Looking for tips on Maryland (Moco) fishing

[dreamingthoughawake]

Hey everyone! I'm starting fishing after giving it a break for a while but haven't had much luck. 

I've tried most of the lakes around Moco, Needwood, Seneca, clopper and the Columbia lakes  ect but have never had a bite. I've only managed to catch 1 or 2 on the Monocacy and Potomac up by Dargens Bend. I have a inflatable kayak but had trouble padding for long on the potomac because it just seemed rough for anything without a motor and took me forever to paddle a short distance but I caught a fat cat on a crank. 

 

Any tips ? 

 

I heard Dickerson power plan is ok but can't figure out where to park. I tried bank fishing from the mouth of the Potomac where it meets monocacy last Sept but that seems extremely shallow and muddy bank so not sure how far I should go up. I've heard really good things about monocacy but can't seem to figure out where the fish are. 

 

Haven't tried the 2 Baltimore reservoirs yet just cause I can't bring my Yak there .

[Junger]

Needwood is heavily pressured, but if your inflatable kayak will get you to spots bank fishing can't access, such as the bluff walls on the far side. It's not too big for you to paddle around too. What are you throwing? A small paddletail always works there as a search bait, or a craw along laydowns.  In the spring, I see lots of bass staging for spawning around this area: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PEtDGRkCo4ur6Y5U8 Lots of large boulders and sunken wood. Be prepared to lose some lures.

 

Little Seneca Lake is huge, and if you're in an inflatable and there's wind fetch, it'll take you forever to paddle back. Lake Whetstone is a little lake out by Lakeforest Mall, a perfect size for an inflatable too. I used to fish there with my kids and walk along the pathway and I would see kayakers in there. There are some quality bass in there.

 

Here are some previous threads for MD/MoCo fishing spots, good luck and post your fishing reports here: 

 

 

 

[JeepFisher]

17 hours ago, dreamingthoughawake said:

Hey everyone! I'm starting fishing after giving it a break for a while but haven't had much luck. 

I've tried most of the lakes around Moco, Needwood, Seneca, clopper and the Columbia lakes  ect but have never had a bite. I've only managed to catch 1 or 2 on the Monocacy and Potomac up by Dargens Bend. I have a inflatable kayak but had trouble padding for long on the potomac because it just seemed rough for anything without a motor and took me forever to paddle a short distance but I caught a fat cat on a crank. 

 

Any tips ? 

 

I heard Dickerson power plan is ok but can't figure out where to park. I tried bank fishing from the mouth of the Potomac where it meets monocacy last Sept but that seems extremely shallow and muddy bank so not sure how far I should go up. I've heard really good things about monocacy but can't seem to figure out where the fish are. 

 

Haven't tried the 2 Baltimore reservoirs yet just cause I can't bring my Yak there .

Junger gave a lot of good info... 

Depending on how far you like to travel, the Eastern shore is perfect for inflatable fishing - lots of mill ponds and smaller lakes.  I can give you some recommendations if you are up for traveling that far.  Closer to you, I've mainly fished the WSSC reservoirs and you could paddle those as long as the wind isn't bad, especially in the coves (keeping in mind safety first - life jacket, tether to your board and your important equipment) - it can get deep fast (I've lost a very nice rigged fishing pole about 45 ft down LOL). 

Lake Elkhorn and Kittamaquandi are doable in the spring, but once summer gets going, the algae/grasses are unbearable to get through, even with their attempts at cleaning it out.  I haven't fished Elkhorn as much recently, but they basically will hang around under any overhanging trees and any water drainage into the lake.