5/1/2017 Update:
Anglers did well in the upper western shore tributaries this weekend, on a variety of species. On the Potomac blue catfish in the eight to 20 pound range were active - very active.
There was also a lot of talk of shad caught up by Fletcher's this weekend. In one of the more unusual reports, however, we also heard of snakeheads being caught in the upper Patuxent north of the Rt 4 bridge. One local angler reported catching a half-dozen in a single outing.
4/28/17 Update:
We talked to the guys at Mossy Creek Flyfishing to find out what's been successful fishing mountain streams and river. Warm weather and plenty of rain in the past week has brought about some killer smallmouth bass fishing in the James and Shenandoah Rivers. Water levels are perfect for brook trout, as well, and bugs are hatching. Anglers have had success using weighted jigs, soft plastics, and tubes which allow for the rig to quickly reach bottom. In addition, for those looking to fly fish mountain streams, Mini-Hot Garcia’s and elk hair Caddis flies have all been successful in catching some nice sized brook trout.
Deep Creek lake just opened up for the season, and trout fishing has been great thanks to the DNR efforts in stocking the lake (with a total of almost 5,000 fish being released into Deep Creek this spring). Walleye season here opened back up on the 15th, and they’ve been biting at dusk and dawn, mostly on large shiners. Look to find them among the rocky areas. Yellow perch have also been active on shiners.
On the eastern shore, crappie continue to be a main target in the millponds. Minnow suspended under a bobber on shad darts and marabou jigs remain the top pick. Crappie are also active in the upper reaches of tidal rivers like the Wicomico and Tuckahoe. Some largemouth bass are also biting in the upper reaches of Eastern Shore tributaries, as are shad.
4/21/17 Update:
Big trout are the ticket, says Fox's Sport & Bait shop in Frederick, MD. They reported two rainbow trout breaking 10 pounds caught in Carroll Creek. Rainbow Lake has also been a hotspot, with nightcrawlers being the top bait choice. We note that Maryland DNR trout stocking is now in full-swing (use Berkley PowerBait Trout Bait for these hatchery-reared fish) and you can see the full schedule for trout stocking in Maryland on their web site.
Shad fishing is now in taking off in a number of areas, with excellent reports in the Potomac just up-river of the nation's capitol. Shad darts and wet flies are attracting their attention. Shad action has also picked up in Deer and Octoraro creeks, though the recent rainfall may have an impact on these areas in the coming days. Blue catfish are active in the Potomac from the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge up, and are providing lots of action for anglers fishing cut bait and chicken livers on the bottom.
From Delaware down to the Virginia line on the eastern shore, crappie, bass, and pickerel are all very active in the millponds right now. The crappie bite takes top honors, with catches of fish measured by the dozens taking place over the past week. The top tactic is to drift minnow lip-hooked on shad darts and marabou jigs about two feet deep under a bobber, in open water. Remember to check out our article on how and where to target fish in the eastern shore millponds, Eastern Shore Millponds: Fantastic Freshwater Fishing.
4/16/2017 Update:
Pond fishing is kicking into high gear for spring, as the picture below shows. Jim Gronaw caught this 33.5 inch channel cat estimated to be 18 to 20 pounds a couple days ago, in a public pond in Adams County, PA. The fish hit a 1/64th ounce hair jig being fished for trout, on four pound test Gamma Poly Flex line. The battle took 40 minutes - and the fish was released to fight another day. Freshwater anglers take note: Jim, a noted outdoors writer who's work has appeared in publications including In-Fisherman, Outdoor Life, and Sports Afield, has penned a how-to bass fishing article for the June edition of FishTalk. We're not going to give away all the details just yet, but if you like bass fishing in the Mid-Atlantic region, stay tuned - there's some seriously good info in it!
4/14/2017 Update
There is a LOT going on right now on the freshwater front, up and down the mid-Atlantic region. First, the Maryland DNR reports that we have a new non-tidal state record for white perch! George Venker of Baltimore, MD, was fishing in Loch Raven Reservoir when he caught the 14.75 inch, 1.9 pound fish. That blows away the previous record of 1.6 pounds, which was just set last year. You can read more about the catch on the Maryland DNR web site.
To the west, Mossy Creek Fly Fishers in Virginia reports that sulphers have been hot as the mountain streams are producing many species of trout. Conditions and water levels have been good, and considering the recent rainfall amounts, should remain that way for some time. Bass haven't come on completely but are expected to within the next week or so. They recommend trying Storm plastics and Berkley's Grass Pig.
At The Tackle Box, in Lexington Park, MD, word is that the crappie in St. Mary's Lake are on fire. Shad darts tipped with live minnow and Beetle Spins have been good. Pickerel are also biting, and largemouth bass up into the five pound class have been nesting - wacky worms and night crawlers will do the trick.
Up and down the eastern shore, from Delaware down through the Salisbury area, fish are now thoroughly active in the millponds. This is prime time for crappie, with pickerel and bass also providing plenty of action. Get the full scoop on how and where to target fish in the eastern shore millponds by checking out Eastern Shore Millponds: Fantastic Freshwater Fishing.
4/7/2017
When Loch Raven opens up in April, head over there for some killer bass fishing. Rumor has it they became active quite early this season. The guys at Set's Sport Shop recommend using plastic worms and imitation lizards to catch bass. They also said to look for structure in the lake, where fish may be gathered.
Low water levels in mountain streams has had an effect on trout fishing this season, but if the Mid-Atlantic area receives a decent amount of rain this spring, rising water levels could contribute to more trout for fly-fisherman. Mossy Creek Fly Fishing reported that fish have been near the surface, but spooking easily. For fly-fishers targeting them, Mossy Creek recommended using wooly buggers, nymphs, and killer bugs.
