Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 28 Update:
The reports from the Northernmost areas of the Bay were slim this week for the most part and it appears “Rocktober” hasn’t been living up to expectations for Way North anglers. The Striper fishing at the Conowingo Dam Pool and on the Susquehanna has remained more on the uneventful side. Sarge’s reported a few fish are being caught but it is nothing to get excited about. Poppers, crankbaits, and paddletails are the most popular lures right now. If you want to get in on more consistent rockfish action, it would be a good idea to head down to the area of Pooles and south.
Crappie action in the northern rivers is in prime shape for fall, and one reader sent in a pic of a beautiful Chesapeake tributary slab this week. The tidal rivers of the Northern stem of the Chesapeake can hold some real nice size crappie with fish in the 10-to-14-inch range not too uncommon. The crappie will be holding near deeper structure so fallen trees, marina docks, and pilings are all good places to hone in on. Anglers are catching them on small 2.5-inch Gulp! minnows on jigs. Pickerel fishing has also been steadily picking up with cooler temperatures moving into the area. These toothy fish will be found in the upper parts of the creeks and rivers typically near shallow water structure. The pickerel will be an increasingly productive fishery as we move into fall so pick up some bull minnows or throw out a shiny artificial bait to get some bites and have some fun.
The catfishing is a more reliable fishery right now as the whiskered fish can be caught in all the tributaries and main stem of the bay. The blue cats are active right now and willing to hit a variety of fresh cut bait. Channel catfish will be more concentrated to the tidal tributaries, and flatheads can be caught at the Conowingo Dam Pool near the turbine discharge.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 20 Update:
We were expecting the fishing to pick up this week but the lack of reports indicates that the fishing is fair at best right now. The Conowingo Dam pool has been producing some fish for anglers willing to grind out the early morning hours. Rockfish have been caught on a variety of artificial baits including paddletails, jerkbaits, and topwater plugs. As water temperatures continue to drop, we should expect some walleye to show up below the dam. They can be caught using the same subsurface baits you would throw for rockfish. Flathead catfish have been a consistent catch at the dam pool and can put up a fun fight for anglers looking to catch one of these invasive beasts.
Herb’s reported that on the flats, good bites have been slim and anglers focusing their efforts on the grass edges have had a tough time getting bites. Catfish on the flats and upper Bay are still reliable and will continue to be the best bet for steady bites. The blue catfish are in the main stem of the Bay as well as all the tributaries. The Department of Natural resources encourages anglers to fish for these invasives as their population continues to grow throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. Their favorite bait is fresh cut bunker or chicken liver with any type of flavoring. The channel catfish are around in good numbers too but will be more concentrated in the rivers and tributaries. Yellow perch will start making their way up into the upper Bay rivers as water temperatures drop. Anglers looking to target them should focus on deeper holes, grass edges, and shoal areas. Hopefully the bite picks up this weekend, but there are still fish to be caught, so get out there!
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 14 Update:
Anglers in the northern Bay have been anticipating the cooler temperatures that October brings to improve the rockfishing in the area. However, we have received few reports from this area indicating that’s happened. The Conowingo Dam pool has produced some nice stripers into the mid-20s for those hitting the water in the early mornings and evenings, and on the flats anglers should focus their efforts on the edges of grass beds, shoreline structure, and the mouths of rivers and creeks for the best shot at the rockfish. Poppers, crankbaits, and paddletails work well in the shallows. Fish will often hang farther off shallow water structure so approach cautiously and cast off the structure before moving closer.
Sarge’s says the white perch are schooling up over oyster beds and shell bottom in the tidal rivers and main stem of the Bay. Bottom rigs or Chesapeake Sabiki rigs tipped with bloodworm or peeler crab works great for these tasty fish. There should still be some perch in the shallows of the creeks and rivers through the end of the month so target shoreline structure with small spinners and jigs for some fun light tackle action.
Catfish will continue to provide great action for anglers well into the fall. Flatheads can be found at the Conowingo Dam pool while channel cats will be in most of the region’s tidal rivers and creeks. Blue cats will be found in the rivers, creeks, and main stem of the Bay and seem to be getting bigger and bigger each year. It’s not uncommon to hook into a 30 plus pound fish. Fresh cut bait works for all these species so try throwing out chicken liver, cut menhaden, or a variety of scented baits for a heavy tug on the end of your line. The weather looks good this weekend so get out and enjoy some time on the water. Good luck and tight lines!
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 6 Update:
The heavy rains from this last weekend and the beginning of this week have made fishing conditions tough for anglers in the Northern Bay. Runoff from heavy rains has stained the water and brought lots of debris into the waterways. The good news is that catfish aren’t picky when it comes to weather conditions so the murky water shouldn’t bother them. Channel and blue catfish will be found all over the areas of the Upper Bay and lower salinity levels from the recent rain will have them moving around all over. Deep holes and channel ledges are good areas to target these fish by boat but casting out from shore should yield some bites too. Their preferred baits are fresh cut baitfish and chicken liver. The blue cats in this area of the bay can have some size to them so it is a good idea to have some heavier gear in case you hook into a big one. Prior to the rain, Herb’s reports that anglers targeting catfish were finding an abundance of five-to-10-pound cats but some fish up to 20 pounds were coming over the gunwales.
Anglers fishing at the Conowingo Dam Pool and areas of the Susquehanna Flats are anticipating an improvement in fishing for rockfish as water temperatures continue to cool. Fishing in the early mornings is still giving anglers the best results as the fish are eager to feed as the sun comes up. The most productive baits right now are poppers, jerkbaits, and paddletails. The tidal rivers of the Northern Bay should also start providing good fishing for rockfish. The shallows will be holding fish near rock jetties, points, and along grass beds but fish will also be out deeper. Fish in open water will be schooled up at the mouths of rivers and on channel edges waiting for schools of baitfish to move along with the currents. Trolling umbrella rigs with four-inch shad paddletails is especially effective this time of year. It will likely take a few days of good weather for conditions to improve, but the good news is that the extended forecast shows favorable weather headed our way.