Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 22 Update:
An angler fishing on the Susquehanna Flats reported that they struck out when searching for rockfish earlier in the week. After a while without any luck, they made their way up to Port Deposit and managed to catch a few blue cats. The good news about the abundance of blue catfish in the Bay is that when other bites are slow, they are usually a reliable plan B. The big blue cats are biting as colder temperatures have increased their feeding activity. The Conowingo Dam, Port Deposit, Havre De Grace, and the Susquehanna Flats are all hotspots. Anglers fishing from shore or by boat typically use chunks of eel, bunker, or clam on fish finder rigs to target them.
Colder water temperatures are increasing the opportunities for walleye in the river as they are moving into shallower ledges along rocky shorelines. There have been a few caught at the Conowingo Dam Pool this week along with a few smallmouth bass. The bite for both species is generally better north of the Dam on the Susquehanna and now is the time to target them. Crankbaits and deeper diving jerkbaits tend to work well. The smallmouth are starting to move into deeper holes and stretches of river where they will hangout through the colder months. Jigs with creature bait presentations can be very effective at getting them to bite when they are lethargic.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 15 Update:
There have been some BIG blue catfish being pulled from the lower Susquehanna this week. The big fish seem to be on the hunt and feeding from the Conowingo Dam down to the Susquehanna Flats. Anglers reported catching several fish in the 30-pound class and even some over the 40-pound mark. A two to four ounce no-roll sinker can help keep rigs from getting snagged in the rocks, just make sure to add some fluorocarbon leader to help with abrasion resistance. Baits that usually get the blue cats biting including fresh cut eel, bunker, chicken, and a variety of other meaty options.
The striped bass action has been slim this week with only a few fish being caught at the Conowingo Dam and very little action on the flats. The best tactic to find fish will be to scan for birds and scan major ledges. Soft plastics, jigs, and an assortment of diving baits can be used. Trollers across the Bay seem to be getting more consistent bites as they can cover more water with baits in the strike zone.
White perch have mostly moved out to deeper water and can be found schooling in depths of 20 to 50 feet at the mouths of tidal rivers and at shoal areas on the main Bay. Metal lures and jigs are very effective when targeting perch in deeper water during the colder months. If they are hesitant to hit lures, dropping down bottom rigs tipped with grass shrimp, minnows, bloodworms, or Fishbites usually gets them biting.
The smallmouth bass bite on the Susquehanna continues to improve, especially above the Conowingo Dam. Colder water temperatures have the fish moving to deeper water along ledges and holes. Water levels are still low, so boaters should be careful while traversing the river. A kayak angler fishing in an unspecified location above the dam had an excellent day this week catching 16 smallies. The top five fish combined for a total of just over 18 pounds. Jerkbaits in five to 10 feet of water got all the bites.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 8 Update:
Unseasonably warm temperatures, lack of rainfall, and high-pressure systems have been the theme this fall. Not exactly what we would expect for this time of year. It has led to an almost non-existent striped bass bite across the Bay with small slivers of productive areas. This tough bite has also been the case on the Susquehanna Flats and Upper Bay tidal rivers. Anglers fishing the Conowingo Dam have been pulling a few stripers out of the wash below the dam. The better fishing has been happening in the evening hours and the rocks closer to the dam are still closed off until 4:30 p.m. when workers will be off the catwalk. Stripers have been hitting bucktails dressed with soft plastics. You’ll want a longer surf style rod for increased casting distance out to where the fish are lurking.
The blue catfish are biting, and the big fish have been showing up from the Conowingo Dam down to Port Deposit. We had several reports of fish in the 20’ to 30’ range being caught from the rocks below the dam and at Conowingo Fisherman’s Park. The biggest catch we heard of was a 42”, 50-pound jumbo caught by a shoreline angler at the dam. Above the dam, smallmouth anglers have been enjoying a great fall bite and more walleye are being caught too. Both species have hit jerkbaits, craw jigs, spinners, and crankbaits. Rocky shorelines, shoreline points, and deeper ledges will be the typical hangouts for them this time of year. Anglers looking to catch walleye may find better success at night as the fish typically feed more and move shallower under the cover of darkness.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 1 Update:
The waters below the Conowingo Dam have been fishing well with anglers reporting good success on lots of blue catfish. The blue catfish are being caught on cut bait with fresh eel being the top choice right now. If you are planning to baitfish below the dam, or anywhere on the lower Susquehanna for that matter, make sure to have plenty of extra rigs as the rocky bottom is notorious for snagging up gear. This is a great time of year to target blue catfish as they are more active with the cooler water temperatures. Other hotspots include Port Deposit, Havre De Grace, and the Elk River. Striped bass are also being caught with more frequency, especially below the Conowingo Dam. Larger rods are required for longer casting distances to get lures out to where the water flowing from open gates is churning. The fish usually like to sit in the current, just make sure to keep your lure off bottom as it can easily get snagged.
Elsewhere on the lower Susquehanna, smallmouth bass and a few walleye are being caught along rocky shorelines and ledges. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and jigs are all effective. The smallie fishing above the dam has also been very good and river conditions are great. Anglers should note that part of the rocky section below the Conowingo dam near fisherman’s park is closed to fishing from 5:00am until 4:30pm Monday through Friday because of safety concerns for workers on the dam. We encourage anglers to always be responsible and mindful of where they are casting. Hopefully the limited access at the dam wont last too long.