with a bunch hanging around the 25-inch mark and some, and some breaking 30-inches. Larger plastics in the seven- to nine-inch range are getting the job done.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 21 Update:
Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow reports that between the Miami boat show, the Pasadena expo, and catching up on missed time at the desk he’s remained landlocked, but he did hear some chatter about yellow perch at the eastern shore hotspots from readers at the show. From the sound of things as of last weekend they were still in pre-spawn holes (two people who hit upriver areas including Red Bridges reported skunks) though with this weather we’ve been having, they’re surely on the move. He says the smart bet is to be mobile—if you start at a down-creek hole and don’t find ‘em, pull up stakes and keep moving towards headwater spawning areas until you find ‘em. Note that the March edition of FishTalk just hit the streets, and has a feature article on Maryland perch fishing tactics and hotspots. Go grab your copy asap!
Meanwhile, until the perch run kicks into gear pretty much all the area tackle shops are reporting that many anglers are still hitting freshwater spots like the reservoirs or the eastern shore millponds with solid success on crappie, bass, and pickerel, mostly on minnow. Small, colorful (pink, fluorescent yellow, and chartreuse) darts tipped with minnow are a good bet.
Didn’t hear a peep from the CCNPP this week, but if you’re Jonesing for a strong tug, there’s always a shot this time of year.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 14 Update:
Recent spring like weather has been luring anglers out onto the Chesapeake early. Although Anglers and Alltackle let us know that plenty of boats were out, not a whole lot were catching. Other than a sparse bite at the power plant we didn’t hear of anything going on outside the tribs this week, with the majority of the (limited) action keeping to the creeks and cuts. Anglers let us know that a few guys came in reporting yellow perch up the Potomac and in undisclosed creeks, but the days were slow. They suggested heading to the Blackwater, Wye Mills, or north to the reservoirs if you’re headed out this weekend. All of these areas have excellent panfish bites right now, supplemented by bass, pickerel, and yellow perch.
Taylored Tackle let us know that white perch are making an unusual appearance in Eastern Shore rivers right now. They’ve been hanging out in areas that we’d traditionally find them in the late fall, typically in areas near shore where the water is slightly deeper or there are deep pockets and holes including all the way to the Laural spillway. While white perch have been difficult to target, they’re oftentimes popping up alongside yellows hanging out in these areas. Shoreline anglers have had access to both species when they can cast out a rig with grass shrimp or land their minnow and bobber in just the right spot.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 7 Update:
With plenty of yellow perch close to home on both the eastern and western shores, some anglers have been hitting the water hard during the past week. Alltackle in Annapolis let us know that the upper reaches of the tribs have been producing plenty of yellows in deep holes, pockets, and creeks. While the fish are around, they’ve been difficult to find at times. Angler’s Sport Center suggested switching up your spot when the fishing is slow to cover more water and find a school. Regardless of where you’re fishing, and if you’re casting from a boat or land, minnows suspended by a bobber have been the number one way to catch. If you’d prefer to fish lures, Beetle Spins have been working as well. In the Tuckahoe, anglers have also been catching chain pickerel regularly. Contributor Eric Packard spent some time hitting the middle-zone Eastern Shore millponds this week, and returned home reporting a solid pickerel bite, plus a fair number of bass. He also made a stop at Wayson’s Corner but found very low water and no bite.
Reports trickling in from the CCNPP are of a slow bite, however, an interesting one. A handful of specks and an oddball puppy drum here and there are popping up. Bouncing soft plastics in chartreuse and purple has been garnering the bites but be forewarned, readers on the scene report that most of the time those bites have been coming few and far between.