Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 11/23/2017 Update:
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! The cold weather has freshwater fish on the move, and in some areas of the region, moving into a winter pattern. That means the walleye bite is improving just about everywhere - remember, these fish like it cold! At Deep Creek the bass have moved deep and much of the attention has shifted to walleye, and anglers targeting them are also picking up good numbers of large yellow perch. Live medium and large shiners fished near bottom along sharp, rocky drop-offs are the best bet. Walleye are also biting in the Susquehanna on a regular basis, according to the folks at Sarge's. One more place this species is hitting right now is in the upper Potomac, from Point of Rocks up to dam four. Smallmouth are also hitting in several of the same areas, though crayfish-imitating crankbaits and copper or root-beer tube jigs are the preferred lures for this species. Anglers on the Shenandoah and the South Fork are also catching smallmouth.
Reports from Jake's, the Baltimore area reservoirs, and Captain Bones indicate that crappie are still on a rampage just about everywhere. In the reservoirs small minnow fished on small jigs under a bobber, or cast and retrieved slowly, are the best bets. At Loch Raven (Dulaney Valley) and Liberty (Nicodemus and Liberty) slinging small minnow on a bottom rig under the bridges and allowing them to drift past the concrete bridge pilings does the trick. In the the up-river areas of the tidal creeks off the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, Chickahominy, and James, minnow under a bobber or two-inch red/white tube jigs cast near deadfall is a good bet. We've also been hearing that the crappie are biting in the Wicomico up near Salisbury, as well as in the Eastern Shore millponds. At this time of year the millpond crappie often move in very close to structure, and creeping up to within a few feet of a fallen tree, reaching out with your rod, and dabbling a small tube jig or a minnow on a shad dart in-between the branches of the tree is a killer tactic.
In the Potomac near DC blue catfish are more than willing to inhale chunks of cut fish set on bottom in holes with boulders and snags. Catfish are also biting well in the Virginia tributaries.
We weren't able to connect with any local Virginia reservoir anglers this week (sorry!!) and with Thanksgiving interrupting regular business we're not sure we'll be able to update this report before next week, but fishermen should continue to enjoy a solid striper bite, good crappie action, and decent bass action (as long as you remember this this species is in transition at the moment and is likely to be moving deeper). If we can reach any sharpies or tackle shops fishing these waters in the next few days, we'll post an update.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 11/17/2017:
Bass fishing has been fairly good at Deep Creek Lake, as has the yellow perch, pike, and walleye fishing. Bass have started moving into deeper water, and Deep Creek Outfitters reports that they have been taking spinnerbaits. Cold weather has brought better walleye fishing, and Deep Creek suggests dropping a large minnow to get your catch. Bass are also in the reports from Herb's, and are biting well at the Conowingo dam. Topwater has been a good bet. Catfish and white perch are also hitting at Conowingo, for anglers tossing bait. Farther up in the Susquehanna, smallmouth bass have on the feed-bag. Pools, the dams, and large rocks will hold 'em. Crankbaits in crawfish patterns and jigs are the top lure choices.
Crappie have started to show up in most local creeks off the Rappahannock and the Potomac, and Jake's reports most are in deeper water structure, such as fallen trees or old stumps. Crappie have been taking little minnow, and some yellow perch have been report with the catch. Trout anglers are still enjoying good action in the western rivers and streams. In the Virginia reservoirs landlocked striper action is in full swing as the water temperatures have finally dropped to the point that the fish feel the need to fatten up for winter. Live baitfish are tops but we've had reports that at least in Lake Anna, the fish are now schooled tightly enough to vertical jig for them. There's word of a good crappie bite in Anna, too, mostly around the bridges, and reports from all of the Baltimore area reservoirs also indicate fall crappie fishing is in full swing. Best baits include live minnow fished on 1/16 ounce or 1/8 ounce marabou or hair jigs, or shad darts. At Loch Raven (Dulaney Valley) and Liberty (Nicodemus and Liberty) slinging small minnow on a bottom rig under the bridges and allowing them to drift past the concrete bridge pilings at mid-depth is a good bet. Bass and walleye are also biting well in Liberty, the walleye on large shiners and the bass on shiners, diving plugs, and swimbaits fished along points and drop-offs.
On the eastern shore, crappie and bass are the main targets in the millponds. Pickerel are starting to bite, but haven't hit their stride just yet.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 11/10/2017:
Colder weather has allowed freshwater fishing to pick up. Local creeks and streams are stocked with trout, and water levels have been close to perfect for fly fishing, according to Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Trout anglers in the northern reaches of our range also have good opportunity, with White Clay Creek in Delaware stocked and the fish willing to feed. Maryland's western streams and rivers are were also stocked earlier this fall and still hold plenty of trout. We've also been hearing that the river smallmouth are biting strong, trying to fatten up for winter, on small crankbaits with crawfish patterns.
In area lakes, bass, pickerel, walleye, and yellow perch have become more frequent with the changing weather. Deep Creek Outfitters reported that their catch is steadily improving, and many anglers fishing the lake have been catching large numbers of bass. Bass have been moving into deeper water, however the best bite continues to be topwater near structure. Walleye are taking shiners fished along bottom near rocky points and rip-rap shorelines that drop off into deep water. The other area reservoirs are in prime condition and bass are hitting around structure near transition points from shallow to deep water. Swimbaits, diving plugs, and tube jigs will get them biting. Same goes for the Virginia reservoirs that have striper populations, though as has been the case all fall, we're still hearing that live shad and shiner are out-catching as compared to lures. In Delaware, Captain Bones has also reported Hern's Pond having significant numbers of crappie and largemouth bass, which are biting soft plastic Senco Worms.
Catfish anglers in the Rappahannock, James, and especially the Potomac are enjoying a strong blue cat bite with some channels mixed in. Cut fish on bottom near holes and snags is the best approach. If you're boatless (unfortunately, Fletcher's stopped renting boats a week ago) and want to get in on this bite, we'd note that this week the Maryland DNR's report mentions shoreline fishing for blue cats from Fort Washington Park and Piscataway Park. We don't have any verified reports from either location but that sounds like a good bet, to us. We'd also consider the dam pool at Conowingo (for channel cats). Though the recent rains caused a muddy water release earlier this week it should be cleared by the weekend.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 11/2/2017:
Deep Creek Outfitters reported that as they saw their first snow this weekend, and are experiencing some great walleye and perch fishing. Most are holding near shore, and soft plastics have been the best option for catching them. Joe Yack from Sarge's says the Elk River complex is full of nice mid 20s size rockfish. The Susquehanna River has keeper Stripers and a very few Walleye starting to show. The river is brown but not too bad now, we'll have to wait to see what comes down the river from PA. Hopefully it will clear by the weekend. The fish have been taken by snap-jigging plastics, slow rolling paddle tails, minnow style hard baits and topwater. Water temps are in the high 50's so the fish could be anywhere from two to 30' deep.
Trout are stocked for the fall in many lakes and streams in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, providing for a lively fall fishery; many have already been caught since these hatchery fish are not very high on the IQ scale when they enter the wild, but some should still be around. Try casting Berkley Trout Powerbait, weighted down with a split shot.
The area reservoirs are all still on fire, with bass, crappie, and where present, landlocked stripers biting strong. Another freshwater fishery that's continued to produce steady action in tributary rivers, especially the James and Potomac, are blue catfish. Just as long as this relatively warm weather continues, we should see steady action in our Mid-Atlantic freshwater haunts - for this weekend, at least, if you have a shot at getting out you should certainly take it.