Freshwater Fishing Reports

Freshwater Fishing Report, June 11 Update:

Snakehead fishing continues to improve throughout the region as fish move deeper into vegetation and become more aggressive ahead of the spawning season. Smallmouth bass action has been excellent in rivers such as the Monocacy and Potomac, with anglers reporting strong catches on both conventional and fly tackle. Western trout streams are benefiting from recent rainfall, and productive insect hatches are helping sustain quality fishing despite rising summer temperatures.

The snakehead bite is picking up around the region, and we have had a few anglers check in from different areas reporting good success with these invasives. An angler fishing on the upper Potomac just south of the D.C. line said that the bite turned on after some storms rolled through one day this week. They were kayak fishing in and around pad fields where fish were eager to feed. They caught several largemouth bass and snakehead throwing spinnerbaits on the edge of the vegetation. Topwater frogs also worked well in the thicker vegetation. Another angler checked in after fishing a different tidal tributary on the Potomac and said the fish are up in thicker vegetation now that the summer heat is kicking in. They have observed paired fish over the past week but have not seen any fry balls yet. Anglers should start to see them pop up by the end of the month. Some reports of solid snakehead action also came from the Way North zone this week, the biggest being a whopping 34” caught in the Susquehanna. Another angler on the Susquehanna River below the Conowingo Dam caught a 29” fish while throwing a red and white spinnerbait near a rocky section of the river.

A subscriber checked in after fishing on the Monocacy River recently. It was their first time fishing the river, and they had an excellent day, catching 20 smallmouth bass, 12 redbreast sunfish, one rock bass, and one fallfish. They caught all their fish by targeting shaded areas with fallen trees and rootballs or areas with swift current over boulders. The only lure they needed to produce these results was a two-inch grub on a 1/16th ounce jighead using a five-foot ultralight rod. Most of the fish were small, but they did catch a few bigger smallmouths, including their new personal best that measured 19.5” and weighed three pounds, eight ounces. Another angler fishing on the upper Potomac caught an 18” smallmouth using a 7wt fly rod and a topwater popper. The conditions in our region’s rivers are good right now for smallmouth bass fishing. The water levels are low for the most part, but the recent storms have increased turbidity, so fish aren’t being spooked as easily as when the waters are crystal clear.

The western trout areas have benefited from some summer thunderstorms that are replenishing the flows in several areas. Mossy Creek Fly Fishing reports that little yellow stones are the most prevalent aquatic insect, but there are also inch worms, ants, and beetles falling into the creeks. They also said parawulffs in purple, front end loaders in purple, and purple parachutes have been great for the past two months, but any little yellow stonefly pattern is working. Tricos are coming off the spring creeks early in the morning and there are residual drakes and sulphurs available in the evening hours. The low light periods have been best for trout fishing since we are starting to see more hot and sunny days.

Freshwater Fishing Report, June 4 Update:

Freshwater conditions vary across the region, but largemouth bass, panfish, catfish, and snakeheads continue to provide opportunities for anglers willing to adapt to changing water conditions. Western trout streams are in excellent shape following recent rains, while topwater presentations are becoming increasingly effective for snakeheads as aquatic vegetation grows. From mountain streams to tidal backwaters, anglers are finding productive fishing opportunities across a wide range of freshwater habitats.

Reports were mixed this week, with a subscriber letting us know that the ponds he visited in northern Maryland were cloudy and the fish refused to bite. An angler fishing a lake farther south had a decent bite on bass and didn’t note any issues with water clarity. Another subscriber checked in after fishing in Dorchester County for snakehead earlier in the week. They report that the winds were howling, and the water looked like pea soup, bright green and murky with only two to three inches of visibility. Needless to say, they had a total of zero bites between two anglers in three hours of fishing. They did see plenty of gizzard shad and carp splashing around, but did not see any snakehead. On other areas of the Eastern Shore and tributaries off the Potomac, anglers are starting to see spawning activity with snakeheads paired up in shallow vegetation. It is possible we may start seeing fry balls pop up in a few weeks, but they should definitely be around by July. Topwater lures have been the most effective baits now that aquatic vegetation has matured for the summer.

FishTalk contributor Eric Packard checked in with us after fishing St. Mary’s Lake this week. He caught 17 largemouth bass, one shiner, two yellow perch, one bluegill, four crappie, and three chain pickerel. The fish were caught in six to eight feet of water while casting and trolling a variety of lures, including a Mepps #2, Yo-Zuri jerkbaits, and Yum green pumpkin and watermelon five-inch Dinger wacky worm on a Spearpoint GP Finesse hook. The region’s lakes, ponds, and streams will be great places to enjoy pan fishing for species like bluegill, crappie, and other sunfish species. They are relatively easy to catch and can be found in the shallows along shorelines. All that is usually needed is a small hook rigged under a bobber with a piece of worm. You can also catch them by throwing small soft plastics like trout magnets or twisty tails on very light jigheads. The Eastern Shore freshwater bite hasn't slowed for summer just yet, and a reader hitting Uriville looking for big red-breasted sunfish caught them up to almost 8", several big bluegill, and a nice bass as well. A trip to the upper Chester near Crumpton produced a mix of channel cats, a 19" white cat, and a big 16" bullhead. All were caught on night crawlers fished on a 5/0 circle hook.

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing reports that the western trout waters are in good condition after the deluge of rain during the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The mountain streams are in excellent condition, the spring creeks are full, and their state-stocked waters are running around average flow. They say that mountain brook trout anglers should have green drakes and little yellow stones to match hatching insects. It was also worth mentioning that streamers from sizes eight to 10 are working really well for bigger brookies right now. Tricos are hatching in the mornings on the spring creeks and beetles will start emerging soon, so we are just a few weeks away from terrestrial season. In Maryland, some delayed harvest trout management waters in the central and western regions of the state are now open from June 1st through September 30th. Other areas in the western region known as Group II will open for harvest on June 16th through September 30th. The Maryland DNR trout fishing website has all the information you need to plan your trip. Also be sure to check out the Virginia DWR trout fishing website for information on those waters.