Maryland's Who's who!

[wv]

My son and I got to Blair's Valley this evening. We caught two small LM...guessing about 8 inches each.  Water was cloudy with some scum on top. We fished in a corner by the rock dam. Caught  them on a watermelon Yum Crawbug and a soft plastic lizard-looking bait. Looked like a good place for our small boat(as was recommended by some earlier). Talked to a man that was fishing for muskie with no luck. He did mention that two weeks earlier he caught a 24 inch muskie on a buck-tail muskie spinner. Saw a few others fishing but didn't see many people catching anything other than some small sunfish.

[basser89]

Hi everyone, I just joined. Im in Montgomery Co, MD. Kind of new to fishing, tried some of the lakes out, but don't have a boat so find it hard to catch anything. Can anyone recommend a good lake thats good for shore fishing, or some out of the way small ponds that are good too. Just got back today from trying out part of the Rocky Gorge off RT 29/Old Columbia rd, which was a bust, too muddy off the banks and seems too shallow in the places I can get to without a boat. Been to Lake Needwood a few times, just went to Cooper lake in Seneca Creek park but the bank is so weed filled I cant cast out far enough to catch anything. same thing for MLK pond in White Oak.

I was going to go up to Columbia, MD tomorrow morning and try the 2-3 small places they have there, and maybe rent a kayak sometime at some lake. I know Needwood rents them but I haven't had any luck there at all. Wish I could find some private out of the way fishing pond that isnt too big but still good. Shore fishing is hard!

Thanks!

Welcome to THE boards MichaelA! If you're in Mongomery county, don't overlook Black Hills as an option for ya! We talk about it on here quite a bit and there are a few places to fish from shore. Keep in mind though, as the summer progresses most of the shorelines will get choked out with hydrilla limiting what you can throw.

Glad you didn't get skunked at Blairs Valley wv! That's interesting about the musky you mentioned. I was under the impression that only tiger muskies were stocked in there and MD had stopped the musky stocking program back in 2004. Any fingerlings from then would be a lot larger than that by now.

[wv]

Hi Basser89. Not sure about the type of muskie he caught. :-[ I asked him if he was muskie fishing and he said yes. I could see his large spinner and that was why I asked him.  I have never seen one or the other myself.  Blair's Valley looked like a nice place other than the water being somewhat cloudy. I was thinking around dark things would get better but it didn't seem to help. We had some hits on Jitterbugs but didn't hook any fish with them. We might get out this evening somewhere if weather holds off...although we need some rain.

[Munkin]

I know that Blairs Valley had small fingerling Muskies a few years ago. These were only 8-12" long and I caught them on senkos. The last one I caught there was 2008 or 09 and it went 35 1/2". It was caught in March on a LC pointer fishing for bass.

Allen

[basser89]

Hey Allen,

Do you happen to know who's stocking Blairs Valley? As I said above, the other musky stocking program (that I know of) is out in the very western part of the state. 2004 is the last year that I know of that MD has stocked muskies throughout the state. After that, PA had that problem with some virus in the muskies  which is what stopped the program (at least that's what I was told).

[Munkin]

I don't know who or when they were stocked all I know is what I caught. The only place I have seen Muskie stocked is near Williamsport and that was several years ago. The natural stain is reproducing in the UP as I catch them in different sizes. The tigers are all over 36" and are becoming fewer each year. Right now most of the ones I am catching are 20-25" natural stain ones. I actually don't like to catch them as they tear up my expensive jerkbaits.

Allen

Allen

[basser89]

Thanks for the heads up Allen! Yeah, I'm well aware of what the muskies in the Potomac will do to bass gear! Never like that either but once in a while I'll break out my musky gear and have some fun!  ;D

[wv]

Good discussion on the muskies. Never seen one and from what it sounds like probably don't want to mess with them much. We got out to the Potomac at Shepherdstown in our ususal spot below Rumsey Bridge on MD side. River was fairly clear and up a little in the last two weeks or so but still somewhat low. Caught a small SM on a Yum tube(watermelon/green pumkin). I'm guessing only about 8 inches...fought pretty good for a small guy. Seen some other fish breaking the surface and missed a few on Jitterbugs and a Tiny Torpedo. Doesn't ;ool ;ole a whole lot being reported lately...guess fishing is kinda slow now.

[Hellbenderman]

This is ridiculous. Where is everyone? Brian and I got out last week and he got a bunch off a point that I was sure was going to hold some big fish, but sorta didn't. That said, Brian caught a bunch of 2lbs off that point, six or seven anyway. I'm pretty sure he was using Cheese-Wiz stuffed into small tubes. I was using some old Brie and didn't fare as well. I should have realized these were American fish and put that Frenchy cheese in the trash. We live and learn. Wed. I was supposed to meet the wife after work and do a little conjugal fishing, but at the last moment she sprayed herself with "Wife Away" and couldn't make it. Darn. So, I just wandered off by myself and had a great evening, finding some big ones, up to 5 lbs, in areas I thought might be too shallow. Following Brian's lead last week, I switched to Cheese-Wiz, and it proved to be the difference; probably the soy content? Hope to get Sean out this Wed. for late night at BH. He has promised to bring some nice aromatic Roquefort, long recognized as the "after dark" cheese, so I am just a giggle with anticipation! So what is going on with the rest of you cheese heads?

[BrianinMD]

Love me some cheez-wiz.....

Was a little surprised we couldn't find some bigger fish on that point but we didn't do to bad for 4 hours of fishing.

Hoping to get out for night fishing next week, right now don't have anyone to go out with. Not doing it from the shore, hopefully find a open back seat with someone.

[basser89]

I'm still hiding back here in the distance. Got out once this week (til tonight) and got blanked in the hour and a half I was able to get out.  :-/  Hoping to turn things around this evening! If not, there's tomorrow and possibly fishing a private pond with one of my friends sunday! Chris, as far as I know, I'm still all set for the night fishing on Wednesday! I can't wait!!!

Now what the heck is all this talk of stinky cheese???  :-? And who set me up with bringing the Roquefort? LOL

[cBooms@SML]

another one in maryland here! i live and fish in bowie, im 14 so i dont have a job, but i love fishing a lot! im gettin bored with the places im at now, but for now they will have to do. 

[Hellbenderman]

Hello cBooms. I share your pain. However, 16 is not far away and then, your parents willing, you can drive! The day after I got my license, I drove to Thurmont and went trout fishing...all by myself! There is a lake I have fished for a long time, but almost every time I go out, I find something new. I am sure there are things you have missed or passed over at your local spots? Until you can get up and go, really learn what is right in your back yard, try some new techniques, new lures. Explore...map a shore line by counting down a weighted worm, i.e., it took 15 seconds to reach the bottom in front of the tree, but fifty feet to the right, only 7 seconds, so there is a hump or a drop off right there. You can chart a whole shoreline and get a better idea what it looks like under water. This way you can eliminate a lot of featureless shore and spend more time fishing more productive structure. Sheeeesh....blah, blah, blah. Anyway, nice to meet you, and I only wish I was 14 again!

[Basser714]

Ok so yeah what's up with the cheese alert? I need a new lure so hook us up (no pun intended)

I have been real busy this summer but need to get out more often to salvage the year.

[BrianinMD]

I was there and don't know what is up with the cheese reference....   ;D

Got out with Basser89 on saturday morning, he got one small LM and I skunked. This spot usually produces a few for me but not that morning.

Night fishing is at BH, its a good time if you can make it. Still trying to find someone to go out with.

[Hellbenderman]

It is a well know fact that bass like cheese. For some the debate still rages, but as for me, I have seen cheese make the difference in too many situations to discount its effect on sluggish bass, especially after reading the research by well know ichthyologist and part time transvestite, Dr. Slim Notion. It's a well known secret that Kevin Van Dam orders his Edam from an exotic cheese house in Amsterdam. I should argue with KVD? Brian is being modest, having long ago made the connection between bass and cheese, he delights in playing coy. His secret is using aged cheese wiz...stuff was 10 years old. You can pretty much fill your hollow baits with any number of cheeses, though soft cheeses work best. Below, in five easy steps, I show you everything you need to know about tube cheesing. My cheese of choice tonight is Olancho Brand Queso Fresco. Let me know how this works out for you.

[basser89]

Brought some spreadable feta along last evening when Hellbenderman and I hit Black Hills for the late night fishing. Turned out I was using the wrong stuff! It was no match for his exotic cheese! I managed only 3 (biggest about 2 pounds, and all on a Hellbender crankbait!  ;D ) and Hellbenderman caught about 7 (his biggest was somewhere between 3 1/2 and 4 pounds). The evening was cut short due to a t-storm that was rolling in quick! I learned a lot last evening! Thanks again for the invite! We will have to get out again some time! I do have pics but haven't got them downloaded from the camera yet. Will post them as soon as I can!

[wv]

Sounds like Black Hills and cheese is where it's at these days. Looks like you guys did pretty well. My son and I got out Tuesday to Cacapon Park Lake in Berkeley Springs, WV. We caught 7 and missed two others.  All on Yum 6" lizards in Texas Smoke we got at Sportmans Liquidators. Biggest two were about 12 inches or so. We got some pictures on my son's cell phone. Can't seem to get them out of phone to post them. If anyone can give us some pointers on putting up photos it would be appreciated. The ones from our camera are too big to post. We shoiuld get out today somewhere...depending on the weather.

[Sully27]

i'm probably too late to get a response in time, but my bro-in-law and i are planning to do some fishing within about 30 min of frederick tomorrow (Sat.), somewhere between 10am and 6pm.  we'll be fishing from shore and going the live bait route (haven't figured out whether night crawlers, mealworms, or minnows yet).  the places i'm reading about so far are black hills, greenbrier, and some places along the potomac (though that last one probably wouldn't work so well with hook & bobber).  haven't done any fishing in this area since moving here a few years ago, so does anyone have any tips for this scenario... mostly in terms of location?  thanks in advance.

[Hellbenderman]

Hello Sully, Black Hills is your best bet, and minnows for sure. RT121 bridge goes across the lake and there are ample places to fish from shore on and near the bridge. Also inside the park, there are lot's of places to fish from shore. Fish deep. I'll be there myself with my man Brian. What kind of cheese will you be bringing?

[Hellbenderman]

SHEEEESH...."LOT'S"...WHO KEEPS PUTTING THESE d**n APOSTROPHES IN MY POSTS!

[bigdog321]

Hey Hellbenderman love your cheeseology lesson and the way you correct your own writing.Where can a man get them minnows near germantown.If you have some good info I would sure appreciate it. Thanks.

[Sully27]

thanks for the quick response hb.  we were running a bit behind on saturday and only had a little over an hour to fish, so instead of going to Fox's or the place in Brunswick to get minnows, we took a chance and stopped by Dickerson Market on the way to Black Hills (i remembered seeing a "live bait" sign on their door).  well, turned out they didn't have minnows, so we just got night crawlers.

then we parked by the rt 121 bridge and walked the trail along the shore until we found an available "castable" spot. (plug 39.18624,-77.31162 into google maps to see our spot).  the only fish longer than 5" we saw the entire time was a 10-11 incher a few feet offshore right after we set our stuff down.  no luck getting anything to bite the worms on the long casts, so i ended up just catching a few 2-5 inchers near shore, and then proceeded to cast them out as bait... but still no luck.

anyway, on our way back to the car, we realized that the lake floor dropped off much quicker as we got closer to the bridge... maybe we should've walked toward the bridge from the parking lot rather than the opposite directions, especially with it being the hottest part of the day at about 3pm.  the deeper water might've helped.

what hook size would you suggest for the 12+ inch bass?  i'm thinking about stopping for a bit on my way home from work this week... maybe around 7pm, so hopefully they'll be out for dinner by then.  also, is the monocacy a decent spot... specifically, near the rt 28 bridge?  thanks again for your thoughts.

Shaun

[BrianinMD]

Sully, Black Hills has been very tough recently. Even being in a boat hitting the deep points the bite is tough. Went out with Hellbender Saturday and only got a couple bites. Between us only got 4 in about 6 hours (not counting 2 small dinks)

The Monocacy is a good place, from Buckeystown to the Potomac is a trophy area. No bass can be kept at any time. The Rt 28 bridge can be good, just look for the deeper holes. The water is down now so wade downstream if possible find the deeper holes and you should get some fish. Be ready because there are some nice catfish in there also.

[wv]

Got a few reports here from the last week or so. My son and I got out to the Potomac near Shepherdstown, WV. I caught three SMB none bigger than 10 inches in two days(31st and 1st). All three on green pumpkin/chartreuse Yum Crawbugs(sorry no cheese). The river is really low with a lot of junk floating on top here and there. We got out to Sharpsburg Pond last night and my son got decent LMB...guessing 14/15 inches on a Creme worm. That place is about 80% covered in slop. We wanted to try Middletown Pond but didn't make it. I'd say I've got about two good months of fishing left on my MD non-resident. Looks like a trip to Black Hills would be a good trip. We would be shore fishing so not sure it would be worth the trip.