The Potomac River

June 30th, 2008

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: Wow! The river is at an excellent level (1.9 at Point of Rocks) with just a little algae color but she is heating-up quickly, 77-degrees as of Thursday. A very strong ant hatch and later in the day—a fine May fly hatch.
The railroad tracks we must cross to reach the Lander launch are damn-near impassable. Be careful. The ruts are really bad. What a great neighbor they are.
At Lander it looks like a small tornado touched down in several places including the parking lot where big trees were uprooted and twisted apart. The fishing’s really good though.
It’s best upriver from the launch where we use Mizmo tubes (Irish Coffee, Penrod Special & Juniata Treat), Case Magic Stiks (green pumpkin/gold & pink), Luhr-Jensen crankbaits (speed trap in crawfish patterns) and in-line spinners. We had two bass over 18-inches long on Wednesday (one @ 19.5).
This is a “ledge pattern” where baits are cast over the surface bulge and allowed to drop into the canopy. In addition we had two separate musky strikes. We fish between the power lines at Hales Pool all the way upriver to Burkhart’s Riffle.


SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, PA: The river is low , to low for our jet boat routine, but we are ready and willing when she rises again. We will be working stretches of the West Branch all of July when my summer youth camp kicks in. Meanwhile, try one of John Cunningham’s shuttle trips from Riverfront Campground. By the way, lots of dead and dying bass have been seen recently and I would hope the scientists are doing their jobs. “Pisssst; it’s the chicken, turkey and hog farms folks.”


TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: The bass fishing between Key Bridge and Little Falls has been quite good, especially if you cast crankbaits (Luhr-Jensen Speed Traps) to rocky cover on the Virginia side.
The river is in good shape again, free of that massive flotsam but warming quickly. Fishing has been only “fair” though. Low 80’s on the surface.
In the WW Bridge vicinity, Penrod Cove can be good or bad—depending on the day. We do well with tubes, L-J Brush Babys and Case Stiks on the conctete cover. The old bridge foundations have never been “quite” removed so I’ve marked them on my Lowrance GPS—and bass are gathered on the underwater rubble and I use crankbaits to bank the debris and catch bass.
In and around Belle Haven Marina, the coves are providing nice bass on Case Stiks and Penrod Special spinnerbaits. Hog Island and boat docks south of there are worth some time. Broad Creek is just so-so. Piscataway Creek is a tough-fish but if you work the outer edges of the massive grass bed you can catch some chunky largemouth bass. I like Big Mouth buzzbaits in the morning, Case Stiks and spinnerbaits.
South, we like Pomonkey Creek during a falling tide; Mattawoman Creek near the state park all day and the 6-MPH zone spatterdock with spinnerbaits.


DEEP CREEK LAKE: This is a very popular destination for Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania vacationing families--and my guides, Brent Nelson and Bret Winegardner are “locked-in” on the patterns. You will want to contact us as soon as possible because our days are very limited now. Remember that gasoline prices affect us also so we will be adding a surcharge when appropriate. Go to www.fishdeepcreek.com and get excited. Remember—fishing results are directly related to skill-level and mother nature.


POCOMOKE RIVER: Another Wow! The river is chock-full of medium-size bass but the cover (spatterdock) is extensive. This is a very underfished water. Great results with Penrod Special (Big Mouth Lures) spinnerbaits; Big Mouth buzzbaits; weightless worms in pink and white and LJ crankbaits


THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Mare Inc,; Ranger; Rangertrail Trailers; Xpress Boats; Lowrance Electronics; Luhr-Jensen; Minn Kota Trolling Motors and Battery Chargers; NRA; Gator Rods; Mizmo; Case Plastics; Big Mouth Lures; Jennelle Optics.
www.penrodsguides.com
kenpenrod@comcast.net
 

June 13, 2008

This report has been submitted by:
Reel Bass Adventures
E-mail - rbaandy@aol.com
Phone - 3019321509

"This week has been excellent, with catches every day well over 20 fish, with many large bass in the catch. Topwater bites at low light has been consistent, with buzzbaits, poppers, and Zara Spook type baits working well on marsh banks during outgoing tides and milfoil beds on high tide phases. Chatterbaits and Berkley jointed blade dancers are producing both bass as well as several snakeheads this week. The snakeheads are apparently in the Potomac to stay, as we are catching at least one almost daily. Snakeheads and bass are occupying the same water, and the snakeheads seem to have little effect on the bass behavior. Mann's baby 1 minus crankbaits and Norman's deep tiny N in chatreuse work well on creek ledges where the water depth is less than 5 feet. Almost any type of soft plastic will catch bass, and we have had great success with Zoom finesse worms, Berkley hand poured finesse worms, as well as Wacky Worm soft stickbaits. Color preferences seem to be green or brown and green or gold fleck in the worms are an added attraction. On wood, Strike King bitsy flip or premier jigs work well, and we have added a Berkley Chigger Craw to the jigs, reducing the size of the craw trailer by at least an inch, but many times as much as 2 inches. For those times when bass seem to have lock jaw, a 3" Berkley drop shot minnow rigged on a 1/16 oz. jighead has been a proven way to catch wary bass, and several bass over 3 pounds have fallen for this bait fished around creek ledges.

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Water Temp: 84 degrees

Water Clarity: 1-2 feet
 

June 10th, 2008

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: The river is a little over 4-feet at Point of Rocks and that makes it great for boating. The “falling” trend should continue all this week. Smallmouth bass fishing has been very good at Lander, especially upriver from the launch where we find ledges and cast Mizmo tubes, especially the Penrod Special, green pumpkin teaser and red craw.
Caution stage, 70 degrees and stained. Underwater grass growth substantial.



TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: From Washington to Aquia Creek bass fishing has improved in spite of storms and a heat wave. In Washington D.C., we find smallmouth on the railroad bridge foundations and drop off at the Kennedy Center. We catch largemouth bass with tubes, Luhr Jensen Speed Traps and Penrod Special spinnerbaits in Pentagon Lagoon, Washington Channel dropoff and old pier locations south of the Anacostia.
            In the Woodrow Wilson Bridge vicinity we catch lots of bass in Penrod Cove (Brush Baby and Case Stix) and coves below Belle Haven (Penrod Special spinnerbaits and Case Brush Puppy). Piscataway Creek grass, near the river, has been productive and Pomonkey Creek has been good, particularly during falling water.
In The Mattawoman Creek vicinity another large tournament dominated the State Park most of the weekend but we do well in grass beds between Smallwood and the river as well as grass beds in Chickamuxen Creek. Best baits have been six inch Case Magic Stix in Green Pumpkin/gold and white, Big Mouth Spinnerbaits and the topwater bite has begun..
70’s with main river and some tribs stained.



SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, PA: LOU guide Mike Breeding reports “fair” bass fishing between Harrisburg and Montgomery Ferry. “We are catching 25-40 bass per trip but the river is fallng quickly and I don’t know how much longer I can safely fish with my jet boat, says Breeding. We are using Big Mouth spinnerbaits cast to grass beds and Mizmo tubes cast to holes and ledges.
            4.0 and falling @ Harrisburg; 72 degrees and clear.

 

NANTICOKE RIVER: LOU guide Brian Barnes reports “pretty good” fishing although the main river is stained. “I’m doing best in the clear water above Seaford and head of Broad Creek,” says Brian. He is casting Case Magix Stix. Big Mouth Jigs and Big Mouth spinnerbaits and he reports that wood is his most productive habitat
            70’s and stained.


KERR LAKE, VA: LOU Associate Tim Wilson (kickassbassin@aol.com) reports that the lake level is 301.6 and the rivers are stained and the lake is clear. “Pretty slow” fishing is Tim’s assessment for the week as bass are in transition from post spawn to summer habits. Look to main channel points or the middle of coves where bass were suspended and not feeding much this week.
            301.8, clear, 75-80 degrees.



DEEP CREEK LAKE: LOU guide Brent Nelson has been pleasing his clients this week with nice catches of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. LOU guide Bret Winegardner just received his new Ranger from Mare Inc, and is ready to initiate it. See the report and other information at www.fishdeepcreek.com.
            Normal, clear, 60’s. 
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Water Temp:  degrees

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May10th, 2008

NOTES: Teddy Carr tells me that a massive fish kill occurred in Quantico Creek last week. Does anyone have any more information?Weather patterns this week caused difficult conditions and the fishery should not be judged by recent results.TIP OF THE WEEK: Try turning your sonar off when you are fishing shallow cover. You would not believe the noise the transducer emits.


 
UPPER POTOMAC RIVER:
I base everything I do on the water level at Point of Rocks which measured 6.8 feet Saturday, 03. I prefer depths of less than 4-feet. Monitor this water this week because it is falling like a scud. Call 703-260-0305 and follow the prompts.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER:
The dirty water from up-river flooding is passing through D.C. now (Saturday 3) and we see the first signs at the mouth of Mattawoman. Water temperature is near 60-degrees—the cold front having pulled about 4 degrees from last week’s high. In the Woodrow Wilson Bridge vicinity we saw improvement. Fishing has been tough due to post spawn and weather related negatives. Luhr Jensen Speed Traps (firetiger), Big Mouth Spinnerbaits (Penrod Special) and Case Magic Sticks (green pumpkin/gold) served us well at Penrod Cove, Belle Haven Cove and Piscataway Creek.
In the Mattawoman Creek vicinity, we use Case Magic Sticks, Luhr Jensen Speed Traps or Sugar Shads and Mizmo tubes. We did much better outside the 6-MPH zone, especially grass beds between the State Park and river. The milfoil is just about as tall as high tide. Rocky banks upriver on the main stem will give-up a few quality bass and even a striper. The Navy Base is stabilizing miles of shoreline and it looks like future habitat to me.Grass beds in Chickamuxen, Chopawamsic, Wades Bay and the mouth of Aquia are good stops and this weeks result’s are not indicative of the potential.A very large and disturbing fish kill in Quantico Creek last week. Anyone have more facts?

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, PA:
The Juniata River is finally getting back to normal and we are fishing Sherman Creek again. The main river is beautiful and the spinnerbait bite is on. LOU guide Mike Breeding is having his customers cast Penrod Special and Golden Minnows to pockets below submersed islands where often a dozen bass are available. The level at Harrisburg as of the 3rd was 5.3 feet and slowly falling. This is perfect for our grass bed (submersed Islands) pattern between Riverfront Campground and Purdy Islands. Some of the best areas are just below Buffalo Ledges. The Juniata flow had dominated the Susquehanna Flow for more than a week, pushing nearly half way across. So the eddy has been very small near the wall. Still, the mud line has drawn fish there best caught on Sugar Shads. Sherman Creek is giving-up some giant smallmouth bass and seems to have more musky this year. The Mizmo tube is our go-to lure but that spinnerbait potential is exciting.

CONNOWINGO RESERVOIR:
LOU guide Mike Breeding reports excellent bass fishing between the dam and Peach Bottom where jerk baits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits catch good numbers of bass to five pounds.


POCOMOKE RIVER:
I like this river over the other Eastern Shore tidal rivers because of the abundant habitat, non existing fishing pressure and potential for lots of mid size largemouth. Spatterdock dropoffs along the main stem and Nassawango Creek is a fairly reliable pattern where we cast white or pink Magic Sticks, Penrod Special spinner baits and firetiger Hot Lips crankbaits. Look for spawning activity around the new and full moons but for now, attach the outside edges.

KERR LAKE, VA:
LOU Associate Tim Wilson (kickassbassin@aol.com) reports a lake level of nearly 304 feet above sea level and the water temperature ranges between 63 and 68 degrees. The upper lake is downright muddy but clear water is found from Ivey Hill to the dam.  Fluctuating water levels has made fishing tough this week as rains cause rises and ACOE counters with releases. Tim’s guessing that the major spawn is still to come so he’s working shoreline cover and secondary points in Grassy and Butchers Creeks. Nutbush Creek is clear enough to sight fish. Tim is liking watermelon lizards and creature plastics. Crappie moved to deeper water brush piles now and search for stripers at the mouth of creeks downlake.

DEEP CREEK LAKE:
LOU guides Brent Nelson and Bret Winegardner reports that bass fishing is heating up as the fish begin to search for shallow water cover. It’s a different climate here than it is in the Piedmont. Reach Brent at bbnelson@comcast.net for reservations. 
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Water Temp:  degrees

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April 23rd, 2008

NOTES: Regional rivers are getting pretty low but this full moon will spawn a major spawn and Mother Nature wins again.
I heard from a representative of Maryland Department of Environment about my complaints of abuse and incompetence at the Salisbury City sewage treatment plant which is simply killing the Wicomico River. The “promise” is for improvement in 2008. I understand it’s a court order, but we will monitor this every day. I never heard from the Mayor of Salisbury. Will any of you vote for him?


HUNTERS BEWARE: The Dyke Marsh tree huggers are petitioning NPS to stop water fowl hunting in and around Belle Haven Marina. The last time back-doored us they had “no motor” regs in Belle Haven cove and Charly’s Cove. I applaud everyone’s outdoor preference but this crew is simply against anything we do.
I’m a little sorry about the brevity of my reports but I’m in Duncannon, PA, with my BB as modem.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, PA: Wow! Don’t know how else to explain this.  Maybe “world class.” We are fishing between Harrisburg and Montgomery Ferry, operating from Riverfront Campground in Duncannon, where the Juniata River meets the mighty Susquehanna. LOU guide Danny Grulke had back-to-back 100-fish days for his clients and he never left the Juniata River. He’s using Mizmo “teasers” and Penrod Specials on 1/8th ounce Riverfront Campground jig heads. John Cooper and Brian Graves fished with me for four days and we easily caught 250 quality bass on the main river with Mizmo “teasers” in Camo; Roadkill; Black and Penrod Special. Lou guide Dave Kerrigan is fishing the main river, near Halifax and he has discovered an awesome Mizmo tube called Irish Coffee. LOU guide Mike Breeding is “kickin’ butt with jerk baits near Sherman Creek. LOU guide Jon Drever is still working eddys behind islands and his clients complain of “tennis elbow.”
I’ve caught a ton of bass on LJ Speed Traps,

BAD NEWS: The river is dropping like an in-love 10th grader. It’s about 4.9 as of Friday (18th) and we sweat the problem at, well, 4,5. I realize a lot of our report readers have been coming to RFCG because of our report, but please call 1-800-881-7555 for river conditions.  Johnny Cunningham of Riverfront Campground has the lures we recommend—and get that Gator rod.  Hate to say this—but we need rain.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: Now, remember, I’m only reporting on my favored areas, between Edwards Ferry and Lander but let-there-be-no-doubt, the bass fishing is great. Use tubes on shore wood and mid river ledges.

KERR LAKE: “If you are not flipping bushes—you are not catching bass.,

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: LOU guide Keith Barker is happy again as he and his clients are catching hefty bass I in Penrod Cove and big stripers in Smoot Bay.
Grass and rock beds in Mattawoman and Chickamuxen are hust alive with bass best caught on Luhr Jensen Speed Traps.

TIDAL POTOMAC: KOU guide Keith Barker is pleased again knowing his bad-day clients are catching big bass in and around Penrod Cove. Big stripers moving up the river. Mattawoman and Chickamuxen doing well.
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Water Temp:  degrees

Water Clarity:
 

April 13th, 2008

This report has been submitted by:
Ken Penrod's Life Outdoors Unlimited
E-mail - kenpenrod@comcast.net
Phone - 3019370010

"SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, PA: As of Sunday the level at the Harrisburg gauge was about 7.1 and just minor rises are expected. Bass fishing has been phenomenal in spite of nasty weather. We are using Mizmo tubes and Luhr Jensen Speed Traps in the Juniata, main stem and Sherman Creek for smallmouth to 20-inches long

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: The river is very “fishable” again and big bass are cooperating at Lander, Whites Ferry and Edwards Ferry.  Use Speed Traps and Mizmo tubes behind ledges and eddies.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: It’s been tough here due to weather changes but LOU guide Keith Barker has been doing much better in Penrod Cove with Brush Baby crankbaits and Mizmo tubes. Lots of green grass to the south and Mattawoman and Chickamuxen have been pretty good. Use Sugar Shads on rocky points and spinnerbaits over grass.

KERR LAKE, VA: LOU Associate Tim Wilson says the lake’s coming up (302.3) and the bass will be in the bushes this week. Best creeks for Tim have been Butchers and Grassy but if you want crappie go to Buffalo Creek.

NANTICOKE RIVER, MD: LOU guide Brain Barnes is catching Nanticoke bass from steeper dropoff with Big Mouth spinnerbaits and Mizmo tubes.
"
 

August 15th, 2007

This report has been submitted by:
Reel Bass Adventures
E-mail - rbaandy@aol.com
Phone - 3019321509

"The pros were every where this week, crowding the river every day. We were able to locate places to fish in spite of the pressure. Marsh banks produced well on a falling tide, with Rico poppers and Stanley floating ribbit frogs working well when the current was running. On low tide, we moved to the outer edges of grass beds and located spots where the water was still flowing from the marsh. Bass were stacked up in front of the flows and we caught bass on Wacky Worms' Wackos (soft stickbaits) in pumpkin/green flake or watermelon/gold flake. Zoom finesse worms in red bug or junebug/red flake also worked well. The Berkley power hawg, which was re-introduced this year, is working well, and the 4" green pumpkin works best for us. Fish this bait around wood or marsh banks for good results. Mann's baby minus-1 crankbaits in brown/chartreuse or crippled alewife works in pockets where there is a current break, and larger than average bass are striking this bait, especially in clear to slightly stained water.

"

Water Temp: 86 degrees

Water Clarity: 1-2 feet
 

July27th, 2007

"The top water bite slowed a little this week, although some good bass were willing to hit a popper or a slowly worked 1/4 ounce buzz bait. Better bass came on a grass frog steadily retrieved over grasses. We found more active fish by using a four inch stick worm or a Zoom Fluke, slowly moved along edges of grasses and wood. When the tide fell, we went to drop offs in the creeks where bass responded to a four inch finesse worm rigged on a 1/8 ounce jig head. Red colors were best for us. Crashing the thick grasses with a creature bait rigged Texas style with sinkers an ounce or better still produces the larger bass. Patience is required when fishing this way. The bites sometime are paced well apart. Boat docks and baot wrecks, as well as downed trees hold bass that like a plastic worm or a jig and craw. "

Water Temp: 82 degrees

Water Clarity: 2 feet plus

12/3/06

The fishing has been a good for a variety of species. We have been catching small stripers, smallmouth bass, largemouth, crappie, yellow perch and large blue gills on the Mann's grub. We are using the two inch, avocado color, rigged on a 1/4 ounce ball head jig rigged with the hook exposed. Small, white, crappie tubes are also good for catching panfish. We use the garlic scented, Smelly Jelly fish attractant, on all of the baits. Main river rocky areas and shallow water around marina's in creeks have been productive.

Water Temp: 49 degrees

Water Clarity: 2 feet plus