Way North Fishing Reports

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, August 15 Update:

Cooler weather has been a blessing this month, especially since this is when we usually see some of the hottest temperatures of the year. The fish have been responding well to the dropping water temperatures that are now into the mid-70s to low 80s. The catfish bite has been the main highlight in the Way North region, with blue catfish stealing the show. We had a report from a pair of anglers fishing in the lower Susquehanna near Garrett Island who caught over two dozen blue catfish with the larger fish weighing over 30 pounds. Other anglers fishing near North East Maryland have also been reporting a good catfish bite from both shore and from boats.

Striped bass fishing in this area has not been the best lately as the larger schools of stripers have pushed south into Upper Bay waters. There are still fish being caught at the Conowingo Dam in the turbine wash, and some fish around the edges of the Susquehanna Flats, but the reports have not been great. At the dam, using surf casting rods to cast jigs into the moving water will give you the best chance of catching a rockfish. They prefer to sit below the turbines in the faster flowing water where there is more oxygen this time of year.

Above the Conowingo Dam, the smallmouth bass bite has been very good thanks to the cooler weather. Anglers up and down the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania waters are reporting a good bite. Crawfish jigs, swimbaits, and chatterbaits have been mentioned as hot baits. Wet wading is a popular option this time of year in shallow stretches and smaller tributaries of the river. Float fishing is another popular technique, but it can be harder to pick apart an area when float fishing. On hot days, fish will migrate to deeper pools and holes in the river or along shaded shorelines. The smallmouth bite should continue to be good well into the fall.

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, August 8 Update:

Since the striped bass season has reopened, the bite has been on the slower side in the Way North region. The larger schools of fish have retreated to deeper water in the Upper Bay, but there are still some fish around. Warm water temperatures mean that the bite will be best in the low light hours. Areas with more current will also be key areas to focus on, and those zones will also hold multiple species. The Conowingo Dam has been operating under an evening power generations schedule, which means that more gates will be open in the afternoons, thus creating faster flowing water and better conditions for fishing. Striped bass can be caught by casting lures into the dam pool. A three-way rig works very well for fishing at the dam. Anglers often use large surf casting rods as well, so they can cast far out into the current. One angler fishing at the dam last week reported catching four stripers over the course of a few hours ranging from 19” to 25.5”.

Blue catfish are another species that will be reliable to target during late summer. The bite has been very good for them recently on the lower Susquehanna River, Susquehanna Flats, and the Elk River. Many anglers enjoy bait fishing for them using fish finder rigs and a variety of cut bait, including gizzard shad, bunker, eel, and chicken. While this method is proven and effective, jigging for them with artificial lures also works very well. You can use the same gear that you would jig for striped bass with, just upsize your rod a bit as blue catfish in the 20-pound range or bigger are common in these waters. We even saw reports of a 52-pounder caught near the Conowingo Dam last week. Flathead catfish are another invasive species that are found in the lower Susquehanna River. Their highest concentrations are around the Conowingo Dam and rocky river bottom on the Susky. Flatheads are known to be aggressive and will hit live baits and lures with a vengeance.