Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, August 7 Update:
With striped bass off limits during the August closure, anglers are finding plenty of alternatives in the Way North region, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and blue catfish. The Susquehanna Flats are producing good bass action around healthy grass beds during low-light periods, while smallmouth are feeding well above Conowingo Dam. Blue catfish remain one of the most dependable options, particularly around deeper holes, channel edges, and current seams in the lower Susquehanna.
Since the striped bass closure is still in effect for the month of August, anglers will need to focus their attention elsewhere for a few weeks. Bass fishing on the Susquehanna Flats is a great option right now. The fish aren’t very active during the heat of the day, but the action has been good in the early mornings and late evenings. Healthy grass beds provide plenty of cover for bass, and topwater fishing can be great in low-light conditions. When the sun is up, chatterbaits are excellent search baits to throw. Retrieve them just above areas with submerged grass, which will be more abundant during high tides. During low tides, more grass will be exposed, so anglers should switch to Texas-rigged creature baits and finesse presentations worked through holes in the grass and along the edges of exposed vegetation. Points of interest where fish may be hanging around include irregularities in the grass beds, ditches, and channels.
Smallmouth bass fishing above the Conowingo Dam has also been providing some steady action. FishTalk contributor Adam Greenberg checked in after spending an evening fishing on the river for smallmouth bass. He reported that the bite was killer during the hour leading up to sunset. The fish were feeding heavily on shad, and a three-inch white paddletail was getting a lot of bites. Once the sun went down, they didn’t get another bite for three hours. He beat the bank with whopper ploppers, jerk baits, ned rigs, and paddletails without any action. Adam also mentioned that there must have been a recent mayfly hatch because the adults were everywhere peppering them while running the river, and by the time they got off the water, the boat was carpeted in them.
Blue catfish will continue to provide ample opportunities for anglers throughout the lower Susquehanna River and surrounding tidal rivers. Right now, those looking for these invasive bottom dwellers should focus on deeper holes, channel edges, and current seams that funnel bait. Fresh-cut bait is the go-to offering, with chunks of gizzard shad, bunker, white perch, and eel being top producers. A fish finder rig is a reliable setup; you will just need to match your weight for how fast the current is moving where you are fishing. It is also possible to find blue catfish on shallow flats and adjacent channel edges in low light conditions with moving tides. The area of the lower Susquehanna River from the Conowingo Dam down to Port Deposit is usually a hot spot for blue catfish during the summer months. If you plan to fish for blue catfish, or any invasive fish, consider signing up for CCA Maryland’s Great Chesapeake Invasives Count. All you have to do is log your catch on their app, and you will be automatically entered into monthly drawings for some great prizes. The data helps fisheries managers track the spread of invasive fish across our waterways.