Way North Fishing Reports

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 8 Update:

The weather was beautiful this week as unseasonably warm temperatures gave us a taste of spring. We are still a way away from any long-term warm weather, and winter is forecasted to return soon, but we will take what we can get. Fishing in the Way North region is slow right now, and we didn’t have any reader reports come through, so all we can tell you is what can historically be caught this time of year. Catfish will be the most widely available fish to catch. They are concentrated in the lower Susquehanna River, especially near the mouth of the river at Havre De Grace. The stretch of river from Havre De Grace to Port Deposit is usually productive. Some schools of yellow perch are also hanging around this area in the deeper waters. Some anglers have reported mixed success over the past few weeks. Minnows will be your best bet to get them biting. Other than that, there are some walleye and smallmouth bass that can be found around the rocky islands in the lower Susquehanna River. Walleye are also known to hang below the Conowingo Dam in the winter. Take advantage of the warmer weather now because it likely won’t last long.

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 1 Update:

Happy New Year folks! We hope that everyone has made one of their resolutions to get out and fish more in 2026. Fishing is relatively slow this time of year. The Way North region has no shortage of blue catfish that can be caught throughout the year. Most of these fish have retreated to the deeper waters at the mouth of the Susquehanna River, but there are still some areas where they can be caught from shore. This includes areas around Havre De Grace, Port Deposit, and the Conowingo Dam. Fresh cut gizzard shad and American eel is working best given our latest reports. The catfish also seem to prefer smaller baits right now over larger ones.

Anglers fishing along the rocky shorelines and islands on the lower Susquehanna River are catching a few smallmouth bass, walleye, and even the occasional crappie. Bouncing jigs along the rocky bottoms or slow rolling paddletails along the river bottom is a good approach for getting bites. They may be subtle, so using braid can help detect when a fish grabs your lure. Schools of yellow perch are wintering in the deeper holes at the mouth of the Susquehanna. The bite has not been red hot, and the schools have been small and scattered, but they should group up better as we head further into winter. Live minnows have been the ticket for getting the perch to bite, so grab them if you can before heading out.