Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 25, 2019 Update:
Conditions for the past week were poor, with high winds, sketchy ice in many sections of the rivers especially coves and creeks, and traveling onto the waters of our local tributaries near impossible. While some local lakes iced over, the layer of ice was far too thin to venture out on in most places and made fishing difficult at best. As a result this is one of the few weeks of the year that we don’t have any verifiable fishing reports for you folks – sorry! That said, if and when weather allows there should still be catch-and-release stripers to be found near the Bridge, where a couple weeks ago some success was found. We’d also hope for some perch and pickerel to be encountered in the Magothy and Chester. This weekends’ forecast provides lower wind speeds, but low temperatures as well.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 18, 2019 Update:
Fishing in the Bay has been slow as we’ve moved into a new year, however even as angling effort dropped off this week, the bite began to pick up with a cold front moving in and setting the yellow perch into motion. The previously lackluster bite has been most active in the upper reaches of local tributaries, as well as their surrounding creeks and freshwater areas. Anglers in Annapolis reported that most fish have been caught in three to 10 feet of water, and are being found around nearshore structures, as well. Partially submerged fallen trees, docks, and the like have been worth checking out. Crappie, pickerel, white perch, and bass have also been in some of these areas. Mepps spinners and bull minnow suspended by a bobber have been safe bets for getting fish on your hook. In creeks, a few catfish have been reported as well, and they are taking cut bait.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 11, 2019 Update:
Although the past few weeks of fishing have been lackluster at best, there are some panfish biting in the tribs and we’re hoping to see some more action pick up as this cold front moves through. Thanks to the warmer weather this December and in the beginning of January, in the northern Chesapeake fish have more or less failed to move into their typical winter patterns of behavior just yet. The yellows haven’t been hitting particularly hard, and white perch are still in deeper waters than average for this time of year. As a result, much of the action has come from crappie and pickerel. In fresher areas bass have also remained more active than usual.
Productivity in the Magothy seems to have plateaued, showing no signs of an uptick in catch from last week. Hopefully the cold weather coming on the heels of the wind will cause the bite to snap on, and yellow perch will become more reliable fishery in the coming days. We recommend targeting them and other cold-water species with a bull minnow on a shad dart, best used under a bobber and fished along piers and docks Those willing to brave the cold should also consider hitting the Eastern Shore millponds, which have provided great numbers of pickerel and crappie this season. Wye Mills has been a popular spot for bass and crappie, and Unicorn and the ponds in Salisbury have been great for a mixed bag.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 4:
Editor’s Note: We’d like to say a special thank-you to Parker Martin for compiling the fishing reports these past few months. Now he’s getting ready to study abroad, and starting this week the reports are being compiled – once again – by none other than Mollie Rudow. Parker, as we bid you adieu we rest assured in the knowledge that the FishTalk fishing reports will be in good hands moving forward!
Going into the New Year, solid reports of fish have been few and far between. Luckily it seems that pickerel, perch, and crappie have continued to keep the fishery in the Chesapeake's northern waters afloat. Creeks and tributaries, specifically the Magothy, have begun to show more action than in previous weeks, although fish are still consistently in deep water. This has held true for most of the region, but as the fish continue to move back into the tributaries they should begin to show up in shallower depths. Yellow perch in particular have been scarcer than usual for this time of year, and though a few are being reportedly caught from docks in most of the the Upper Bay tribs, are mostly still holding in the deeper waters. We haven’t heard any reliable reports of large numbers being caught, and with no cold snap forecasted in the foreseeable future we’re left wondering when the yellows will turn on this winter. Pickerel fishing has been a better bet, as they have been hanging in shallow waters and are being consistently caught. As usual, a large bull minnow under your bobber has been the best bet for some pickerel action.