patred

This year has been teh suck for me. Best was having six smallmouth hooked overnight camping on the Potomac a month or so ago -- only landed one but caught a walleye. Twelve smallmouth so far this year. I fish the Upper Potomac and other "rivers" in central Maryland. Pat

Looking for smallmouth guide recommendations for fishing in southern Idaho. Snake River or wherever there are smallies. Aug. 8-9 timeframe -- I know maybe late but just seeing what could be out there. Pat

I'm pretty sure I saw a couple snakeheads fishing the Patapsco last year a little down river from where you were. Pat

You don't find Mr. Whiskers. Mr. Whiskers finds you. Pat

5-6 pounds because that's what it says your personal best is over to the left. Pat

I went on Sunday around the Monocacy area and it was still too high and looked like chocolate milk. But the river has dropped almost another foot since then. Camped along the C&O a month ago when the Williamsport gauge was 2.3 feet, and it was OK for wading then.

Yeah a shallow river, anything the size of a pinky finger (tube, Ned Rig) dragged on the bottom should get them. Since you mentioned a fly rod, I have one but haven't touched it in several years. I keep having an urge to break it out and try beadhead wooly buggers on the rivers around here. Pat

River was pretty close to ideal summer conditions when I waded it last Saturday and Sunday. Probably a half foot or so higher than normal, and still slightly stained. Only caught five fish total but four were on topwaters. And although nothing really of size (biggest 14"), they all pummeled the lures and made crazy jumps after getting hooked. Pat

Weird I've fished the Susquehanna five times since 2016, and the trip last month was the first time I caught something other than a smallmouth. Pat

I fished the Upper Potomac this weekend, and one of my "hot spot" locations that has rocks running nearly the entire width of the river just below the surface in the summer still wasn't visible. I thought I missed it but then saw a landmark on the bank I use for reference. Could be the same thing here. Pat

We camp at the sites along the C&O Canal. The sites are all along the river, easy access -- some you can park right at your camp site. The C&O trail is easy walking and good if you have a mountain bike. Getting to the river from the C&O trail is either really easy or you have to hike a bit to find good access. The only thing about the C&O drive-in camp sites, you have to reserve a spot online: https://www.recreation.gov/recreationalAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=2632 Pat

Finally got my first fish of the year, three smallmouth measuring 16," 12" and roughly 10. Slowwwwww presentations on a Z-man worm and a shallow-running crankbait (latter got the 16-incher). Also had some interest in a small spinnerbait -- including a golden trout -- but nothing clamped on. The wife wants to go to go camping on the Upper Potomac this weekend, and I reluctantly agreed to make it seem like her idea. Pat

A friend of mine went out with a guide today, said fishing was tough. The last two hours was in a snowstorm. But he caught a 19-3/4' smallmouth, so to me, that's a good day. Pat

Nope. No walleye there. Go someplace else. Pat

A couple years ago, I went fishing on the Upper Potomac on Christmas Eve. Freak weather with temps in the 60s, water temp in the upper 30s. Caught about a dozen walleye in a few hours before sunset. Nothing legal size but still fun. The fish were COLD! I did a double-take on Fried Lemon's pictures because they look like mine from that day. Pat

My biggest smallmouth from the Potomac, 17 inches. Previous best was 16 (twice), but everyone could use another inch. Caught on a swimbait.

Hubs Chub in either black or bone. Pat

It's a good pool but there is always someone fishing there. I went during lunch on a Wednesday afternoon last November. About 45 degrees out and there were three people fishing there! So I usually try and fish anywhere but there. I've gotten three or four 15" smallmouth in the Little Patuxent. On the Maryland DNR Angler's Log a couple years ago, someone said they caught one that was 17". Pat

Went to Susquehanna Fishing Tackle in Columbia, Pa., for the first time on Saturday and they only managed to get $90 out of me. Went fishing with a guide on Friday night on the Susquehanna, and he recommended walking into the store with your head down and blinders on, and that strategy worked well. Seriously, their selection for bass fishing, especially them ol' brown fish that I'm chasing, is great. Wasn't sure when my wife and I pulled up since it was a small building, but it was packed to the gills (haha, get it?) with stuff. Lots of cool lures and plastics I had never heard of that looked really good at catching fishermen. Pat

That's a good idea since it's somewhat close to the PA BPS (at least a lot closer than the Maryland BPS). I've never been there but have heard good things, and I've bought some stuff online from them. I'm headed up to the Susqehanna on Friday and may have to check it out. Pat

Should also point out that a "good" lightweight rod can help tell the difference between a hit and bumping on the bottom. When I started river fishing for smallmouth a few years ago, I of course didn't want to spend $$$ on a rod but convinced my wife to get me a St. Croix Avid X for Christmas. Medium-light, and I use it mainly for bottom-bouncing worms and tubes. Usually I can tell the difference between a bite or hitting a rock. I've also felt like there is "something" on the end of the line (not a fish) and it's a blade of grass on the jig. When my local Bass Pro was having a trade-in sale earlier this year, I splurged and bought a St Croix Avid rod. Pat

Yes parking is right there next to the train tracks. Basically everyone parks on the shoulder of Keep Tryst Road. And you can be standing in Virginia or West Virginia and fish the Potomac with a Maryland license: http://www.eregulations.com/maryland/fishing/fishing-licenses-saltwater-angler-recognition/ Pat

Anyway to bring bikes? Park on Keep Tryst Road in Weverton and go up the canal trail. Pat

The only thing, and I mean THE ONLY THING the Bass Pro in Hanover has going for it over everything else -- at least for me -- is that it's 10 minutes from my house. I actually wish it wasn't so close. "Oh man I need to pick up one of these things RIGHT NOW!" Go to BPS, for just that one thing, and then the impulse buys get me every time. Pat

Live five minutes away from the Arundel Mills BPS and I've been to the Harrisburg BPS once. I thought the Harrisburg store had more of a selection. Pat