Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report, 6/29/2018:
In many areas of the Mid-Atlantic region water levels are finally returning to normal after a month of crazy rain and runoff, but in some others that got hit hard again last week anglers will need to keep waiting or travel a bit in search of clear water. Many of the western shore tributaries, in particular, remain high and muddy. Reservoirs and lakes are the most reliable options, where anglers are enjoying productive bass fishing in the thick of our summer season — they’re in their mid-summer patterns, and are plentiful in shallow water during the morning, and then in deeper holes as the day wears on. Loch Raven has had a particularly killer bass bite, especially in the earliest and latest parts of the day. Even in the cooler waters of Western Maryland the heat is beginning to settle in, and the word from Deep Creek is that walleye have moved deep and bass are only dependable on the shoreline at daybreak. Excessive boat traffic once mid-morning arrives does not improve the fishing, so getting an early start is key.
Some ponds are getting tough to fish as weed growth is taking off, but bass remain active where you can reach them. The eastern shore millponds remain an option but many spots are now very difficult to fish; be sure to bring weedless topwater frogs, so you can still probe some of those areas. Many eastern shore freshwater anglers remain focused on targeting snakeheads in the Blackwater complex and its associated canals, with fish often being found in road-side trenches that in some cases are small enough to leap across. Casting topwater has taken the pole position away from bull minnow, which the snakes seem to respond best to in cooler times.
Stripers have been fairly reliable this week in Kerr. Live bait has been best once the sun is in the sky, but a reader report indicated that topwater was effective at dusk near Bullocksville. Crappie are also said to be active deep near the bridges on both Kerr and Lake Anna, but note that Anna was in the rain zone last week and some areas were thoroughly riled up. Up to that point, south of the Splits had been best with live baits fished deeper than 20 feet producing the most fish. Largemouth here are in summer mode, hitting shallow at daybreak then moving to deeper water.
Those heading up into the mountains to enjoy a relaxing day of fly fishing can finally enjoy good conditions for catching dinner and small poppers have been popular options, according to Mossy Creek Flyfishing, for a variety of species. If you haven't tried it yet Tenkara makes for an interesting and different way to aim for the trout; read Tenkara Fly Fishing: A Different Approach to see how it's done.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report, 6/22/2018:
Clydes Sport Shop reported that large and small mouth bass have settled into their typical summer modes at the Baltimore reservoirs such as Loch Raven and Pretty Boy, and also in the Susquehanna, though river fishing is still difficult due to high, discolored waters. Fish have been especially active in the morning and evening, and are typically holding in shallow edges near shade, seeking cool water on hot summer days. Clydes suggested using poppers or topwater lures to target the bass. The same is holding true at Deep Creek Lake, with Deep Creek Outfitters reporting bass have been the name of the game lately. As usually happens here the mid-day summer boat traffic on weekends is picking up so it’s time to plan to fish early and fish late, especially on weekends.
Crappie are also hitting in the reservoirs, and like the bass are now in summer patterns. That often means fishing a bit deeper, around standing timber or over deep grassbeds. Two-inch tubes and twisters will get them biting, as will small minnow.
Reports from many of the area’s good bass fishing rivers, including the Potomac and the James, are that there’s still a lot of stained water around and it’s messing up fishing for just about everything except catfish. Same goes for the upper Rappahannock. We did hear one good (but unverified) reader report of bass fishing plus a snakehead or two in Mattawoman off the Potomac, with topwater drawing the strikes. For anglers to the south the Virginia reservoirs may be a better option, since their waters haven’t been impacted as much by the monsoons. Reports from Bugg’s and Anna are of bass hitting topwater early and late in the day, with plastic worms and swimbaits working better once the sun is high in the sky. At Anna, trolling diving plugs that swim deep up past the Splits has been a good bet for stripers, many of which are holding in deep open water during the daylight hours.
Up in the mountains, stream levels have not yet returned to normal from the weeks of rain we've received. Water is still murky, and Mossy Creek Reported levels have been high enough to hinder fly fishers.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report, 6/15/2018:
When it comes to area rivers the water is still dirty and muddied up in many places, but the bite has proven to come through in areas that don’t see much moving water and even in the hardest-hit rivers conditions are now rapidly improving. It must have cleared enough for the fish to be happy at Gilbert Run, where angler Dezi Collins of Mechanicsville, MD, caught a new state record warmouth this week. Weighing in at 10.7 ounces, the fish hit a Senko. The catfish bite in the Susquehanna has been great, especially at night. Blue catfish are also back in action particularly in the Potomac and the James, and FishTalk team member Zach Ditmars reported that catfish saved the day from being a skunk recently after a slow snakehead bite at Mattawoman. He says there were four snake-like blow-ups on frogs, but zero hook-ups. Meanwhile the northern ponds of Maryland have been stellar, with plenty of bluegill and largemouth action to go around. Topwater lures are achieving steady action, so keep that in your tackle box at all times for this time of year.
Mossy Creek Fly Shop gave us the scoop at the mountain streams, for those of you that are looking to get in some dry fly action. The water is muddy and relatively high, but the brook trout are still keeping it real where the rains decided to hold off and water levels have had the chance to drop a bit. The Shenandoah rivers don’t appear to be quite back to shape just yet but should provide stellar smallmouth action at this time of year, so keep an eye on that.
Out to the west Bill’s Outdoors has had several reports of those fishing southern ponds having a lot of luck, as well as near Turkey Neck and the Thousand Acres region. Pickerel, large and smallmouth bass, pike, walleye, and the perch are alive and well in the reservoirs and have decided that hanging near bridges and pilings in and around docks are their favorite spots for the week. Using live bait in the early mornings has been a golden ticket for many anglers, especially when live-lining minnows. Leeches and nightcrawlers are critical when the bite starts to slow, as it has proven to do with the water clarity and conditions.
Editor’s note: Mollie Rudow is on break; this week’s reports were compiled by FishTalk intern Parker Martin.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report, 6/8/2018:
You’ve heard it before, but we need to preface this week's freshwater report by noting that the rain has kept a damper on the freshwater fishing in our region, because a week later it's still true. That said we’ve still seen some big news, with two record-breakers in the region being taken this past week (see News Flash: Record Snakehead and Flathead Catfish, to get the scoop) and now a 24.75 pound carp being brought to Captain Bone’s Tackle.
Snakehead may be your best bet this week, as we've also had numerous reader reports, many photo-confirmed, of snakes hitting live bait (bull minnows) and topwater lures. The creeks off the Potomac, the Blackwater complex, and the many creeks and canals south of Cambridge to the Toddville area have been excellent options. The other reliable freshwater fishery that's survived the deluge is reservoir fishing. Bill's mentioned that Deep Creek hasn't been adversely affected by the rain, and both bass and walleye are hitting swimbaits, crankbaits, and minnow. Anglers fishing minnow are also catching plenty of yellow perch.
We didn't hear any specific reports from the Baltimore area and Virginia reservoirs this week, but again, the key to success will likely be sticking with areas of clean water. Anywhere there's a significant flow you can expect to be off-color.
Meanwhile, smallmouth are biting up north and to the west, when you can find a river that has cleared out from the deluge. Tochterman's mentioned that smallies are hitting jigs in the Susquehanna below the dam.
Mossy Creek has the same unfortunate report that most of the local waters have been high and dirty, and says to be on the lookout for clear water and check on local streams for their clarity and height before fishing.
Editor’s note: Mollie Rudow is on break; this week’s reports were compiled by FishTalk intern Parker Martin.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report, 6/1/2018:
Unfortunately, the absurd influx of rain and the resulting muddy waters have ruined fishing in most of the area river and streams, and at this point, even many of the larger bodies of slower-moving water have been effected. The best bet for freshwater anglers remains bodies of water that don't see much influx. Clydes' Sport Shop reports that spinnerbaits and crankbaits have been great options for bass in Loch Raven, most of the Eastern Shore mill ponds, and Deep Creek Lake, all of which have escaped the worst effects of the monsoon season and have all seen an uptick in the number of bass being caught. They've started moving into their summer behavior patterns, and are most active during the morning then move to deeper, cooler water as the sun heats shallower waters. Also at Deep Creek, we have a (photo-verified) reader report of a solid walleye and perch bite, with Shad Raps and minnow doing the job. Also in the reservoirs we're getting reports of crappie staging at mid-depth over structure in 12 or more feet of water, with Marburg (PA), Loch Raven, Liberty, and St. Mary's Lake (MD), and Anna and Bugg's Island (VA) all providing good action. Bridges are the best bet but in St. Mary's Lake, look for the pockets of standing timber (which we detail in St. Mary's Lake: Hot Maryland Freshwater Fishing). High Point Marina (Lake Anna) is also reporting stripers being caught from the 208 Bridge up to Stubbs and Holiday bridges, with guides bringing in daily limits.
FishTalk team member Zach Ditmars found acceptable conditions at Mattawoman, had a solid bite from largemouth bass and snakeheads, and even had some alligator gar chasing his offerings. Megafrox topwater, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits all drew strikes. We also had some excellent (and photo verified) reader reports of snakeheads this week, coming from the Blackwater complex and the myriad of creeks and canals just past Cambridge. Topwater and big bull minnows are doing the snake-baiting.
Mossy Creek is reporting that water levels in mountain streams are still exceptionally high, due to rain the past week. The torrential downpour has also created dark water in the vast majority of freshwater lakes and streams in their area, making flyfishing nearly impossible. Reports are similar from pretty much all the upper river areas of the Western Shore tributaries, from the James clear on up.
Despite the crummy weather, we do have two new records to report. In Maryland, bow-fisherman Andy Fox nailed a 19.9 pound snakehead in Mattawoman, setting a new record for Frankenfish. And in Virginia, Jeffrey Dill cranked up a monstrous 68-pound flathead catfish out of Lake Smith, beating the old VA record by 2.4 pounds..