Freshwater Fishing Reports

Freshwater Fishing Report, May 8 Update:

Wild spring weather and rapidly changing conditions have made many fisheries difficult to pattern, but trout anglers continue to find reliable action thanks to ongoing stocking efforts and productive mountain streams. Across the region, low water levels and lack of rainfall are beginning to impact river systems, slowing traditional spring runs and shifting fish patterns. Blue catfish remain one of the most dependable bites in tidal rivers and upper Bay areas, while freshwater anglers are also finding action from bluegill, crappie, and smallmouth bass in local ponds, rivers, and urban waters around Washington D.C. and Baltimore.

There has been a whirlwind of weather this spring, making fish tough to pattern. The good news was that trout fishing was fairly reliable thanks to stocking programs and productive western streams. The season is not over yet, and Mossy Creek Fly Fishing reports that water levels are still very low for springtime. That said, up in the mountains there has been some recent rainfall that has hopefully provided a decent boost of water to keep fishing active. Insect hatches have been good and dry fly fishing has been technical, but the fish are eager to eat a well-presented fly. The Virginia DWR was out stocking fish last week, including some of the special regulation waters. Pedlar DH, South River Catch and Release, North River DH, Back Creek DH, and the Hidden Valley section of the Jackson were stocked. Maryland DNR stocking crews have also been out getting fish into northern and western areas of the state. Allegany, Baltimore, Carrol, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, and Washington counties all received fish this week. To get up to date trout stocking information, visit the Virginia DWR trout stocking website and the Maryland DNR trout stocking website.

Although the wind, pressure changes, and near-psychotic temperature swings we’ve had recently have depressed the bite for some fisheries, blue cats are biting strong up the rivers. Several contenders in the Katfish for Kids tournament did manage to find good action in the wind storm last weekend, proving that if you could get out of the breeze the blue cats were still very willing to eat. The top stringer was 33 fish, second place stringer had 25 fish, and third was 19; a 19.3-pounder was the biggest fish. Lack of rainfall this year (and over the last two years) has caused salinity levels to be higher than normal in the Chesapeake Bay. Areas that would normally be good grounds for blue catfish in the spring have been disappointing at best. The better reports are coming from areas north of the Patapsco River where salinity levels are lower. The Bush River, Gunpowder River, and lumps around Pooles Island are reliable zones to target tidal blue catfish. Lack of rain is also causing record low flows for the larger rivers in the region. The Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James are all running very low near their fall lines. The low flows have caused the shad runs to slow down a lot earlier than normal. The blue catfish bite in the upper portions of these tidal rivers is still going strong, but anglers searching for flathead catfish are having trouble finding them as of late.

A subscriber checked in to let us know that the bluegills have moved off their spawning beds in some Baltimore-area ponds, and are feeding strongly to fatten back up. Another reader checked in after fishing just outside the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. They said that using fresh cut gizzard shad is producing plenty of bites from blue catfish and even a few schoolie stripers. When they weren’t soaking baits, they were throwing around a glide bait near the seawalls and caught a few stripers doing that as well. There was also a report from an angler fishing inside the Tidal Basin that had an excellent day, catching a few different species including stripers, largemouth bass, and crappie. Contributor Eric Packard checked in after fishing on the upper Potomac River out of Violettes Lock Park. Packard found the river low and slightly stained. While wade fishing, he hooked four smallmouth bass, but only landed two of them. Catching his fish on a pink spinner bait and a crawdad-colored crank bait.

Freshwater Fishing Report, May 1 Update:

Low water conditions are making the shad bite a challenge across the region, with bank anglers struggling and boaters finding only scattered success in deeper holes despite fish being visibly active. A lack of rain could cut the run short, though a few solid catches are still coming from the upper Potomac and Susquehanna. Meanwhile, freshwater action is shifting into a more reliable spring pattern, as snakehead and bass fishing remain productive with warming temperatures and expanding vegetation—offering consistent opportunities on a mix of moving baits and topwater presentations across area rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Shad anglers have been struggling while fishing from the banks because of the low water. Anglers fishing from boats or kayaks have to fish the deeper holes and channels in the river to find where the schools of shad are staging. Our recent rain events have been lackluster, and if that trend continues, the shad fishing run will likely wrap up earlier than normal. Anglers fishing by boat or kayak on the upper Potomac are finding better luck for shad. The best recent report we received came from a pair of anglers who caught around 30 hickory shad near Fletcher’s Cove last week. Contributor Adam Greenberg checked in after he had success jigging for a few hours at Fletcher’s Cove. One and a half ounce jigs were perfect with the low flows. Seven-inch curly tails in pink or chartreuse got bit, and he caught two blue cats and two schoolie rockfish. Adam also said shad were still jumping everywhere, but I didn’t see anyone out there catching them. Similar patterns have been observed on the lower Susquehanna River, where anglers are seeing shad jumping and splashing on the river, but it has been hard to get them to bite. There was a report from an angler who caught close to two dozen fishing just below Deer Creek earlier in the week. The shad runs on the Virginia tidal rivers have also been lackluster over the past week. We will need a substantial rain event to have any chance at extending the season. A bump in river flow usually provides the ingredients needed to get a late-season push of shad up the river.

Snakehead fishing was good during the month of April as we enjoyed several days with air temperatures in the 70s and 80s. These warmer spring days are when the snakeheads are most active. Now that May has arrived, you don’t need super-hot days to still have success while snakehead fishing. Warm sunny days will still be best for topwater fishing, but overcast and cooler days can still be productive. Aquatic vegetation is growing throughout many of our freshwater rivers, lakes, and ponds. As the grass and other vegetation is emerging, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits will be great lures to throw along the edges or just over the top of submerged vegetation. This is a great tactic to catch both bass and snakehead this time of year. Pad fields are filling in, and these locations are prime areas to throw topwater lures. Snakehead hotspots across the region include the Potomac River, Patuxent River, Blackwater River, and locations surrounding the Susquehanna Flats. While these are well established snakehead locations, pretty much any river or body of water has a chance of holding snakeheads. FishTalk contributor Eric Packard checked in after a day of bass fishing at Lake Lariat. He couldn’t nail down a pattern but caught fish on a variety of baits. A mix of wacky worms, ned rigs, shakyheads, and crankbaits produced 11 bass and one bluegill.