patred Posted August 22, 2015 Posted August 22, 2015 It looks like this forum has a pretty informative smallmouth section, so I decided to join. I've been fishing for almost 30 years but not much at all since the mid-90s. I decided to take a break from my usual hobby -- autocross -- this year and fish a little more. I've always had a love for smallmouth bass even though I only caught a handful when I was stationed in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the early 1990s. Something about the allure of a 12" fish that is angry at the world because you tricked it into biting a fake lure. The Potomac River is an hour-plus from where I live, and I caught a few smallmouth fishing there near the end of last year. This year, I've fished the Potomac around 10 times and also found some smallmouth in the Little Patuxent River in Columbia, Md., just a few miles from where I live. Although that was from April to the first week in July, and I haven't seen or caught a smallmouth there since! It has gotten really shallow, and I think the fish were using the small river to spawn when the water was deeper and darker. Or the heavy rains we had a couple months ago washed them out. But the Potomac has been productive since then. Anyway, I've caught a bunch of smallmouth this year, 70+, although most have been the "8-10" variety. Eight to 10 inches. I did catch two 15" on the Little Patuxent (which is more like a stream) and then a 16" smallmouth a few weeks ago on the Potomac. And then about 10 others in the "legal" range. The majority have been caught fishing the bottom in the shallow waters. Tube baits, 3-4" straight worms, curly tailed grubs. Some luck on topwaters and small Rebel crawfish crankbaits and Rapala Shadow Raps. I've been out with a guide on the Potomac twice this year but mainly wade or fish from shore. Pat Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted August 22, 2015 Super User Posted August 22, 2015 Welcome to BR. There is a lot of smallie info here from lakes to rivers & streams. Quote
Super User 00 mod Posted August 23, 2015 Super User Posted August 23, 2015 Welcome to the forums! Jeff Quote
Turkey sandwich Posted August 23, 2015 Posted August 23, 2015 Welcome aboard! Where in MD are you? Both, the Potomac and the Susquehanna are great fisheries. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted August 23, 2015 Global Moderator Posted August 23, 2015 Welcome! Quote
Super User Darren. Posted August 23, 2015 Super User Posted August 23, 2015 Hi Pat, welcome aboard! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted August 23, 2015 Super User Posted August 23, 2015 Hello and Welcome to the Bass Resource Forums ~ A-Jay Quote
patred Posted August 23, 2015 Author Posted August 23, 2015 Welcome aboard! Where in MD are you? Both, the Potomac and the Susquehanna are great fisheries. I live near BWI. I need to try the Susquehanna sometime. Gotta find a good place to camp to appease the girlfriend, though. We've hit most of the campgrounds on the Potomac north of Harper's Ferry. Initially she was the one who wanted to go camping, and my only requirement was that there was someplace to fish. Now I think she's getting bored with exploring on the C&O canal while I'm not bored with fishing. Pat Quote
patred Posted August 23, 2015 Author Posted August 23, 2015 Oh and a bigger picture of my avatar: 15" smallmouth on the Little Patuxent River from earlier this year. Yes that's a Mitchell 300 reel that's almost 50 years old. I have four of them, and it's all I use along with a couple of Mitchell 308 reels around the same age. Pat Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted August 24, 2015 BassResource.com Administrator Posted August 24, 2015 Welcome Home! Quote
Steveo-1969 Posted August 24, 2015 Posted August 24, 2015 Welcome to BR Pat! Lots of great people and info to be found here. As the crow flies I live about 2 miles from the Upper Potomac near Williamsport, MD and if the river level is safe I wade the river in search of smallmouth every weekend. Most of them aren't giants but they sure are fun! Quote
patred Posted August 24, 2015 Author Posted August 24, 2015 Welcome to BR Pat! Lots of great people and info to be found here. As the crow flies I live about 2 miles from the Upper Potomac near Williamsport, MD and if the river level is safe I wade the river in search of smallmouth every weekend. Most of them aren't giants but they sure are fun! Have you fished Conococheague Creek at all? Pat Quote
nosdog2 Posted August 24, 2015 Posted August 24, 2015 Welcome. Susquehanna State Park has some camping, I utilize the boat launch there often and have caught several SMB in that area. Quote
Steveo-1969 Posted August 24, 2015 Posted August 24, 2015 Have you fished Conococheague Creek at all? Pat Nope, legally I can't. I live in WV so I have a WV resident fishing license. I can fish in the Potomac from a MD shore, but I can't fish the Conococheague because it is wholly in MD and I would need a MD license. Quote
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