6/30/2017 Update:
Largemouth bass fishing has picked up in most local lakes and reservoirs ranging throughout the Mid-Atlantic as water temperatures have continued to rise. Anglers have successfully caught the bass by casting topwater lures and soft plastics, and most bass are now lounging in the shade. Structure that produces shade has become THE big fish-attractant. In most reservoirs crappie have moved out into deeper waters are suspended near structure. Bridge pilings (Loch Raven, Lake Anna, Deep Creek) are a good place to look for the crappie, as is standing timber in 20 feet or deeper waters.
Many Maryland area anglers also continue to chase snakeheads by casting plastic frogs and topwater. We’ve had reports of snaky success from the Blackwater, the Marshyhope, the Potomac and especially creeks feeding the main river, and the upper Patuxent north of the 214 bridge.
Set’s Sport Shop in Towson has been reporting a good number of trout coming from the Gunpowder and the folks at Jake’s in Winchester VA also mentioned a good trout bite in area streams and rivers.
In the southern areas of the Mid-Atlantic region bass anglers have been doing well in the western shore tributaries and according to Chesapeake Bait and Tackle, the upper Rappahannock, James, and Potomac have all been good. Blue catfish have also been active, particularly in the James up-river from Rt. 156 and in the Potomac in the vicinity of DC and moving down-river to the feeder creeks. Cut bait placed on bottom in channels and holes has been doing most of the catching.
6/23/2017 Update:
Most of the freshwater opportunities in the region have settled into a regular summer patterns. At Deep Creek bass anglers are finding success by working the docks and some walleye are being caught on large shiner, but most of the action takes place early and late in the day (especially on weekends). Bass and crappie in the Baltimore area reservoirs are active, but are beginning to move to deeper summer haunts. Reports from Loch Raven are of bluegills and crappie staging on structure, with bass moving deep once the sun is high in the sky. Most of the large Virginia reservoirs are in a similar state, with many anglers targeting stripers by trolling along drop-offs to deep water and largemouth bass by casting to shoreline structure at daybreak then switching to deeper drop-offs and using weighted plastics and jigs later in the morning.
The opportunities for area bass anglers may be best in the upper Potomac, northern Chesapeake tributaries, and upper eastern shore tributaries. In all of these areas, bass can be found prowling the edges of weedbeds and along drop-offs. In the Potomac creeks and the western shore tributaries (especially the Blackwater) snakeheads are providing exciting blow-ups for both bass anglers and for anglers targeting the Frankenfish in specific. Plastic frogs are reportedly the top lure.
Trout anglers are also beginning to feel the heat of summer, with catches reportedly dropping over the past week. The best bet for trout anglers is to head for western areas of the Mid-Atlantic, where they can find cooler mountain streams and rivers.
6/16/2017 Update:
Deep Creek Lake has been full of good for freshwater anglers looking to catch large and small mouth bass. Most are being caught along structure, particularly the floating docks that now line the shoreline. They’re hitting crankbaits and plastics. Deep Creek is also holding large numbers of yellow perch and walleye, which are primarily sticking close to shore at daybreak and sunset. They’re hitting shiners, green night crawlers, and artificials. Most local reservoirs in both Maryland and Virginia are in full swing for the season, and the water is still cool enough that anglers casting to shoreline structure are catching plenty of largemouth bass well into the day. As the waters warm the fish will likely start looking for more shade and cooler, deeper waters after the sun is high in the sky but as of now the bite is still extended.
Spillway and millpond fishing on the Eastern Shore and in Delaware has been good for bass, crappie, sunfish, and some pickerel. The upper reaches of the Eastern Shore tributaries are still accounting for a lot of snakeheads, especially for those casting topwater and plastic frogs. Same goes for some of the western shore tributaries, especially the Potomac, where blue catfish have also been chewing on cut bait set on bottom especially from the Rt. 66 bridge up. We've also had reports of a good blue catfish bite in the upper James River, up-river from the 156 bridge. Anglers farther north and west have been targeting smallmouth in the Shenandoah. Although they tend to be small, numerous smallmouth have also been active for wade-fishermen in the upper Patapsco from Ellicott City up. Rebel Wee-Craws, live crayfish, and minnow are all highly effective on these fish.
6/9/2017 Update:
Fishing has been good in most mountain streams, reservoirs, and lakes. Anglers in Loch Raven have found particular success catching crappie and sun fish while using spinners, and plastic worms for the bass. They should keep in mind, however, that there is a prohibition on live bait in the reservoir due to a zebra mussel infestation, and those caught violating the prohibition will be met with a hefty fine. Both bass and crappie fishing are in full swing in Piney Run Reservoir. Try plastic worms in weeds and deadfall for the bass, and small minnow or tube jigs near the brush piles and beaver dams for the crappie. Sets Sport Shop reported that Gunpowder Falls has produced some good sized trout, including a 21 incher caught this week. Many streams are also holding small mouth bass, which are biting flies and top water.
The upper reaches of the eastern shore rivers and the spillways in Delaware and Maryland have been productive areas to try for crappie, sunfish, pickerel, and some bass. Farther down the shore and also in the upper Potomac and it's creeks, snakeheads are still on a rampage. Topwater and especially plastic frogs are getting the job done on the Frankenfish. Blue catfish are also still on the feed in many areas of the Potomac, as well as the upper James river, and the Rappahannock. In most of these same areas once you get to lower salinity areas largemouth bass are also biting, especially near grass beds. Chesapeake Bait and Tackle noted that largemouth bass fishing was in full swing up the rivers. In both Lake Anna and Smith Mountain Lake, the news is of a fairly strong striper bite for anglers freelining live shad and jumbo shiners. Crappie are also reported from the bridge pilings of Lake Anna.
6/2/2017 Update:
We started by speaking with the folks at Jake’s in Virginia and Set’s Sport Shop in Towson. Both sources said that most reservoirs, lakes, and ponds are in the post-spawn pattern now so fishing crankbaits and other summer techniques have started to pick up for largemouth bass. Largemouth have also been active in the upper Potomac and northern Bay tributaries. In many of these same areas, virtually all of those connected to the Potomac and most eastern shore tributaries, we’re hearing report after report of snakeheads smashing plastic frogs, topwater lures, and poppers being cast for largemouth.
Crappie fishing has also been good over the past few weeks. Using shad darts or marabou jigs with minnows and suspended under bobbers has seemed to do the best. In reservoirs like St. Mary’s Lake, which have visible standing timber in 15 or more feet of water, getting rid of the bobber and vertically jigging in the trees has been a killer technique. We also heard that crappie were active around the bridge pilings in Virginia’s Lake Anna, and also around bridge pilings in Loch Raven Reservoir up near Baltimore.
We drew a blank on stream and river fly fishing and smallmouth reports in the western regions of the Mid-Atlantic this week thanks to all that rain, but as water levels continue to retreat the fishing will improve. We did also hear that with the docks going back into the water at Deep Creek, casting to them for largemouth bass is once again an option. Walleye are shifting into summer mode and are best targeted during low-light, with large shiners slow-trolled along drop-offs to deep water.