Maryland's Who's who!

[wv]

Got on the board with a 10 inch rainbow at Poorhouse Pond in Berkeley County WV. ;D Caught on a 3 inch rattling crankbait...must have been hungry. My son and I got to Cacapon Park Lake on Saturday and saw two nice LM in abouyt 4 feet of water but couldn't get a bite. I know it's not a MD report and thanks for letting me post. Seems to me it might be a little early yet. I'm guessing a few warmer nights and things will pick up. To "fish jones" - you joines a really good group of posters here. Basser89 is great and runs a good forum here. Lots of good sharing of info.

[Boett43]

Thanks for the Black Hills report Hellbenderman. So what water temps do the bass start to come up for pre-spawn and spawn? Isnt it 59 degrees? Ive never got to fish the spawn at black hill. has anyone ever got to bed fish there?

[basser89]

Boett, with the water temps I'm hearing, sounds like this is going to be an early spawn. From what I've seen in the past, the spawn is usually in full swing close to the first week in May (without a major cold snap, I can see the spawn happening several weeks earlier). Things start getting good for me (prespawn) once the temps reach the mid 50's.

Hellbenderman, as Boett mentioned, great report! I noticed you went straight to the 10 mile creek arm of the lake. When I was there last week, I took notice that the main arm of the lake was a lot clearer than the east arm I was fishing. I think that had a lot to do with the success I had on Thursday. You didn't happen to notice if the channel leading back to the east arm was still colored?

wv, thanks for the compliment.  :-[  The reason I started this thread was for everyone in MD (and anglers close by  ) to have a common place to get to know one another and figure out where everyone is located for potential meet ups, whether its as a group or just 2 anglers getting together, and of course to share information to help us all become better anglers! I do post alot on this thread but I don't consider myself to "run" it. Without everyone that participates, the thread would have died many pages ago.

[fish jones]

Boett, with the water temps I'm hearing, sounds like this is going to be an early spawn. From what I've seen in the past, the spawn is usually in full swing close to the first week in May (without a major cold snap, I can see the spawn happening several weeks earlier). Things start getting good for me (prespawn) once the temps reach the mid 50's.

Hellbenderman, as Boett mentioned, great report! I noticed you went straight to the 10 mile creek arm of the lake. When I was there last week, I took notice that the main arm of the lake was a lot clearer than the east arm I was fishing. I think that had a lot to do with the success I had on Thursday. You didn't happen to notice if the channel leading back to the east arm was still colored?

wv, thanks for the compliment. :-[ The reason I started this thread was for everyone in MD (and anglers close by ) to have a common place to get to know one another and figure out where everyone is located for potential meet ups, whether its as a group or just 2 anglers getting together, and of course to share information to help us all become better anglers! I do post alot on this thread but I don't consider myself to "run" it. Without everyone that participates, the thread would have died many pages ago.

I can't tell you what a breath of fresh air this site is... I post on another site and I can't begin to tell you just how negative many, not all, the people are there. So so glad to have found this site!

[Boett43]

Yeah this thread is pretty awesome, i actually went back the other night and looked though just about all of it,  since i just started really posting in it. Alot of great stuff i even found a color of a worm that i couldnt rember from one of my own post lol.

Im thinking about hitting either black hills or the canal at dickerson on friday. Hopefully i see some beds or some fishing crusing shallow. Time to break out the white tube aka "greatest bed bait ever" lol

[BrianinMD]

This thread is great for keeping up with Maryland fishing. Try to post whenever I can provide something productive.

Basser89 is a great guy to fish with, hoping to get a chance to go with him a couple times this year.

If all goes well should go out this weekend to Black Hills, will have to keep on eye on this thread to figure out my plan of attack. Will post how it goes when I get back.

[.dsaavedra.]

fishing's hot down here in st. mary's county! 4 and 5" ring worms are doing great, i was getting bit twitching a floating rapala along the shoreline, all my fish are coming from 4 feet of water or less.

[Basser714]

I have heard the northwest part of lakes heat up first. I presume its the same with reservoirs and Black Hill. I thought about making the hike into 10 mile for my next shore expedition... my two trips to the southern end landed me nothing.

Thanks for the report hellbent

[basser89]

I have heard the northwest part of lakes heat up first. I presume its the same with reservoirs and Black Hill. I thought about making the hike into 10 mile for my next shore expedition... my two trips to the southern end landed me nothing.

Thanks for the report hellbent

You heard correct Basser714. The NW sections of a lake will receive the most sun light. Being that Black Hills has 3 different arms (technically), you'll have 3 different NW sections to fish. For me, I have the most confidence in the eastern arm. The bass in my avatar and the bookend pics in my signature all came from this arm of the lake and all before the end of May.

The 10 mile creek arm is a nice little hike fishing it from shore. If you've never been back there, the back of that arm is VERY shallow (2 maybe 3' at best) and poluted with standing and laydown timber. It looks fishy enough but I haven't managed any big girls out of there but I also haven't spent a whole lot of time back there earlier on in the year. Hope this helps some!

Nice report Dave! The 3 I pulled out last thursday from Black Hills were between 4-8' (that's an estimate).

Hey Brian, you like fishing with me because you catch all the bass when we go! LOL! I'll prove to you yet that I actually can catch them!  ;D  Planning on hitting Black Hills at lunchtime a couple times this week, I'll be sure to let you know how I make out. Hopefully I can throw you a bone or two on what they're doing!

Boett, I hit the canal at Dickerson for about an hour last Thursday evening. I forgot my thermometer so I can't give you a temp reading. Only had spinnerbaits with me and got blanked in there. Looks like there's some new laydowns in there too. Wish I could give you more but that's all I have on that place.

[Hellbenderman]

The water at Black Hills was clear in the main lake and only slightly stained, surprisingly, up the arm. I had no trouble seeing the rock barrier back there, but the water was high, up a foot or so. The temp on the main lake was 52 and up to 56 up the arm. There were a bunch of people leaving when I put in at 4:00 who looked like they knew what they were doing, and only one guy had caught one fish. There were a lot of boats out, and kayakers, ugh, pond joggers. People in those things don't have a clue. My first decent day last year was March 31, several 2 - 3s. On April 8, I caught the first large fish, a 5.5 in that creek cut that comes out from the left of the big point by the bridge. As you face into that cove, there is a creek channel running up against the left bank. It's a great spot, but I only fish in there this time of year as it will soon be over run with those pesky bank fishermen. The point is that channel is about ten feet deep there and I think the larger fish are holding out a little deeper early in the spring. So while there may be some males to catch up close early on in the spring, don't overlook the larger females who may be holding off shore a little ways getting fat on the bluegills heading in to bed. I don't think they come in dead close until it is time to do the deed, and in mean time, raise hell in the zone just off shore. So, the males I caught were all about a 14 inches, 1.5 or so. and they were on lumber in 8 feet. So, I'm thinking in general, that the males are staging in 8-12 before they go to shore and the females are still a little deeper, but they will be along shortly! There was also hooded and common merganzers, rudy ducks, buffle heads, canvas backs and a bald eagle.That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

[Boett43]

Im hitting up the Canal Tommorow Basser, atleast to try and see if they are making beds yet. Yeah i know about the cover im not sure what storm it was but there is quite a few new spots. Did you see the river by any chance?

[basser89]

Thanks for the follow up Hellbenderman! I appreciate that! I popped over to the "stick ups" today for a little while. The water was still stained back there. My guess is with the color of the water its probably a little warmer which would bring them in a little closer. This front with the rain and all probably will make them a little tougher to catch but give them a little bit a sun and I think that'll turn them back on.

Sorry Boett, I never made it down to see what the river looked like. My main focus that evening was seeing if I could put anything together in the canal in that short time that I had day light. Might pop over there after work tomorrrow, not sure yet though. Let us know how you do!!!

[Basser714]

Black Hill Report - Water 50 degrees and a bit stained in Pesky Polluters Cove - near the bridge. I shored it for about 2 hours and can definitively report no bites at all, on worms cranks or spinners on all depths up and down the cove. Saw two boaters go by.

I did run into the MD State Record holder for Blue Cat at Dicks. My next trip to Piscataway may be for cat.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/tournament/staterecords/bluecatstrec.html

[basser89]

Don't feel too bad Basser!

While I wasn't in MD (crossed the Mason Dixon line), I wasn't catchin today either. At the warmest, the water I was fishing was 46.5. Air temps when I started was about 26 or so.

[JigMe]

Yeah, dont feel bad.

I have used pretty much everything in my tacklebox, and couldn't get a bite. Even Senko didn't produced for me...

[fish jones]

Gonna hit the Monocacy today for a couple hours... Will post results good or bad later.....

[BrianinMD]

Stopped at the canal at Dickerson for a couple hours yesterday. Ended up with two, one 12 inch, and one 14 inch. Was really slow, got both of these on 5 inch senkos. Was desticking them, the 14 inch I didn't even feel a bite, was just extra weight when I went to move it.

Also, got a couple short strikes on 3.5 inch Yum Money Minnows.

[Smiths.R]

Went fishing at Loch Raven today.  Had a bass come to the top to get a Senko I was pulling in real quick.  I also saw a few beds...no fish on them, but they were definitely beds.  With this warm weather next week, I think good times are about to roll.

[fish jones]

monococy... nothing.. nada... zero... 2 guys wading... threw everything out there.... too cold i am guessing.( it was really cold water) or we just sucked..

[Hellbenderman]

Was over at the Monocacy today and it is about four feet up at 355 bridge. I am going to Black Hills on Thursday, April Fools Day...hahahaha. I think next week it takes off if we don't get another cold front!

[Basser714]

I am cough thinking about getting sick on Friday. I wonder what the water temps will be at Black Hill. Those deep reservoirs... i expect it to be maybe 51 or 52 degree's max. Maybe 10 Mile will be warmest and maybe have some fish there already.

The upper is going to be raging I imagine. i was thinking Dickerson/canal could be a backup plan. I sure hope this latest rain doesnt rough up the smallies.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=01638500&agency_cd=USGS

[BrianinMD]

I can't go fishing again until the beginning of next week, hoping to go out after work monday or tuesday to Black Hills. With the weather they are calling for the rest of this week and the weekend the bite should really pick up.

Bass714, the river level shown it disappointing. The river will be run for awhile again. The canal at Dickerson should be real good by the weekend though.

[basser89]

Wow Basser! I can't believe PoR's is still climbing! I track the gauge at Hancock (cause it closely follows the same depths as the one section I fish the most). The Hancock gauge has hit its peak and has started back down (slowly, but it is coming down).

When I accidently left my thermometer at Black Hills at the lake. I went back in the evening and luckily, it was still there. When I pulled it out of the lake, it read 56 then. I don't think this cold snap would've had a major affect on the temps. Heck, the lake I was fishing over the weekend, the water temps were still climbing even though the air temps were way cooler than the water temps.

If all goes well and I can get the boat in order, I'm planning on hitting Black Hills this weekend.

[Basser714]

Black Hill was 56 recently? Sweet. I presume the southern end i usually work has got to be colder than the northern end. I havent calibrated my therm but think its close to accurate. I need to work the northern part of the lake and calibrate it that way!

Friday the weather is going to nice. Will have to toss some beer and suntan lotion in with the army of soft plastics I have horded.

POR just peaked at 11.5 feet and is coming back down.

[Hellbenderman]

BH was at 56 last weekend.