Way North Fishing Report, April 28 Update:
Catfish! Catfish! Catfish! Old Mr. Whiskers is still eating just about anything dropped to the bottom in the dam pool, near the 95 bridge, and on the flats. We also had reader reports of good catfish action this week near Turkey Point, and in the C & D Canal near Chesapeake City. That’s not all that’s biting though, because shad are an option in the Susquehanna and feeder creeks (darts and spoons rigged in tandem are working best). Reports are that the recent warming trend has kicked them into high gear and through the next week or so the run may well peak. And, look at this cool catch sent in by a reader this week – a four-pound walleye.
Many area anglers are bound to run south to below the Brewerton Channel in the near future to take a shot at a trophy striper. Thanks to the winds, it looks like it'll be a day or two into the season before this move becomes a realistic proposition. Unfortunately, we can’t give you one ounce of insight into which areas should offer the best opportunities. With C & R fishing shut down, Saturday’s opener will turn us all into gamblers — prepare to roll the dice.
Way North Fishing Report, April 23 Update:
Catfish continue to provide nonstop action for anglers hitting the western shore Bay tribs. Clyde’s Sport Shop reports that the Susquehanna and Conowingo Dam Pool have been strong producers. They heard reports of multiple large cats caught throughout the past week, in both the Dam Pool and also on the Flats. Letting chicken livers or cut menhaden soak on bottom is bringing them in.
If you’re interested in shad, as of last weekend the shad run was still going strong to the south and reports of success from the Susquehanna tribs had begun coming in. Darts, small silver and gold spoons, or a combination of the two rigged in tandem (dart up front, spoon two feet behind it) were doing the catching. This bite is already slowing to some degree in the southern rivers, so if you want to give shad fishing a try the opportunity isn't going to last much longer. If you're new to this sort of action check out our How to Catch Shad video, filmed this spring:
Snakeheads? The past week it seems the west side has it over the east, The epicenter of the universe (yes of course we are talking about Blackwater) hit a huge spring slump last weekend, which most anglers blame on spawning lockjaw. Any way you cut it things got ugly, with only one angler in three or four catching and those finding success mostly taking just a single or double. Of course, this could change at any time. But meanwhile things have been better on the western side the past week. It was still fairly slow, with most of the catches we heard of being one to four fish, but a better report for sure. The Gunpowder had top honors.
Way North Fishing Report, April 16 Update:
Catfish are the name of the game up north, eager to bite on the Flats, in the Dam Pool, and way up the Susquehanna. Many anglers heading out right now are targeting them specifically, due to the regs on stripers and stalled perch bite. Right now, chicken liver, fresh cut menhaden, and the occasional clam snot are working best for them. Letting baits soak on bottom is popular and landing anglers with good results. Just remember to keep yourself moving when you’re not catching — a good rule of thumb is if you haven’t gotten any bites within the half-hour, switch up your location.
A few reports of snakehead action in the area have come in as well. We had a reader chime in after success in the Gunpowder and while no confirmed reports came from the Flats or lower Susquehanna this week, there's no doubt that those areas now provide potential as water temps continue to head north and the snakes wake up. Unfortunately, we didn't hear much about shad in the area this week but hopefully that action will take it up a notch soon.
Way North Fishing Report, April 9 Update:
With stripers shut down, anglers are still targeting catfish up north. Flatheads and channel cats are running hefty and strong, providing plenty of action for little effort. Simply dropping a chunk of chicken liver or cut menhaden on a hook will bring them in. Cats aren’t exclusive to boat anglers, either. Shore-bound guys are absolutely racking them up, all around the Conowingo Dam and in the Pool, and throughout the Susquehanna Flats. Just remember — no targeting stripers!! Clyde’s Sport Shop reported that white perch are available from the shore as well, hanging out in coves, up the tribs, and occasionally coming in on the Flats. There have also been a few reports of area shad anglers having success, but just a few as of yet. Unless we get washed out, this bite should pick up soon as the rivers farther south are enjoying excellent action on them right now.
Way North Fishing Report, April 2 Update:
Blue catfish and channel cats continue to dominate the northern fisheries. Tochterman’s identified that the lower Susquehanna and the Flats are excellent spots for anglers who are targeting them. Cut chicken liver, clam, and fresh-cut menhaden all are working well on the bottom. While we’re seeing a healthy mix of sizes, there have been some absolute monsters coming out of the lower Susquehanna. Many anglers are scoring their PBs this spring, and we continue to see reports flowing in.
Further up the Susquehanna, Tochterman’s let us know there’s a healthy white perch bite ongoing. Anglers using bottom rigs with bloodworms are enjoying steady catches. And in the creeks a few early shad have begun to show up. Small darts will get them biting, and this action should improve over the next week or two.