Way North Fishing Reports

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 10 Update:

Spring is almost here folks! Along with it will come some great fishing opportunities and we are already seeing better bites around the upper Bay region. The weather has been variable this month with cold fronts one day and unseasonably warm temperatures the next. A good shot of rain is expected to enter the region this Friday which will muddy up the waters in the Bay and cool down water temperatures. Up until this point the Susquehanna has been good for yellow perch but we have not seen much in the way of white perch yet. Once the water warms up more, we can expect the white perch to kick into gear for their spring spawning run.

At the Conowingo Dam, anglers are still catching a few walleye using paddletails and jerkbaits. We haven’t received any reports of rockfish being caught at the Dam or on the flats but if those fish aren’t already there, they should be there soon. Blue catfish are becoming more active this week and it seems that bite has really turned on in the tidal tributaries. Fresh cut baitfish and chicken baits usually get them biting. Areas with deeper holes or channel edges nearby are good places to target the cats. On warmer days, shallower areas with mud flats are good places to try once the afternoon sun has warmed the waters. Above the Conowingo Dam the smallmouth bite has been very good for anglers when the water conditions are right. Jerkbaits have been working very well and crawfish baits should work too as the crawfish emerge from their winter burrows.

Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 3 Update:

Spring is right around the corner and many anglers are gearing up for warmer weather and more fishing opportunities. We checked in with Sarge’s Bait and Tackle who said many anglers are still catching yellow perch and a few white perch. Minnows have been the ticket for the yellows and bloodworms are working well for the white perch starting to show up. Areas around Perryville, the Northeast River, and up on the Susquehanna are producing on the perch front. Earlier in the week the fish were still in the deeper holes but reports indicate that the yellows are pushing further up into the tribs.

Many anglers on the Susquehanna are reporting excellent smallmouth fishing with some largemouth in the mix too. One boat reported a double digit day despite sub-freezing morning temperatures. Jerkbaits and jigs are working well. A decent shot of rain is expected Friday so it may muddy up the water over the weekend. As always, catfish are plentiful in the upper Bay and can be caught all along the 95 corridor. March is a great time to target the blue catfish as they become more active. It’s always good idea to keep any blue cats that are caught since they are invasive, but they also make excellent table fare