Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 22 Update:
Winter is really starting to set in with cold temperatures and a winter storm that is knocking on our door. We had reports that ice was an issue earlier in the week on most of the Way North tidal rivers and even on portions of the Susquehanna Flats. Not many anglers will be battling the ice, unless it gets thick enough to ice fish. That scenario might just play out given the temperatures in the forecast for the next week. Anglers looking to wet a line should do so before Sunday. Opportunities are limited right now. Blue catfish can be found in the lower Susquehanna River, with many overwintering between Havre De Grace and Port Deposit. Some yellow perch will also be in the deeper waters in this zone, along with the channels and holes in the Elk River. Walleye and smallmouth bass are another option in the lower Susquehanna around the rocky islands and shorelines, but unfortunately, ice flows will quickly start to form when sub-freezing temperatures return. It looks like next week and possibly longer will be a good time to do inventory and organize some tackle as we anxiously wait for spring.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 15 Update:
It has been a slow start to the fishing season in 2026, but we did have a few reports that came in this week. Several readers let us know some fish were biting in the upper reaches of the Bay, including some nice yellow perch and lots of bluegills near Joppatown. A green and white shad dart tipped with worm did the trick. One said the yellows were “not on fire” but the fish that were around were of a very nice class and were hitting minnow. Yellow perch can also be caught in several of the other Way North tidal rivers, including the Bush River, Susquehanna River, North East River, and Elk River. The schools of yellow perch will move around in the tidal creeks but can also be found in the deeper holes where they often overwinter. The lower Susquehanna River is a great location to find larger schools of yellow perch in late winter, and there have already been some fish caught in that area. Live minnows are arguably the best bait to use this time of year, but worms and grass shrimp can also be very effective. We want to remind anglers that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources just announced that the yellow perch creel limit has been reduced from 10 fish per person per day to five fish per person per day. This is due to poor spawning recruitment over the last several years. You can find more information from the public notice announced last week. Other than yellow perch, blue catfish offer reliable winter fishing opportunities. Cold weather has most of these fish schooled up at deeper depths of 30 feet or more, but you can also find some roaming in shallow water closer to shore if you can’t get out on the rivers for them.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 8 Update:
The weather was beautiful this week as unseasonably warm temperatures gave us a taste of spring. We are still a way away from any long-term warm weather, and winter is forecasted to return soon, but we will take what we can get. Fishing in the Way North region is slow right now, and we didn’t have any reader reports come through, so all we can tell you is what can historically be caught this time of year. Catfish will be the most widely available fish to catch. They are concentrated in the lower Susquehanna River, especially near the mouth of the river at Havre De Grace. The stretch of river from Havre De Grace to Port Deposit is usually productive. Some schools of yellow perch are also hanging around this area in the deeper waters. Some anglers have reported mixed success over the past few weeks. Minnows will be your best bet to get them biting. Other than that, there are some walleye and smallmouth bass that can be found around the rocky islands in the lower Susquehanna River. Walleye are also known to hang below the Conowingo Dam in the winter. Take advantage of the warmer weather now because it likely won’t last long.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 1 Update:
Happy New Year folks! We hope that everyone has made one of their resolutions to get out and fish more in 2026. Fishing is relatively slow this time of year. The Way North region has no shortage of blue catfish that can be caught throughout the year. Most of these fish have retreated to the deeper waters at the mouth of the Susquehanna River, but there are still some areas where they can be caught from shore. This includes areas around Havre De Grace, Port Deposit, and the Conowingo Dam. Fresh cut gizzard shad and American eel is working best given our latest reports. The catfish also seem to prefer smaller baits right now over larger ones.
Anglers fishing along the rocky shorelines and islands on the lower Susquehanna River are catching a few smallmouth bass, walleye, and even the occasional crappie. Bouncing jigs along the rocky bottoms or slow rolling paddletails along the river bottom is a good approach for getting bites. They may be subtle, so using braid can help detect when a fish grabs your lure. Schools of yellow perch are wintering in the deeper holes at the mouth of the Susquehanna. The bite has not been red hot, and the schools have been small and scattered, but they should group up better as we head further into winter. Live minnows have been the ticket for getting the perch to bite, so grab them if you can before heading out.