Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 3/30/2018 Update:
White perch have turned back on after their chilly March hiatus, in up-river portions on tidal creeks and rivers throughout the region. Captain Bones reports that the Nanticoke above the Maryland-Delaware line has produced fish including both perch and throwback stripers. Seaford and above is the best zone to look for the perch. There have also been some caught in the Broadkill and Slaughter Creek. The fish have been hitting grass shrimp on shad darts, and anglers have also been doing well casting small two-inch green or blue soft plastic tube jigs. Red Bridges and the Tuckahoe have also been strong options. Herring have started showing up in the rivers, as well, another sure harbinger of spring. The millponds on the Shore are another good option for freshwater anglers right now and are producing crappie for those drifting small minnow under bobbers. Some pickerel and the occasional bass are in the mix as well, although the bass still haven't yet kicked into high gear. Sunfish have become active and are now willing to bite for anglers fishing micro-jigs tipped with worms.
Anglers working the Potomac (near DC) and the James (near Hopewell) for blue catfish have been enjoying fantastic action, mostly on fish between five and 15 pounds but with plenty of bigger hogs mixed in. Fresh cut fish of just about any sort fished on a 8/0 to 10/0 circle hook on bottom will do the trick. We don't have any verified reports of shad from up the rivers just yet but expect that to change any day - if you enjoy shad fishing, it could bust loose at any time.
Stocked trout areas (check your state's stocking schedule, they're all on the web) are another option for freshwater anglers and we're entering the peak time-frame for this fishery. In the western areas of our region, however, fishing rivers and streams has been hit or miss the past week, as the snow from last weeks downfall melted and created some murky, dirty water in many areas. With poor conditions, Mossy Creek reports that fly fishing has been near impossible, as visibility is incredibly poor.
Lakes and reservoirs have fared the runoff a bit better, and St. Mary's Lake in Southern Maryland has continued to produce some great pickerel, crappie, and bluegill fishing, primarily close to shore and around structure. Largemouth Bass are also beginning to bite in the lake, and should become more active in coming weeks. Loch Raven in Baltimore is also seeing an awakening in their bass bite, as the season has begun to change. The runoff has been beneficial for the Virginia reservoirs, with Lake Anna's water levels back up and a slow bite for bass and landlocked stripers being reported. Crappie fishing has been a bit better and fish have begun moving shallower in many areas as the water temperatures steadily rise.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 3/23/2018 Update:
With water conditions and weather still poor and growing worse this week, fishing has been slow at best in many of our regions lakes, rivers and streams. The best bet has been going to bodies of water with as little runoff as possible, since most areas with moving water or significant drainage are currently swamped and muddy. Freshwater Contributor Jim Gronaw reported that before the storm, he fished a pond in central Maryland and caught and released about 80 10 1/2 inch bluegill, as well as a half dozen bass and a few foot-long crappie. All fish took small 1/64th ounce jigs, some tipped with bait, while others were not. They were fished three feet down. Unfortunately, water temperatures have dropped since then and it may be tougher to get pond fish to bite. One exception, and probably one of the best bets for anyone who wants to bend a rod in the region's freshwaters in the next few days, is stocked rainbow trout. Check the stocking schedules to see which waters are freshly stocked and open (each state has its own schedules and closures and links to each can be found in earlier reports from this month, below).
In Southern Maryland and on the DelMarVa Peninsula, another option is pickerel fishing. Reader Eric Packard checked in to let us know he caught seven post-snowstorm fish in a few hours fishing a southern Maryland lake, with the fish eating swimbaits in shallow water with old lillypad growth. We had one other similar reader report (though not photo-documented and verified) of active pickerel in one of the the Eastern Shore ponds near Salisbury. The crappie bite, on the other hand, may have slowed a bit and we didn't hear a peep about them since last weekend. As the sun shines and the waters warm back up a bit that should change rapidly, and if you want to target these tasty panfish, you might want to take a peek at our latest video on crappie fishing tips:
The perch run also seems to have fallen victim to the weather as water temps have dropped down rather than rising, and up-river areas can be expected to be high and rather muddy. None of the usual tackle shops had good reports on this front.
Out to the west, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing reported that although they haven't had a chance to fish since the snow melt off that's been covering the ground, they anticipate high water levels and low visibility in the coming week due to the runoff. The Virginia reservoirs have also been on the slow side, thanks to cool temps, heavy winds, and rapidly-moving fronts with significant pressure changes. Virginia freshwater anglers as well as fishermen near DC also have the catfish option to shoot for, particularly in the Potomac near the nation's capital and in the James below Richmond from Hopewell to Claremont. Last week we did hear from some anglers that the rapid frontal boundaries were putting a damper on this bite at times, too, but as the weather settles the fish should get into their groove.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 3/16/2018 Update:
Mossy Creek Fly Fishing is waiting for the end of month trout stocking programs to take place, which depending on conditions could liven up stream fishing. They recommend starting out the season using Powerbaits and nuggets. Trout anglers in Maryland have been enjoying a steady take of planted trout from both rivers and local ponds, with a large number of stockings taking place this month. Visit the DNR stocking schedule (scroll down to the bottom of the page for the link) to see what bodies of water near you have been loaded up with fish lately.
Trout anglers in Delaware, meanwhile, are looking forward to their April 7 opening in New Castle County where thousands of trout have been released. The DNREC announced that for the first time since 1986, Red clay Creek will also be stocked (but two days later on April 9). Visit DNREC Trout Fishing Program, for more info.
Bill's Outdoors hasn't heard of any anglers heading out and catching fish at Deep Creek lately, however they're looking forward to a action paced walleye season coming up. The fishery opens up on April 15, and they recommend hitting shallow to mid depth water with jerk baits, stick baits, and night crawler on worm harnesses. In the reservoirs to the south, reports indicate a tough week due to weather, but a few landlocked stripers caught in Lake Anna and Buggs Island. The better reports were for crappie fishing, with some of the fish now moving a bit shallower in pre-spawn mode. Minnow and small two-inch plastics were effective on the crappie.
One of the most exciting report that we heard this week came from B&B Tackle in PA, of a local fisherman who spent his winter fishing Lake Marburg, hoping for a large muskie. B&B reported that this angler fished the lake religiously, from the time it was open water this fall, through it being frozen over the coldest winter months and then opening up again. His big catch came this past weekend, when he landed the 47 inch muskie he'd been waiting all season for. He used a crankbait, but is understandably reluctant to give up any additional information.
The Eastern Shore millponds remain a prime destination for freshwater anglers, with crappie, bass, and pickerel hitting. Anglers with boats or kayaks are doing best floating mid-lake with minnow suspended two or three feet beneath a bobber, lip-hooked on a shad dart or marabout jig of an eighth of an ounce or less. Remember to use a small bobber or a quill bobber, as the fish may reject your offering if they have to tug too hard to pull the bobber under. Shoreline anglers have also been catching some fish, with most of the action at or near the spillways.
Perch run reports from the Eastern Shore rivers were a bit disappointing this week. Anglers probing historic perch hotspots found few fish, and mostly small ones. Angler in chief Lenny Rudow reports swinging by Red Bridges and Hillsboro, and catching only small male yellow perch. The folks at the DNR have suggested that the yellows are pretty much done at this point and that the whites (which had already been caught far up-river weeks ago) have retreated back to deeper areas, thanks to recent temperature drops. Fingers are crossed that a few warm, sunny days trigger them to give us another shot or two at enjoying a perch run this spring.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 3/9/2018 Update:
Freshwater has been the most reliable and productive fishery during the recent unrelenting difficult winds, and now that ponds are beginning to warm up, fishing is getting even better. Angler in chief Lenny Rudow reported that the Eastern Shore ponds have been on fire, with crappie and bass making up a majority of the catch. Our AIC caught dozens of crappie and some beautiful bass on shad darts with a minnow fished three feet under a bobber. The bite was significantly better after 10:30, when the sun had been shining on the water long enough for it to warm up. In addition to stellar crappie fishing, yellow perch have been active on the Shore. The Tuckahoe, Choptank, Wicomico, and Nanticoke have all been mentioned as productive. However, when we spoke to anglers who tried Greenboro, Hillsboro, and Stoney Point, most of the fish caught this weekend were small male whites and catfish. Reports from the Wicomico were of better fish, and anglers hitting Red Bridge had to battle high, fast-moving water, but they did pick up some fish of a higher quality.
On the Western side one reader reported a few whites and yellows at Wayson's Corner on the Patuxent, caught on Mepps Spinners. The Magothy also continued to give up some perch; see the Upper Bay report for more details. Clyde's Sport Shop reported that Piney Run Reservoir has been choc full of crappie, as well as bluegill, with both species willing to bite.
Contributor Jim Gronaw did well this week on pickerel at the Pennsylvania State Gamelands Pond near Dillburg last week, however, the Pond just closed and will reopen on June 15. Mossy Creek Flyfishing reported that the bad weathers' effect on the condition of freshwater streams has not gone unnoticed, as runoff and erosion have made for poor visibility, and thus poor fly fishing. If you want to try for trout, throughout the region your best bet remains the put-and-take fishery supported by recent stockings in Maryland (there's a link to the stocking schedule below, in last week's reports).
Reports from the VA reservoirs were mostly of difficult conditions thanks to the weather, and high water levels thanks to all the recent rain. Anglers who could find shelter did report some crappie. On the tributary rivers again the complaints of wind and rain out-weigh any reports of actual fish being caught and it seems that the weather has even put a crimp in the usually reliable catfish fishery. The blue cats in particular are sensitive to pressure changes and all the recent fronts pushing through have not been helpful.
Reminder: Even though it seems like perch fishing is as safe as it gets, the Delaware NRP is reporting that last weekend a slip into the Nanticoke resulted in a drowning death. The water's still very cold, so be careful.
Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Fishing Report 3/2/2018
Wrapping up February, freshwater fishing has been action-packed and productive, with a wide variety of species being caught. Contributor Jim Gronaw reported that the past week has been outstanding, and that float and fly presentations with 1/64th oz jigs and tipped with maggots or wax worms has caught the bulk of crappie and bluegill in Mason-Dixon area ponds. Pickerel and bass have been taking #3 Mepps Spinners and Rat-L-Traps in many smaller waters as well. Deep Creek Outfitters reported a fair number of walleye coming out of the lake, primarily on minnows.
Ponds and lakes across the Western Shore of Maryland have provided steady trout action thanks to liberal DNR stockings. You can get a read on where the fish are by checking the DNR’s stocking schedule. Rivers and moving water has been tougher, however, as many in the area have been swollen and muddy. Reader Eric Packard checked in to let us know that Allen’s Fresh wasn’t too bad, however, and in a short afternoon there he picked up a yellow perch and a mess of catfish using night crawlers.
Across DelMarVa, local ponds and lakes have been holding crappie and bluegill, providing some great fishing close to home. Minnow fished under bobbers has been the best way to get the crappie biting, while the bluegill will eat just about anything small enough for them to get into their mouths. Pickerel fishing has also been hot in the millponds, and FishTalk Art Director Zach Ditmars hit the shore with his kayak mid-week and reported red-hot action including pickerel, crappie, and bass, in the Salisbury millponds. In fact, the hot bite helped propel Zach into second place, Kayak Division, in the CCA Maryland Pickerel Championship which ended on Thursday. Way to go, Zach!! (Read Zach's full update from fishing Wednesday).
In the Virginia reservoirs we’re hearing reports of a few bass and fewer stripers on plastics and diving crankbaits, however, with the warm-up the better bite is on crappie which have come on strong in Lake Anna. Fishing the bridges with minnow on marabou jigs or bare jig heads is the best bet. Anglers looking for catfish have also been having lots of success, particularly in the James above Hopewell. Cut mud shad or bluegill fan-casted into holes and along channel edges has been the ticket.