bluefish1928 Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Any recommendations of lakes/ponds of public access in Maryland are are generally productive for bass fishing? Quote
MDBowHunter Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Marylands a pretty big state, so telling where your at might help keep you closer to home. Liberty, Pretty Boy, Loch Raven Reservoirs are all great areas in the central area. I also noticed you were asking about catfish and stripers, well in that case the susky flats are a great area for both 2 Quote
southern basser Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Hey Guys, relatively new to the area. Anybody know own areas of the Potomac where you can fish from a fiberglass bass boat ? I'm in Hagerstown and I've put in at big Slackwater , any other areas that someone could suggest would be appreciated. Speaking of big Slackwater has anyone had any success with the smallmouth in that general area ? Since little seneca is closed along with most of the other lakes close to Hagerstown, I'm going to look around on the Potomac and see what I can find. Quote
MDBowHunter Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 38 minutes ago, southern basser said: Hey Guys, relatively new to the area. Anybody know own areas of the Potomac where you can fish from a fiberglass bass boat ? I'm in Hagerstown and I've put in at big Slackwater , any other areas that someone could suggest would be appreciated. Speaking of big Slackwater has anyone had any success with the smallmouth in that general area ? Since little seneca is closed along with most of the other lakes close to Hagerstown, I'm going to look around on the Potomac and see what I can find. I think I'd be pretty apprehensive about taking a fiberglass boat anywhere in the upper Potomac, but maybe that's just me. If you put this in the Marylander who's who thread I'm sure the guys there could help you out as it seems the majority of the guys that reply to that thread are from up that way. 1 Quote
Fried Lemons Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 The C&O canal is a long body of water with easy shore access along its length. The bass fishing can be great if you know where to look. As a bonus it runs parallel to the Potomac river. There are a few good smallmouth spots which can be accessed from the canal towpath if you like wading. Quote
Super User BrianinMD Posted January 19, 2016 Super User Posted January 19, 2016 Big Slackwater is fine for fiberglass boats, its a deep section. During the summer there are a lot of pleasure boats on it. 1 Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted January 20, 2016 Super User Posted January 20, 2016 7 hours ago, Fried Lemons said: The C&O canal is a long body of water with easy shore access along its length. The bass fishing can be great if you know where to look. As a bonus it runs parallel to the Potomac river. There are a few good smallmouth spots which can be accessed from the canal towpath if you like wading. I fish the stretch of the canal between Swains and Pennyfield pretty often in the summer, it holds a ton of small LBMs but so far a large one has eluded me, but I have had some amazing days there in terms of numbers. It is a weird and very very unstable body of water so sometimes you will arrive and find it super low or muddy or weedy and the fishing is awful. Other times it is gin clear and has a perfect weed free channel down the center with bass stacked up on the transition. I rarely see anyone fishing more then like 1/2 a mile from the parking so if you are willing and able to walk you can have a good day even on the weekend. I would also love even a hint about the smallmouth spots, I always want to fish the Potomac but it is very daunting along that stretch and I have no idea where to start. Quote
bluefish1928 Posted January 20, 2016 Author Posted January 20, 2016 I live in Annapolis- out of here in a few months. However, with the bay striper bite dead for shoreline fishing until April, I would like to do some freshwater fishing for bass and crappie. The bulk of my Maryland fishing is casting lures for stripers. I grew up doing some shoreline bass fishing back in South Carolina and still enjoy hiking and casing lures. For blue cats, I hit up Fletcher's in DC and take out their rowboats. Quote
Fried Lemons Posted January 20, 2016 Posted January 20, 2016 11 hours ago, Bunnielab said: I fish the stretch of the canal between Swains and Pennyfield pretty often in the summer, it holds a ton of small LBMs but so far a large one has eluded me, but I have had some amazing days there in terms of numbers. It is a weird and very very unstable body of water so sometimes you will arrive and find it super low or muddy or weedy and the fishing is awful. Other times it is gin clear and has a perfect weed free channel down the center with bass stacked up on the transition. I rarely see anyone fishing more then like 1/2 a mile from the parking so if you are willing and able to walk you can have a good day even on the weekend. I would also love even a hint about the smallmouth spots, I always want to fish the Potomac but it is very daunting along that stretch and I have no idea where to start. The river around Violette's lock is a good place to start. The river is shallow and rocky so you will have to wade to reach the main channel. 1 Quote
Super User Munkin Posted January 20, 2016 Super User Posted January 20, 2016 On 1/19/2016 at 8:53 AM, southern basser said: Hey Guys, relatively new to the area. Anybody know own areas of the Potomac where you can fish from a fiberglass bass boat ? I'm in Hagerstown and I've put in at big Slackwater , any other areas that someone could suggest would be appreciated. Speaking of big Slackwater has anyone had any success with the smallmouth in that general area ? Since little seneca is closed along with most of the other lakes close to Hagerstown, I'm going to look around on the Potomac and see what I can find. Big Slackwater and Four Locks are the only places you can run a fiberglass boat in the UP. With that said you need to know how far upriver you can safely run. Slackwater stop at the Potomac Fish and Game club and Four Locks stop at McCoy's ferry until you get to know the river better. Allen 1 Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted January 20, 2016 Super User Posted January 20, 2016 8 hours ago, Fried Lemons said: The river around Violette's lock is a good place to start. The river is shallow and rocky so you will have to wade to reach the main channel. Thanks for the info. If you see a chubby guy stuck in the mud this spring wave and say hello. Quote
S10rman88 Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 Bunnie Lab I have caught a couple of smallmouth around the bridge at Rileys Locke as well if you don't want to worry about wading. Could be hit or miss though as I have only fished it a couple of times Quote
Logan S Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 I've always liked Violets Lock for shoreline fishing and wading. In the summer the grass grows pretty good in the canal if you walk downstream half a mile or so, pretty good LM fishing. The backwater area between the canal and the main river is a cool place to fish too, lots of riffles and pools that hold SM. The fish are on the smaller side usually, but it's fun rock-hopping and sight fishing for them in the pools back there. 3" senkos, inline spinners, and small floating Rapala minnows were my top 3 baits when I used to fish there a lot. Part of the fun for me was the hiking/climbing/wading. It's a popular place so the areas that are easy to get to are crowded, but you'd be surprised how that changes with just a little bit of hiking/walking/wading off the beaten path... If you want to get off the bank and in the back seat of a bass boat, you guys might consider checking out a local club, there is a very welcoming club that just so happens to be right in this area and has been mentioned a few times in the big MD thread . Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted January 22, 2016 Super User Posted January 22, 2016 On 1/21/2016 at 7:25 PM, S10rman88 said: Bunnie Lab I have caught a couple of smallmouth around the bridge at Rileys Locke as well if you don't want to worry about wading. Could be hit or miss though as I have only fished it a couple of times As of this fall I have caught 4 nice bass in the logjam at the bridge/aquaduct. As of this fall I have lost about fifty bucks worth of tackle in that same logjam. I think I need to get a stouter rod and try some punching rigs. 11 hours ago, Logan S said: Part of the fun for me was the hiking/climbing/wading. It's a popular place so the areas that are easy to get to are crowded, but you'd be surprised how that changes with just a little bit of hiking/walking/wading off the beaten path... This is the appeal of the canal to me. It is a nice hike even if the bite is off. My usual hiking buddy doesn't fish, but he is an enthusiastic climber, I might send him ahead to scout the pools for me. Quote
southern basser Posted January 26, 2016 Posted January 26, 2016 On 1/20/2016 at 7:11 PM, MountainMan83 said: What area are you from? Moved up from south Carolina a few years ago. Apologies for the delay in responding On 1/22/2016 at 9:34 PM, Bunnielab said: As of this fall I have caught 4 nice bass in the logjam at the bridge/aquaduct. As of this fall I have lost about fifty bucks worth of tackle in that same logjam. I think I need to get a stouter rod and try some punching rigs. This is the appeal of the canal to me. It is a nice hike even if the bite is off. My usual hiking buddy doesn't fish, but he is an enthusiastic climber, I might send him ahead to scout the pools for me. Quote
southern basser Posted January 26, 2016 Posted January 26, 2016 Hey guys, apologies for the delay in responding to the members that sent me some messages. I've spent some time on the lakes in the area, I wanting to get some time on the Potomac. Moved here in Hagerstown a few years ago from south Carolina, and just started getting the time to fish in little seneca, big pool, etc a couple yes ago. For some reason I'm not getting alerted when receiving messages here, I'm still learning the site I guess. I just got an email for an invite to fish a tournament on the Potomac on the 7th of February, (weather permitting of course ) so I'd like to pre fish a couple times before launch off. Thanks for the info nate, md bow hunter, and others. I guess I'll be looking into investing in a Jon boat sometime this year. Quote
MDbassin Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Isn't centennial lake out there? I'm on Eastern shore I'm not to familiar with western shore waters Quote
MDBowHunter Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Centennial lake is right between Columbia and Ellicott city, and it's fished a lot. Quote
SneakyPete Posted March 16, 2017 Posted March 16, 2017 On 1/19/2016 at 8:53 AM, southern basser said: Hey Guys, relatively new to the area. Anybody know own areas of the Potomac where you can fish from a fiberglass bass boat ? I'm in Hagerstown and I've put in at big Slackwater , any other areas that someone could suggest would be appreciated. Speaking of big Slackwater has anyone had any success with the smallmouth in that general area ? Since little seneca is closed along with most of the other lakes close to Hagerstown, I'm going to look around on the Potomac and see what I can find. Did you try the lake at Cunningham Falls ? Off Rt 77 you would take Rt 64 from Hagerstown to 77. Decent Bass, Crappie, and trout Quote
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