Freshwater Fishing Reports
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.
