Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 29 Update:
It is the second week in a row that we have received heavy rainfall across our region. This does not make fishing easy for this section of the Bay as runoff from these rains will flood the Susquehanna River, bringing muddy water and lots of debris to the fishing grounds. Due to the rainfall, fishing reports have been slim to none as many anglers are waiting for conditions to improve. Fish will still bite but there are a few things to focus on when fishing high and cold water. Anglers will want to target bank eddies with small soft plastics when targeting smallmouth bass. Fish these lures with a slow presentation, often the more methodical the better. Bites can feel like bumping into logs or clumps of leaves. Shallow flat areas with direct sunlight throughout the day, feeder creeks, and runs with slower water can all attract fish in the lower Susquehanna. Many bass will bite a jig barely moved along the bottom.
Blue catfish are plentiful and often opportunistic feeders. They will usually bite if you can get a bait in front of them. The areas around Perryville and Havre De Grace have been providing good action on the cats thus far this winter. The deeper holes and channels are usually where these fish like to hang out. A variety of cut baits dropped down on fish finder rigs is the go-to method for catching them. Anglers should be aware that starting in early Spring 2024, contractors are set to begin demolition of the original 1866 bridge pilings near the Amtrak RR Bridge. The 10 pilings will be demolished over the course of about a year. Keep this in mind when hitting the water this spring. Let’s hope that fishing conditions improve this week, and we get a good start to 2024!
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 22 Update:
Heavy rains this past weekend have made fishing difficult on the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay. Many areas received upwards of three inches of rain which will bring a lot of dirty water and debris down the Susquehanna River and onto the Susquehanna Flats. There was so much water flowing out of the Conowingo Dam that Conowingo Fisherman's Park and many of the creeks just down river were too flooded to fish recently. The waters should recede some by this weekend, but water quality will likely be less than ideal. Before the rains put a hinder in fishing plans, the blue catfish bite was moving along right on schedule. Big fish were being caught from the Dam down onto the Flats and most places in between. They will be holding in deeper holes and channels this time of year, so the areas around Perryville and Port Deposit are good places to try. Chunks of cut bunker on fish finder rigs are the go-to for many catfish anglers. Yellow perch had also started moving up into the tidal tributaries and rivers, but we didn’t get any reports on them this week (likely a result of the weather). Once conditions return to normal, you can expect them to be in their usual wintertime staging areas.
The big news in the Chesapeake Bay has been the arrival of big migratory striped bass. The majority of these fish are being caught in the Lower and Middle Bay, but it wouldn’t be out of the question for some of these fish to move north over the coming weeks. We will keep a close eye on the migration of these fish and let you know if they start making their way farther up the Bay. It is likely that some of these fish will overwinter here.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 15 Update:
There have been some cold mornings this week and we are under a week away from the official start of winter. Cold water temperatures have limited the fishing opportunities, but there are still some willing to bite. Walleye fishing is a popular activity this time of year for anglers who aren’t afraid of the cold. These fish are more consistently caught this time of year in the Susquehanna, both above and below the Dam. The Dam pool at Conowingo is a popular location to fish for them. The fish like to sit in the current along the rocky bottom below the pool and near the wall at Conowingo Fisherman’s Park. Chartreuse and white are popular bait colors to throw in the form of paddletails. Floating a live minnow or nightcrawler in the current on a slip sinker rig is another good way to catch them. Smallmouth are also biting in the same areas as walleye and will hit crankbaits, jigs, and jerkbaits.
The Susquehanna River and Flats is also a prime destination for catfishing enthusiasts. Blue catfish can be found in just about all the tidal waters whereas channel catfish will be more confined in the rivers. Flathead catfish can also be caught just below the Conowingo Dam. The blue catfish are the most popular to target of the three species this time of year. These invasive fish not only fight hard but can grow to over 50 pounds. They are also great eating and are perfect to fry up for dinner. Various lures and baits are effective, with the favorite choices being cut bunker or clam. We saw reports of anglers catching plenty of fish up to five pounds during their outings this week with a few over 20 pounds being reeled in. These fish will stay active throughout most of the winter, so if you are looking for a bend in your rod, the catfish are a reliable option.
We also had a reader report this week that the crappie are biting in the northern tribs including the North East. He caught over a dozen using tiny yellow microbait tails, which also triggered a few strikes from bass.
ANGLER ALERT: If you partake in striped bass fishing in Maryland, remember, next year’s regulations will be changing to combine all Bay jurisdictions and you only have until December 22 to provide comment on 2024 regulation options! See Chesapeake Bay Angler Alert: 2024 Striped Bass Reg Changes for the details and instructions on how to submit comment.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 8 Update:
The colder weather species are getting more active in the northern Bay as water temperatures have dipped into the 40s. The initial reports of cold-weather yellow perch are starting to come in from the lower Susquehanna. A reader noted catching a 14-incher this week, along with some crappie. The yellow perch can be caught in the winter months in portions of the lower Susky, the North East River, and the Elk River. White perch are also on the table right now, they are just staging in deeper water with the dropping water temperatures. The mouths of the tidal rivers, especially where there are some deeper holes, will be good places to search for them. Dropping down bottom rigs baited with bloodworms, live minnows, or Fishbites should entice some perch into biting if they are in the area.
The lower Susquehanna has also seen decent action for smallmouth bass and walleye. Casting soft plastics, crankbaits, and jerkbaits will work for both species. Many anglers fishing at the Conowingo Dam in the winter will target walleye at the rocks just below the outflows and at the walkway along Conowingo Fisherman's Park. As always, blue catfish are a popular target among anglers in the area. The colder months don’t slow this bite down, which makes them popular when other species aren’t biting as well. The blue cats are found in just about all tidal waters in the northern Bay. Popular locations including the mouths of the tidal rivers, channels on the Susquehanna Flats, the Conowingo Dam, and the lower Susquehanna. There are some deep holes near the Route 95 and 40 bridges that anglers have good success at. Fresh cut bait like bluegill, bunker, or chicken work well for the catfish. Make sure you have adequately sized gear, because it’s not uncommon to catch one weighing over 40 pounds.
ANGLER ALERT: If you partake in striped bass fishing in Maryland, remember, next year’s regulations will be changing to combine all Bay jurisdictions and you only have until December 22 to provide comment on 2024 regulation options! See Chesapeake Bay Angler Alert: 2024 Striped Bass Reg Changes for the details and instructions on how to submit comment.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 1 Update:
As we enter December, fishing is slowing down and consistent bites are becoming harder to find. The colder months require more patience and persistence, but the reward of applying both can be great. Blue catfish will be the main target for many upper Bay anglers during the colder months. These fish are plentiful throughout all the upper Bay tributaries. The Susquehanna River and Flats has been producing some very big catfish all throughout the fall. This bite should continue through the winter. The old railroad bridge just north of Perryville is a popular location to fish for the blue cats. There are some deeper holes in the river around that area that tend to hold good concentrations of fish.
Walleye are becoming a more reliable target at the Conowingo Dam now that water temperatures have cooled off significantly. White and green colored soft plastics tend to work well for them along with crankbaits. If they aren’t willing to hit artificial baits, nightcrawlers and minnows are a reliable live bait. Below the dam, the mouth of Deer Creek is another reliable location to target the walleye in the lower Susky. The night bite can often be better than the daytime bite, but it varies from day to day. Smallmouth bass are also being caught in this stretch of the river with more consistency. The holiday season is here and Christmas is just around the corner, so make sure to put together your wish list of new fishing gear soon!