Way North Fishing Reports

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.