Freshwater Fishing Report, May 26 Update:
In almost all of the region's ponds, reservoirs, and tidal waters, largemouth bass are in post-spawn mode and feeding hard. Water temperatures are still cool enough that the bass are active throughout most of the day. Right now, you’ll want to focus your efforts near cover like lily pads, grass fields, and submerged structure. A variety of soft plastics fished finesse style can entice hungry bass, but hard baits like spinners and crankbaits will get the job done too. We got a couple reports of post-spawn bass action in the norther tributaries where anglers found fantastic action in the Northeast and Gunpowder.
Snakeheads are a hot topic for most freshwater anglers as the fish continue to expand their range and get bigger every year. Almost all of the local river systems have snakehead populations including many of the upper sections in tidal tributaries. The Potomac, Patuxent, and Blackwater areas have some of the highest concentrations in the region but nearly any body of water could have snakeheads lurking around. It is not uncommon to catch a snakehead weighing double digits and we saw reports from many anglers who landed fish over 30 inches this week. Topwater frogs are one of the more popular lures to throw when fishing shallow areas. Chatterbaits and spinners like a good ole fashion Mepps work great in open water or near transition zones. Snakeheads will be active near spatterdock fields, lily pads, and submerged structures waiting to ambush bait. While the snakes can be enticing to target, another good option for some fun relaxed fishing is panfish. All you need is a simple bobber and hook set up baited with nightcrawler. Alost all the local ponds in our region have sunfish like bluegill, red breast, and crappie. This is also a great way to introduce kids to fishing. It’s always important to get the next generation out on the water!
Trout fishing has slowed down in the central and southern regions of Maryland but things are still in full swing out west. We checked in with Mossy Creek to get the latest and greatest. They reported that the spring creeks are fishing well early in the morning and late in the evening. Tricos are hatching in the mornings and sulphurs and a few drakes are popping an hour before dark. They expect to see the drake hatch continue to get better over the next week and peak around the end of May. The best fishing will occur on rainy or overcast days until we get some rain to replenish the aquifers. The delayed harvest waters in Maryland that are catch and release will open on June 1st. Area specific regulations and stocking information can be found on the Maryland DNR website and the Virginia DWR website.
Freshwater Fishing Report, May 19 Update:
This week it seems that many fish are either spawning or feeding hard to replenish body stores lost during their spawn. Contributor Eric Packard spent some time at St. Mary’s Lake this week and said the bass were crushing crankbaits. At this point we’ve had several readers say that the bass are now post-spawn and not quite as heavy as they were a few weeks ago, but are feeding hard to regain their energy. Cover in the form of grass, spatterdock fields, lily pads, and sunken wood are good places to target. This time of year when water temperatures are moderate, largemouth bass can be found in a variety of locations during a large part of the day so make sure to cover ground when searching for fish.
Trout fishing is in full swing and just about everywhere is fishing well. Mossy Creek checked in to give us the latest report on the mountain streams, which are fishing very well as bugs are hatching and the dry fly fishing is phenomenal. It's about as good as it gets right now. Most dry fly patterns in a size 12-16 will work. Fish will eat adams, blue wings, elk hairs, stimulators, sulphurs, sallys, and most attractor patterns. Spring creek action has been great in the mornings, evenings, and on overcast days. Blue bird days with clear water and no insect activity can prove challenging, but nymphs and streamers fished deep will work best. On overcast, rainy, and stained water days you should be ripping streamers to trigger the big boys into eating. Last weekend on the smallmouth rivers, they found nesting fish everywhere. Dozens of nests are packed into the backwater spots and eddies.
Freshwater correspondent Jim Gronaw checked in to give us the scoop on his recent endeavors. Jim said that he has been fishing primarily for spawning bluegill and pumpkinseed as they are transitioning to spawning areas in the shallows. He is finding these fish as shallow as a foot and a half of water on most ponds and lakes. Live earthworms and pink power trout worms are working best. While searching for the panfish, he has been getting some impressive post spawn largemouth bass. Most bass have been smaller, aggressive males but he has found two fish weigh in over the five-pound mark recently. When fishing from shore, stalking panfish on their beds is a popular option this time of year. Jim recommends a cautious, quiet approach and keep your distance from spawning colonies and make long casts. Six-pound mono works well paired with a number six or eight Aberdeen wire hook. It is best to use lighter gear and use tiny foam floats if needed or better yet no weight at all.
Freshwater Fishing Report, May 12 Update:
Favorable weather in recent days is getting us back on track for springtime fishing in our freshwater lakes and ponds. Several readers reported a tough reservoir bite after last weekend’s cool nights with water temperatures dropping as much as five degrees, but the turnaround in the weather should have taken care of that temporary slowdown by now. Over the weekend contributor Eric Packard hit Triadelphia, and said a lone crappie and a single pike was all that bit. At St. Mary’s Lake a few days later, a half-dozen bass up to 18 inches and a small pickerel were willing to hit on a mix of offerings, including a four-inch jerkbait, a wacky worm, and a red square-bill. Six to 10 feet of water was the best zone, and the water was stained.
Another angler fishing St. Mary’s Lake targeting panfish reported good fishing on a mixed bag of species. The bite was slow when the sun was high in the early afternoon but once it started to set, it really turned on. He caught bluegill, bass, red eared sunfish, crappie, and yellow perch using trout magnets under a bobber. He also pulled out a fly rod towards the end of the trip which produced bluegill and red ears on a popping bug. Most fish were caught in six to 10 feet of water. A few hours of work produced a nice stringer of about 25 fish. While filleting the fish, he noticed many of them had beetles in their stomachs which likely came from falling out of trees overhanging the lake. Checking the stomach contents of fish you keep is always a good idea so that you know what baits to mimic or copy.
Mossy Creek reported nothing but good news from the western trout streams. Replenished flows from last week’s rains and warm spring days are making for some great fishing opportunities. They said insects are popping in the mountains and the brook trout are eating dry flies like crazy. Tricos and sulphurs are thick on the spring creeks and the fish have really tuned into these baits. Anglers are having success on just about everything right now. Dry flies, dropper rigs, euro rigs, streamers, and indicator rigs are all producing fish. The Virginia DWR is still busy stocking trout and fishing should be primed in the delayed harvest areas once they open in June. Maryland also has several delayed harvest areas that will provide ample opportunities. Visit the Virginia DWR website and the Maryland DNR website for information regarding these areas.
Freshwater Fishing Report, May 5 Update:
After a relatively dry spring, the region was drenched in rain over the weekend and early this week, leaving many of the rivers and creeks in flood stage. It is likely that the waters will be stained for a few days and the high water will make fishing difficult. On the other hand, this rain was much needed for many of the western trout streams. Spring stockings for put-and-take waters have stopped in Maryland, but there are still plenty of fish in these waters that can be targeted this month. These fish tend to spread out after a bit so casting spinners and spoons is a great way to cover water when searching for them. Trout areas restricted to delayed harvest, catch and release, and tackle restrictions will offer good fishing for the next few months. Virginia trout stockings have continued this week and there is ample opportunity throughout the state to target these fish. Visit the Virginia DWR trout stocking website and the Maryland DNR trout stocking website for more information.
Largemouth bass fishing has been great despite the wacky weather. Most of the fish are in post-spawn behavior and with warming water temperatures, they can be found in a variety of habitats Contributor Eric Packard enjoyed some reservoir action in southern Maryland and says many of the bass in this neck of the woods have already spawned out and are feeding hard to fatten back up. “A few hours” of fishing produced a dozen fish with jerkbaits and square-bills doing most of the catching. He also said that the anglers he spoke with at the ramp reported similarly strong bass action using chatterbaits, jerkbaits, and wacky worms.
Crappie fishing is also good this time of year and anglers across the area are having success in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. It is usually best to target them near submerged structures or stump fields by casting small lures. Rat-L-Traps, spinners and marabou jigs are all reliable crappie lures. Live minnows under a bobber work great too. The crappie are a schooling fish, so if you catch one, there are likely others nearby.