Way North Fishing Reports
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, July 10 Update:
Summer heat has slowed the striped bass bite in the Way North region, with the best action now limited to the lower Susquehanna River, Conowingo Dam, and early morning feeding windows. Largemouth bass fishing remains excellent on the Susquehanna Flats, where healthy grass beds are producing quality fish on topwater lures, chatterbaits, and soft plastics. Blue catfish are also providing dependable action throughout the lower Susquehanna and surrounding tidal rivers.
Striped bass fishing in the Way North region has been slower as the summer heat has ramped up. Most of the action that was occurring on the Susquehanna Flats at the beginning of the season has petered out. The better action has been concentrated on the lower Susquehanna River from Port Deposit up to the Conowingo Dam. The rocky areas with faster flowing waters are holding fish because they are seeking out cooler waters and areas with higher dissolved oxygen. The hot summer water temperatures stress the striped bass in the Bay, and over handling can easily kill fish, so anglers should make sure to handle fish with care that they plan on releasing. Some schools of stripers are still roaming around the edges of the Flats near the mouth of the North East River, mouth of the Susquehanna, and near the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, but these bites often occur in the early morning hours before the daytime temperatures heat up.
While the striper bite has slowed, the largemouth bass bite is still going strong. The grass is in great condition on the Susquehanna Flats, and it has been holding plenty of bass and some catfish. Anglers are reporting that the early morning topwater bite has been good with topwater spooks and frogs producing bites. Once the sun gets up, chatterbaits retrieved just above the top edge of the grass has been an excellent search bait that is catching a lot of fish. Finesse soft plastics are also a great choice right now for fishing in areas with thick vegetation. Rich Leadbeater of Rhythm Of The Tides guide Service says that the big bass have been willing to play on most days and his recent trips have produced several fish in the four-to-five-pound range. The best bet is to try and avoid the heat and fish during the early morning hours or the last two hours of daylight when possible.
Other than stripers and largemouth bass, catfish are an excellent option for summer fishing in the Way North region. The big blue catfish have shown a particular liking for fresh eel, both cut and live. These fish are being caught at the Conowingo Dam and throughout the lower Susquehanna River. Smaller blue catfish in the three-to-10-pound range can be found at the mouths of the tidal rivers surrounding the Susquehanna Flats, such as the North East River and Elk River. Other baits that work well are fresh bunker and chicken, but any meaty substance with some scent should bring these bottom feeders in to check out your line. Channel catfish will be more abundant inside the tidal rivers, especially in the creeks and upper reaches.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, July 2 Update:
Summer fishing patterns have taken hold in the Way North region, with striped bass feeding primarily during low-light periods and deeper water as temperatures climb into the 80s. Largemouth bass fishing on the Susquehanna Flats has been excellent around healthy grass beds, while snakehead fry balls are creating outstanding sight-fishing opportunities throughout the tidal marshes. Blue catfish are also feeding more consistently now that their spawning season has wrapped up.
The largemouth bass bite on the Susquehanna Flats has been very good lately. The grass is looking good this year and is spread across a vast area of the flats. On a high tide, throwing chatterbaits and retrieving them just above the submerged grass is a great tactic for producing bites. On low tides, the grass will likely be matted on the surface, so weedless soft plastics and jigs will be needed to keep grass off your hook. We have heard of a few big fish being caught on the Flats this week, including a few five-pounders and one six-pounder. Snakehead are spawning, and fry balls are starting to show up in marshy areas of tidal tributaries. The best areas for catching snakehead in the Way North zone of the Bay are the marshes around the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, the Bohemia River, Elk River, and the lower Susquehanna River near the Conowingo Dam and feeder creeks. On bright sunny days, sight fishing snakehead along marsh edges can be productive. Fry balls can also give away the location of snakehead. It looks like an area of small bubbles boiling at the surface. Parent snakehead are usually close by guarding the fry.
The heat wave has brought water temperatures into the low to mid 80s in the Way North waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Striped bass fishing will be best in low light hours in the mornings and evenings. If you can only fish during the midday hours, the Conowingo Dam, or the rocky areas just below the dam with higher flows will be the better areas to catch them. Other productive zones have been the mouth of the Susquehanna River in depths of 10’ to 15’. Rip-rap shorelines channel edges have also been holding some fish. Stripers are particularly vulnerable to the hot temperatures, which can stress them and cause die-off from catch and release fishing. If you plan on catching and releasing stripers, it is best to keep them in the water if possible. Blue catfish are another reliable fishery in this region. Anglers have been catching them on the Susquehanna River at the Conowingo Dam pool, near Port Deposit, and at the mouths of the tidal rivers including the North East and Elk. The spawn is wrapped up, so the bigger fish should be back in the mix feeding on a variety of cut bait.
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