Freshwater fishing report, November 24 Update:
The colder months will make fishing slow for some species, but one fish that get very active in the colder weather are chain pickerel. Contributor Eric Packard has been targeting pickerel quite a bit recently, with solid success in the upper tidal creeks on fish up to the hefty 26-inch mark. White paddletails on 3/8-ounce jigheads have been getting the strikes. We also had a report of solid success on largemouth from way up the Bay in the fresher reaches. Another reader checked in after fishing a central Maryland pond and found plenty of pickerel wiling to bite. He said a white fluke worked great when retrieving it across the tops of the last remaining lily pads. The pickerel were waking and blowing up on his soft plastic, making for some entertaining action. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to sign up for the CCA Pickerel Championship. It is a great opportunity to compete against fellow anglers for some great prizes and more importantly, bragging rights.
Another species that enjoys the colder weather are crappie. They can be found all over our region in lakes, ponds, and rivers. Some popular locations to fish for them include the central Maryland reservoirs, St. Mary’s Lake, The Pocomoke River, and the tidal tributaries of the Potomac. Right now, the crappie are usually found schooling up close to submerged structure like rock piles, sunken wood, and bridge pilings. Small twisty tail jigs or live minnows under a slip bobber work great. You can also slow troll live minnows with good success. Gamefish like largemouth bass and northern snakeheads have mostly retreated from the shallows and are hanging on the edges of any remining underwater grasses or sunken wood. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and crank style baits are good options to throw right now. Fishing for them during the colder months usually requires covering water, but don’t let that discourage you because fall and winter tend to produce some big catches. The warmer parts of the day can yield a better bite, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.
Freshwater fishing report, November 17 Update:
Water temperatures have begun to drop quickly in the past few weeks which has many freshwater fish feeding aggressively. Largemouth bass are on the move searching for bait and will be found near submerged wood and rock piles now that most grasses have died off. Targeting shallow areas with deep water nearby is a good option as the fish will move between these zones. We got a report from a Southern Maryland angler who let us know that the crappie bite has really turned on in various lakes and ponds. Small jigs with twisty tail soft plastics are working well along with live minnows floated under a bobber. The crappie are schooling up near underwater structure and along ledges. The colder months are a great time to target this fish because if you locate a school, they can provide steady action. Contributor Eric Packard also noted strong bass action this week on blade-baits and Rattle Traps, along with a few pickerel deciding to strike.
The cooler weather is providing favorable conditions for trout anglers. Maryland stockings won’t resume until the spring, but there should still be plenty of fish to target in local lakes and rivers. The catch and release, delayed harvest, and fly fishing only waters are good places to explore. Virginia DWR is still busy stocking many locations throughout the state, so driving west will open a lot of options. Visit the Maryland DNR trout stocking website and the Virginia DWR trout stocking website for the most up to date information. Mossy Creek reiterated that we could really use some rain to help our water levels. Despite low conditions, anglers are remaining persistent and will always find a way to fish no matter the conditions. They have seen some nice smallmouth and big carp landed on the Shenandoah River this week. Leaf litter in the rivers and creeks is getting better as many of the trees have dropped their leaves by now. Mossy Creek also said that conditions are favorable for musky anglers right now and that the best strategy is to be stealthy with your approach and presentation. Low and clear conditions often make fish follow lures all the way to the boat, so be intentional with your retrieves.
Freshwater fishing report, November 10 Update:
Fall temperatures have been up and down recently with some chilly nights and very warm afternoons. The warmer days have provided great weather to get outside and fish. Mossy Creek reports that the trout fishing is moving along on schedule. Virginia DWR continues to stock around the area and West Virginia DNR stocked a lot of big trout into streams towards the end of October. Mossy Creek days there are still some hoppers around and a few tricos in the late mornings. Small jig leeches, sculpin patterns, and streamers are working well. Maryland’s Fall trout stocking program is over, but there are still plenty of fish to catch in the stocked locations. Fish that were stocked in streams have spread out by now, so it will be a good idea to cover some ground looking for the trout. If you want to find stocking information for our areas states, visit the Maryland DNR trout stocking website and the Virginia DWR trout stocking website.
Contributor Eric Packard spent some time pickerel fishing in Stoney Creek this week and caught a nice selection of pickerel from 14 to 24 inches, casting a white paddletail on a 3/8-ounce jighead. He noted that most of the fish were concentrated on a windblown shoreline between piers. Twice his pickerel angling was unexpectedly interrupted by large carp, and once by a catfish.
As water temperatures drop, smallmouth will be found on the dominant rock and ledge structures in area rivers, near the deepest pools of water. Water levels in most areas are low which can make fishing tricky. These fish are spooky, so make sure to be stealthy on your approach. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and jigs have been working well. We are also seeing more walleye being caught around our region’s rivers including the upper Potomac and Susquehanna. In our region’s ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, largemouth bass are feeding throughout the day to build up fat stores for winter. The shallow grass beds are in their seasonal retreat, and baitfish and crayfish are moving to deeper waters to find cover for the winter months. The bass will be waiting to ambush them near transition zones. Drop offs, coves, and creek mouths are all good areas to fish. Pickerel action is also starting to pick up. These fish are found in most of our larger reservoirs, the Eastern Shore millponds, and many of the upper Bay tidal rivers. The bite will only get better as water temperatures cool off. The CCA Maryland Pickerel Championship started this month and will run until the end of February. Sign up and compete against fellow anglers for your chance at some awesome prizes and bragging rights!
Freshwater fishing report, November 3 Update:
Temperatures have finally cooled off after a few days of summer-like weather. The fish enjoyed the warm up just as much as the anglers. Right now, largemouth bass and snakehead are holding close to wood structures and any remaining grasses that haven’t died off yet. Moving baits such as spinners and buzzbaits are great to throw for covering lots of water. Contributors David Rudow and Mark Nicolaus got out last weekend to target snakeheads on an Eastern Shore tributary. The bite was slow, but they did manage three snakes while throwing moving baits. As water temperatures continue to drop, fishing with live bait such as minnows will be much more productive. When the snakeheads are more lethargic, a live minnow often tempts them to bite.
Contributor Eric Packard says that the reservoir crappie have begun stacking up in a typical fall pattern, and in 14’ to 16’ were visible on the meter in big numbers. A small white/chartreuse paddletail on a 1/8 ounce jighead got them biting. Tossing a jerkbait produced bites from bass, pickerel, and yellow perch this week. Fishing at the larger destination lakes is also much better this time of year. Now that colder weather has pushed away most of the vacationers from Deep Creek Lake, you won't have to deal with an abundance of boat traffic while fishing. Colder water temperatures have spurred smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, and pike to feed more aggressively. Targeting steep banks or the mouth of coves is especially effective this time of year. Western Maryland just had their first snow of the year, so maybe it is a sign for potential ice fishing later this winter. Let’s have some faith in the flakes.
Lakes, ponds, and creeks in Maryland that received pre-season hatchery trout stockings should still have plenty of fish available to catch. The trout that were stocked in creeks have likely spread out by now, so it may be beneficial to cover water and do some exploring in search of fish to catch. Small lures such as spoons, spinners, super dupers, and flies are a great way to cover a lot of water when looking for trout. Virginia is still actively stocking various waterways, so new opportunities are arising every week for trout anglers. If you want to find the latest stocking information for both states, visit the Maryland DNR trout stocking website and the Virginia DWR trout stocking website.