Way North Fishing Reports

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, September 26 Update:

It is officially the first week of fall, and we are getting some much-needed rain after a late summer drought. A reader checked in to let us know the rockfish bite up near the Flats has been extremely tough, with just a few fish here and there, hitting mostly at daybreak. However, he also said the blue cat bite is as reliable as ever, and plenty of 15 to 20 pounders are out there. At the Conowingo Dam, the power-generating schedule has not been pushing a lot of water which, is making the bite tough for striped bass and other gamefish. Anglers are still catching a few, but it is requiring large surf rods and heavy weights to cast lures far out into the river. Anglers can also catch smallmouth bass in the lower Susquehanna River along the rocky shorelines and islands stretching from the dam down to Port Deposit. The bright side of the slower moving water near the dam is that it is making it easier to fish for blue catfish, and the bite has been very good recently. The big fish are biting just about everywhere, including the west side channels on the Susquehanna Flats, Havre De Grace, Garrett Island, Port Deposit, and the dam. The grass on the Susquehanna Flats and surrounding tidal rivers will begin to die off in the coming weeks. Largemouth bass that have been using the vegetation will be hanging on the edges of the remaining weed beds, looking to ambush bait. Bass anglers should key in on these areas in the coming weeks. Hard cover like docks will also be reliable places to fish.

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, September 19 Update:

The weather varied greatly this week, with stiff northeast blows, and rainy conditions throwing a wrench into things at the beginning of the week. Despite the changing weather, the most consistent bite this month has been for blue catfish in the lower Susquehanna and on the Susquehanna Flats. All the tidal rivers of the upper Bay have populations of blue catfish, but the area around Port Deposit and Havre De Grace is known for producing big blues, with 20 to 30 pounders being common. A reader checked in after fishing the Susquehanna and catching some mega-catfish. He noted that the big blues were hitting drifted baits that were suspended, near the Port Deposit area. Anglers fishing at the Conowingo Dam are also reporting that the big blue catfish are biting when the water flows from the dam are slow enough to get baits out.

Flathead catfish can also be found at the Conowingo Dam and areas just south in the river. The flatheads prefer live bait, and live lining small sunfish is a popular way to catch them. They are also willing to eat artificial lures jigged along the rocky bottom. Anglers fishing at the Conowingo Dam looking for other species are still catching some smallmouth bass and striped bass. Fishing has been best during the power generation schedule, which has been releasing water in the afternoons and evenings. As we get ready to head into October, striped bass fishing on the Flats and in the rivers should get better as baitfish begin to exit the tributaries, which will cause stripers to school up and chase them franticly.

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, September 12 Update:

Not much has changed for the Way North region of the Chesapeake Bay in terms of fishing. Anglers looking to catch striped bass are having some luck at the Conowingo Dam pool. Using large surf style rods to cast lures into the turbine wash has been the ticket for scoring stripers. Recent reports show that the dam has been on an afternoon and evening power generating schedule, but not every day. Away from the dam, the bite has been very slow in the other tidal rivers and on the edges of the Susquehanna Flats. We need some cooler weather to move in to get the bite turned on and more fishing moving into the area.

While the striper fishing has been slow, the blue catfish bite has been much more reliable. The lower Susquehanna River has been a hotspot, especially near Port Deposit and Garrett Island. Anglers fishing the river in boats are anchoring up on ledges and near holes. Fresh cut bait works best for blue catfish, and there are several varieties that work well, including gizzard shad, bunker, eel, and chicken. On days that the Conowingo Dam is not generating power, the calmer water allows anglers to more easily target blue catfish below the dam. There have been some giants caught there recently, with several over 40 pounds reported. Make sure to bring plenty of extra tackle because the rocky bottom is notorious for snagging rigs.

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, September 5 Update:

The waters of the lower Susquehanna River have been running on the low and slow side as there has been very little rainfall over the past month. The Conowingo Dam is still releasing some water as their power-generating schedule usually kicks in during the evening hours. Anglers fishing at the dam pool are still catching some slot sized striped bass. The trick has been to use large surf rods with three-way rigs, or heavy paddletails that anglers cast out into the turbine wash where stripers are waiting to ambush baitfish. As we move into fall, the striper bite will pick up in the tidal rivers and around the edges of the Susquehanna Flats. The cooler weather that is on the way will cause the seasonal aquatic grasses to die off. During this phase, anglers looking to catch striped bass should focus on points and structure on the edges of the flats, especially in areas with more tidal influence.

While there have been some stripers caught, blue catfish have been the dominant catch in the Way North waters. The big fish are biting and we had a report from an angler who has reeled in several trophy sized blue catfish near the Conowingo Dam since the start of the month. The blue cats are active and feeding throughout the lower Susquehanna and can be found in the tidal rivers surrounding the Susquehanna Flats. Fresh cut bait works best, but any meaty bait you can get your hands on can work, and usually, the smellier the better. When water temperatures are very hot, blue catfish will retreat to the deeper holes and channels, but since things have been on the milder side, they are spread out right now. The blue cats still like to be somewhat close to the deep water, so look for shallower areas along channels or on ledges where they will be schooled up. If you plan to fish for blue catfish, consider signing up for CCA Maryland’s Great Chesapeake Invasives Count. You can log your invasive fish catches to be entered for a chance to win monthly prizes. The data collected helps fisheries managers track the spread of invasive species throughout our waters.