Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 12/29/2017 Update:
Freshwater action has picked up as the weather has cooled down, and many Chesapeake anglers have turned their attention to sweetwater action. But it’s not always easy – Jake’s reports that mountain stream levels out in the Winchester area and points west are low, as we haven’t gotten much precipitation lately. Fish are spooking easily, so flyfishers beware. At another of our western freshwater fishing areas, Deep Creek, walleye were running strong this past week, as well as yellow perch. Most have been in deeper parts of the lake, as Deep Creek Outfitters reported. Little pink, orange, and chartreuse shad darts have been working well. As of Thursday, however, the wind had finally dropped enough for the frigid temperatures to cause the lake to freeze over. Ice fishing should be possible by early next week if the weatherman’s predictions are anywhere near close to the mark. (It may be possible in some coves this weekend, but giving the lake a few more days to lock up solid and thick is the prudent move). If you think you'd like to give ice fishing a shot but haven't ever tried it before, be sure to read Cheap and Easy Ice Fishing, which covers basic gear, tactics, and safety.
Contributor Jim Gronaw says that area anglers in the northern MD/southern PA region, including his friend Alvie Sickle and himself, were doing well on trout until the deep freeze hit. That included a 20-inch palomino trout for Alvie as well as numerous 17- to 19-inch class rainbows and browns. Other anglers have been doing well in stocked streams and wild trout areas such as Codorus Creek in York County and the Yellow Breeches, as well. Some browns were reported up to 22-inches and greater on a variety of lures and spinning gear. Crappie were also biting in a public Carroll County lake, along with bass and bluegills on jigs tipped with mealworms. The still-water areas have now skimmed over, though, and Gronaw doesn’t expect much catching to go on until we have a safe and solid four inches of ice on the water and can start drilling through it.
Tributaries and northern rivers are also skimming in slow-moving areas, according to Joe Yack from Sarge’s, and he reports that the Susquehanna is starting to offer more reliable yellow perch fishing. Water conditions are good and clear, and the moderate fall kept a good amount of bait in the creeks, so winter fishing should be above par this year.
On the Eastern Shore, reports from Captain Bones and Sea Hawk are that up-river tributary waters including the Wicomico and Nanticoke, and spillways including Seaford and Laural, are producing crappie and some pickerel. However, some of the ponds and slower moving river areas have skimmed over with ice and considering the temperatures being forecast over the next week, still-water areas will probably be rendered un-fishable.
As we gathered our reports the Baltimore metro area and Virginia reservoirs were still mostly ice-free, however, we only have one reader report (of crappie and bass still biting in Liberty) of any action. And with temps predicted to stay mostly below freezing from Richmond north for the next week, many portions of these bodies of water could skim over any time. We'd suggest choosing your destination carefully, (Lake Anna is usually a safe bet thanks to the power plant, and according to Dominion is still 46-degrees at the intakes) and whenever possible, talk to a local who can look out the window and verify open water, before making any long drives in the northern and western reaches of the region.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 12/22/2017 Update:
Happy holidays, anglers! Joe Yack at Sarge's reports that there are some walleye at the tailrace of the dam, and yellow perch starting to show in their wintering grounds. Contributor Jim Gronaw let us know that skim-ice has come and gone once already along the Mason Dixon, but trout fishing has resumed in smaller, stocked lakes in the region as restrictions just came off some waters as of Dec 19. That very day his group caught and released 17 trout on tiny hair jigs tipped with meal-worms, and fished below tiny floats. Where regulations apply, trout fishing can be productive in both stream and small lake environments as stocked fish remain fairly active throughout the winter taking a variety of preserved and artificial baits. Be sure to keep abreast of both Pennsylvania and Maryland trout regulations as they vary greatly. Many of the mountainous western area streams and creeks of the region are running on the low side these days, and the trout bite has been more difficult out that way.
Sporadic catches of bluegills, crappies and yellow perch are being reported at Lake Marburg with the RT 216 bridges and the Marina docks being points of focus. Deeper slip-float tactics, small jigging spoons, and live minnows have taken some fish. It hasn't been blockbusters, but it is something to do on a milder winter day. Again, skim-ice conditions can put fishing on hold in these areas as it may be too thick to fish through and way too thin to walk on to ice fish. A minimum of four inches of clear, hard "black ice" is needed to support a small group of anglers, and it usually takes about a continuous week of sub-freezing temperatures (with night time lows in the teens or lower) to produce this condition on smaller lakes and some coves of larger lakes in the southern Pennsylvania region. So stay tuned for ice opportunities.
Deep Creek Outfitters reported that the lake remained open and fishing is still good, with plenty of walleye, yellow perch, and pickerel being caught. Thin ice formed in some of the coves, but warm weather and lots of wind has broken it back open for now. Little shad darts and soft plastics have been popular, as well as minnow. A couple bass showed up this week, however they’re fewer in numbers than in previous months.
We received reader reports (photo documented in some cases) of good bites for crappie and pike in the Baltimore area reservoirs, plus a few walleye in Liberty. Live minnow and shiners are the best bait, although artificials are producing, too. Stick to the bridge pilings for the crappie, and sharp points and drop-offs for the other species.
Down in Lake Anna, the stripers have been biting strong especially near The Splits, and last week one over 20-pounds was weighed in at Highpoint Marina. There's also been an excellent crappie bite, especially for anglers fishing two-inch marabou jigs and shad darts (white, chartreuse, and re/white combinations are best) tipped with small minnow, next to bridge pilings.
On the eastern shore, some icing on millponds early in the week shut down that action, but they're now back open. Captain Bone’s reported that crappie have been running heavy at both Seaford and Laurel spillways and in the rivers. Most have been reported caught on minnow, or white jigs at the high tide.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 12/15/2017 Update:
Fishing the rivers and mountain lakes for trout has been especially productive, thanks to all the regional stocking programs. Rain this week brought high water levels, so fly fishing hasn’t been the most productive, according to Mossy Creek. But Chesapeake Bait and Tackle noted that anglers looking to catch trout in eastern areas can head to Northwest River Park, where the winter stocking program was completed last week.
Deep Creek Outfitters reported that fishing on the lake is in full swing when the weather has allowed anglers to get out, as pickerel, walleye, and yellow perch are abundant and even some bass are being caught. Shad darts and minnows have been the bait of choice. As we put this report together the lake and coves are still ice-free, but the water is thoroughly chilled, there’s snow on the ground, and a big freeze-up could dome any day now.
Captain Bones Bait and Tackle reported that this week produced some great crappie reports from the Eastern Shore spillways, with a few citation sized fish brought into their store. Most were caught on small jigs. Two-inch red/white tubes and shad darts tipped with minnow or GULP Micros are always a good bet for these fish.
Tochtermans reported that heading to the Susquehanna Dam or the majority of the local Baltimore area reservoirs has been a sure way to enjoy a day of productive fishing, albeit with smaller fish than you’ll find in the Bay. Most anglers have been using one- or two-inch GULP Alive minnows in pink, orange, or grass shrimp color.
Fishing in the Virginia reservoirs should be just as strong for both stripers and crappie as it has been in the recent past, but we didn’t get any solid, verifiable reports from them this week.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 12/8/2017 Update:
Set’s Sport Shop reported that there are still plenty of trout available thanks to stocking programs that have been successful this fall, with most Maryland streams fully loaded for the season. Casting small spinners and using flies has been a productive way to catch, as water levels have been perfect. FishTalk Contributor Jim Gronaw also mentioned fishing for stocked trout his week, in both Maryland and Pennsylvania waters, which he notes has remained good despite the lack of rainfall in many areas even as some of the northern streams and creeks are currently a bit low for early winter. Most fish will reside in deeper holes for the remaining winter and can be taken by patient anglers using live worms, PowerBait, or tiny jigs fished either under a bobber or by using indictor/nymph fly fishing tactics. Many lakes and smaller ponds that received fall stockings did not get much angling pressure and some have good amounts of holdover trout. Tiny 1/80th and 1/64th ounce hair jigs below bobbers on four-pound clear monofilament line and ultralight spinning gear has been good for the pond and small lake stockers. Sometimes an added bait like mealworms or a waxworm will entice strikes on a slow day.
Walleye continue to provide options for anglers at Deep Creek, who have been catching them along with perch on large shiners fished near bottom by steep drop-offs and rocky points. A decent walleye bite has also been reported in the upper Potomac and the Susquehanna, although Joe Yack from Sarge’s noted that the Susquehanna bite wasn’t as hot in recent days as it was prior.
Liberty Reservoir has been a hotspot for crappie lately, caught in deeper water on shad darts and bottom rigs tipped with small minnow. Bridge pilings and other deep-water structure is particularly productive right now. Crappie are also biting around docks and bulkheads in the upper Potomac tributaries, and on the Eastern Shore, steady bites have been reported in the Blackwater, Marshyhope, and upper Nanticoke and Wicomico.
On the Potomac near DC and also on the James River, blue cats are still on the feed. Gronaw notes that gizzard shad are harder to catch now but cut bluegill and crappie works, too. He also reminds us that the tidal blues are very sensitive to incoming cold fronts, and can shut down quickly as one moves through, so it pays to time your fishing trips with stable weather.
The Virginia reservoirs, particularly Buggs Island Lake and Lake Anna, still have stripers chewing on shad. Birds have been reported sporadically working over the fish with soft plastics working for casting and lipped diving crankbaits working for trollers, but some boats have been running into the fray full-tilt, spooking the fish. You'll have better luck if you remember to idle back and approach the fish quietly, once you get within 100 yards or so of the frenzy.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 12/1/2017:
The relatively warm weather has been keeping the freshwater bite strong, throughout our region, as we post the final report for the month of November. Deep Creek Outfitters reports a stellar week for walleye fishing, as the weather has cooled down and the fish have become more active. Live shiner fished near the base of rocky drop-offs is the most popular option, and plenty of yellow perch are being caught using the same method. Bass fishing has slowed off significantly in the past weeks as water temperatures have dropped, and the bass have begun to conserve energy. Walleye have also been active in the Susquehanna, the upper Potomac, and Liberty reservoir.
Crappie fishing is still going full-bore throughout the region. This week we had reports of a good crappie bite in the DelMarVa millponds, the upper Wicomico and upper Nanticoke, the Baltimore area reservoirs, and the Virginia reservoirs. In the reservoirs small minnow fished on small jigs under a bobber, or cast and retrieved slowly, are the best bets. Bridge pilings tend to hold good numbers of these fish in all of the reservoirs, and minnow fished a bit deeper close up to the concrete should produce a good catch. As we pointed out last week, in the millponds creeping up to within a few feet of trees and brush, reaching out with your rod, and dabbling a small tube jig or a minnow on a shad dart in-between the branches is a top tactic. We also have a current report from Team FishTalk member Zach Ditmars, who enjoyed good pickerel action in Unicorn Lake today. Minnow was the ticket.
Anglers focused on landlocked stripers are having luck in Lake Anna and Buggs Island, where they’ve been spotted breaking water. Soft plastics will do the trick when the fish are thus activated, but having shiner in the livewell is still a safer bet.
Potomac River anglers dropping cut fish to the bottom in deep holes from Indian Head up to DC still have their hands full with blue cats. The best bite seems to be up in the DC area, and we’ve heard reports of a dozen or more fish in a single day with most in the five to 15 pound range and a bigger one here and there. We didn’t hear any reports on blue cats from the Virginia tributaries farther to the south this week, but the catfish bite had been good in the Rappahannock and James, and that shouldn’t have changed.
Trout anglers have culled out most of the fall stockings in Delaware and Maryland. There will be some hold-overs, but if you want to trout fish, heading for tailwater is probably a better bet at this point. Most of the rivers are on the low side right now, but there are mid-day hatches.