Maryland's Who's who!

[Basser714]

If anyone has been up to Dickerson lately let me know how the bite was. I checked the USGS site and levels are a bit high - discharge about normal though. I am curious about the turbidity and wish there was a site that monitored that. I imagine it will be stained at least. A webcam pointing at the river if nothing else would be nice.

Its always nice to have the C&O to fall back on.

[basser89]

If anyone has been up to Dickerson lately let me know how the bite was. I checked the USGS site and levels are a bit high - discharge about normal though. I am curious about the turbidity and wish there was a site that monitored that. I imagine it will be stained at least. A webcam pointing at the river if nothing else would be nice.

Its always nice to have the C&O to fall back on.

Last time I was at Dickerson was 9/24 but only fished the canal. Not sure what gauge you're checking but the half a foot rise I see (I reference the Hancock gauge) at the levels its at now, isn't going to make that much of a difference. I'd like to see the levels come up another foot to foot and a half. To me, that would put the sections of the Potomac back at a decent level again.

[Basser714]

I usually check the gauges south of there. I dont have much luck when the water is murky and have found with higher water levels that that grass floating in the water is always draped on my lures no matter i use. My noise makers and brights no help. So it sounds like the levels are lower than optimal. It sounds like you go there a lot more than i do. I dont have a boat so low levels usually mean better shorelines and clearer water, all things equal. It seems historically a spike in level should be occuring soon.

More than water levels, turbidity is what i like to know. It seems there is some correlation with levels but of course there is no turbidity gauge.

[Basser714]

Well B89 you were right. I went to Dickerson today and it was all slack water and grass everywhere. i did see a huge fish on the opposite side launch out of the water 3x in a row by the VA shore. It must have been a musky if not a small sub.

We headed North and worked the shore at Point of Rocks and got two dinks and did see a few big ones lurking around.

We headed further north about 5 miles and I got a small and a large which was cool.

[basser89]

Yeah, with the Hancock gauge, I like to see it around 5-6' maybe a little higher at times but 5-6' puts the Potomac at a good level for Dickerson. Its entirely possible you did see a musky. From the DNR reports I've heard about, there's starting to be a population of them down in that neck of the river. Outside of Dickerson and the Landers area, the furthest south I've fished on the Potomac has been Dam 3.

Oh yeah, check your PM's and shoot one back at me.  

[Hellbenderman]

Hmmmm...questions about when the "bite"is going to turn on at Black Hills. I wonder just what this "bite" is? If by "bite" you mean, "when are the bass going to start hitting on my favorite lure, which I use every time I go out, but only catch fish on in the spring or some other time of the year," as in, "I really like spinner baits but the "bite" doesn't seem to be "on" in July!" What I am getting at is that I have never found a time when the "bite" was not on at Black Hills, or any other place for that matter. Fish eat all the time. You may find it easier to catch fish in the spring on your spinner bait, but the idea that some mythological "bite" turns off and on is poopy. You need to broaden your horizons. I catch just as many bass, and on average, larger bass, in the dead heat of August than I do in May. In the dead heat of this past August, going out once, sometimes twice a week, I caught a seven, two sixes, two fives, and several 3s & 4s. There is a huge "bite" in August, but that bite is happening in 20 -30 feet. Sure, you're going to catch a few up close, but the fish you want are "biting" deep, cruising around in the tops of all those beautiful trees. Don't be afraid to abandon your favorite lure for something new that matches the conditions presented to you. As for right now, find five to fifteen feet and fish a senko on top of the weed beds, go way in the back and chuck a frog around deep lumber with weeds surounding it or a spinner bait, also work the spinner bait just over the tops of the weed beds a little deeper. There is always a "bite". You just need to figure out how to get to it. Smoochies

[Basser714]

Appreciate the tips hell. All the DNR and Times august fishing reports for august conflicted with what you said and what I saw. I still knew they were there, and I was there. I think you need to go pro with your august numbers. Maybe some here remember the more lean years. Times have changed but august was slow for me and I bet others. I know the fish are there but getting to those 30 foot trees is tough for us shoreman sometimes. Believe me i have gone as deep as i can in as many places as i can. And i pulled a 6 a month ago so my doors of perception are open.

Fall bite to me means when are they are going to come up from 30 feet. Look at the insane number of fall fishing articles on this site. Water temps control their lives. They fall into patterns even if you land a 7 on the slowest day. We all know they start feeding more heavily based on drops in water temperatures and increased metabolism. And I think we all know a bass cant turn down a properly presented meal. For some of us, getting to where they are is the hurdle, not what color chunk to use on my favorite boo.

Water temps in a res are a bit more complex than a lake. Thats what I wanted to know about. Thanks for sharing all your tips.

[Hellbenderman]

I have been fishing Black Hills for decades, probably 40-50 times a year. It is my "home" lake as it is only a few miles away and you don't have to put up with jet skis, etc. 3-4 years ago, I began catching 2lb bass like crazy. They were the result of a very successful spawn, I suppose. Those fish have grown up, and they are there in good numbers. These are the fish I am catching. I have also noticed a reduction in muskies as well. Whether this has anything to do with fish surviving long enough to get big, I don't know. Just an observation. I suspect sometime in the next couple years there will be a couple ten pounders come out. Last year there was a tremendous spawn as well. I found that on almost every cast over the summer, regardless of where I was, huge schools of 4 inch bass followed my baits up from the deep, and indeed, this year I found myself pummeled by small bass on a constant basis. I also noticed the same schools of recently spawned small bass this year, but to a lesser degree than last. In all the time I have fished BH, I have never seen huge spawns to this degree. This bodes very well for the future. But, for what ever reason, there are a lot of large bass available at BH right now, and I am just tickled pink. I have been bass fishing for 50 years, and cut my teeth in Alabama in the early seventies just before the B.A.S.S. thing went ballistic. You learn something fishing 2 times a week for 50 years. I have never filled out a fishing report or done a great deal of sharing of info, and I admit, it is out of selfishness. It wasn't easy catching those fish and they didn't just jump in the boat, and quite frankly, I was very happy to be the only boat on the lake fishing in 40 feet of water, while everyone else was pounding the shore line. A short while back, I had a heart attack. I now know that every time I go out might be my last, and have come to believe that maybe I should pass on some of what I have learned, grudgingly....hahaha. I understand your dilemma being stuck on shore and why the temp drop is important to you. I would be happy to take you out sometime and try to nail a couple big ones. I am going to Cape Hatteras to do some speckled trout fishing and won't be back until the 22nd of Oct. Maybe we can do it after that. If not then, next year for sure. Stay in touch. I will be happy to do it. In the mean time, I'll send you a few picks from the August catch, just so you know I'm not pulling your chain. A good place to look for one of these fish from shore is the bridge abutment on the west/north side of the bridge. Very close to the abutment, on the side facing towards the park, they left a tree standing. It is less than five feet from the abutment and the tree top is about 15 feet down. You should be able to reach it from the shore. Throw something odd, something you think they may have never seen before, just something different, and deep. I have caught several large fish off this tree this year, and you can too.

[Basser714]

hell thanks for the valuable information. I sent off an email to you. I wasnt planning a trip up to the lake this week but now I may have to!  And will dig deep down in the box for something different.

[basser89]

Great posts Hellbenderman! And I apologize that I hadn't replied back to your email yet!!!

I've seen the same thing with with the muskies. I can tell you they stopped stocking Tigers in there back in '04. If you do tie into a musky, you can bet it's going to be keeper size or larger! The last tiger I fought with at Black Hills was pushing 40-45" (yeah, it won that battle). I don't believe bass are the tigers main forage. I think you're going to find they'll go for bluegill and crappie first.

Basser, check your PM's. I got you some Potomac info. Hope it helps!!!

[Basser714]

i landed a 24 inch musky on a tiny torpedo black about 6 years ago at BH. Of course thought it was a big bass until I landed him. I have seen many more since then including many this year (three were hooked and two others in the water). One was a monster. But I havent seen any in months and suspect the run may be over. Last year I saw one and then he started feeding. I was by the stick pile just northeast of the bridge in "the pan fish cove" and spotted him. Then I saw him attack a BG and thrash him about. i was scrambling to get my jig out there and feebly pitched it and snagged into that beaverish stick pile so I just watched the feeding. It was awesome.

Yep Hell is right, the lake started to come to life about 3 years ago with 2 pounders. Before that, I had thought there was a massive fish kill... it had dried up for me. The stuff that worked before that stopped. Right around the cicada times IIRC. I bet they tasted nasty and the bass said noooo more lol. I caught fish years before that and then it just went cold, but slowly came back to life.

Thanks again Hell and B89.

[Bassaholic84]

Hell I know the tree your talking about....as your riding toward the bridge it is almost right infront of the first bridge pilling. Theres also something on the same side on the other side of the bridge that holds some fish. Couldnt make out what it is on my depth finder. (might just be a weird hump. My deep fishing got a little better this year but i still struggle. Black Hills seems to be one of the harder places in the area to catch the bass. So I am also excited about the fall.

I went Wednesday. The day of the horrible wind of course. It was a bad idea. I got one keeper in a creek channel. But none shallow at all. The main lake was low 70s surface temp and going down the branch by the fishing pier. The lake started getting toward mid 60s the further i went back.

[Steve826]

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd stop in and introduce myself. My name is Steve, I'm 16, located in Frederick. I've been bass fishing for 2 years now. No boat yet so I fish from shore. Most of my fishing is done at a small farm pond where I've caught some huge bluegills and decent bass this year. I also fish Cunningham Falls Lake pretty frequently, and a few public ponds in Frederick County. I recently purchased a 50 lb thrust Minn Kota Endura trolling motor to use on rental boats at Black Hills and Clopper. I'm not a great bass fisherman by any means, but I learn something new each time I go out. My PB largemouth is a 4.5 from the farm pond I mentioned. Anyway, this looks like a cool board here and I'm looking forward to participating.

Steve

[basser89]

Hey Steve,

Welcome to THE boards! There's a lot of great anglers on here that you can learn from! Probably the most popular spot I've fished this year in Frederick county has been the community pond in Middletown. I got to fish Cunningham with BrianinMD earlier in the year. If you see me around, be sure to stop and say hey! If you have any questions about local waters I may be able to help you with, let me know!

[BrianinMD]

Welcome Steve, you came to the right place to talk bass fishing.

I live between Black Hills and Clopper. I spend more time at Black Hills but if there are any questions please let me know, I will answer everything the best way I can. There are some real good guys on here who can tell you all kind of information.

[Steve826]

Thanks for the warm welcomes guys.

Basser89, I've fished Middletown Community Pond a bunch of times with very little results to speak of. I've done okay there on the trout when they stock it in April, but I've never caught a bass there. Are there any decent bass in there?

Cunningham is definitely one of my best spots from shore, I've caught plenty of 1-2 lbers from shore and I rarely get skunked there.

BrianinMD, as for Clopper and Black Hills, I'll have to pick your brain come spring time when I fish out of their rental boats

Steve

[basser89]

Hey Steve,

The past 2 years, the grass has gotten out of control at the pond at Middletown but I can assure you, the bass are in there, some good ones too! I've caught citation size bass in there. My best out of Cunningham is a 5 and a half pounder (from shore) and I've seen better ones than that in the spring!

[Steve826]

The grass is horrible at Middletown. I bet a frog would be a good lure to throw there in the summertime. Have you noticed if the bass use the shallow grass as cover or do they live deeper? There are tons of grass mats a few feet from shore that just look like they have a bass under them.

[basser89]

Yeah, the frog was probably my top producer there this year. I hope they get things turned around in there by next year. It's a fun place to fish if you only have a little time to get out. I've actually caught fish from one end of the pond to the next. I'd say the more productive area for paralleling the shore is down by the reeds. I've heard people tell me, never witnessed, citiation size bass from down on that end. I've had most of my better fish come from out off the shore.

[Basser714]

I have seen some folks from here hitting the spot referenced in previous posts at Black Hill recently!  Its kind of funny, as I see a boat approaching, I speculate where they are going... and to steal a redskins football reference: Bingo!

The last 4 fish I have caught at Black Hill have all had health issues. One dude was missing half his lower jaw. Red spots and sores galore.

[basser89]

BrianinMD and I hit Black Hills after work today. We decided to hit the channel that runs back to the stick ups area (by the visitors center). Brian managed 2 small bass on the upper end of the channel before I got there, then we hit the back end of the channel when I finally showed up. We both blanked back there. Brian did see one bass break the surface way out in the middle of the channel. We have a visitor briefly too. Just about at dark, an owl lit in a tree just about above Brian's head. LOL

[BrianinMD]

Basser714, not sure what spot you are referring to. Also, where were you getting the bass with the health issues. I have not caught any with problems.

Was good to make it out with Basser89 last night, although as he said we didn't exactly tear them up it was a good evening to be out. Both of the fish I caught were on a green Senko, was casting out long and in the area I was at I got beyond the weed growth. The bites seemed to be right before my retrieve got to the edge of the weeds. Once into the weeds I got nothing.

[Basser714]

hey brian. the area and the fish I am referring to are all near the bridge. It may be a total coincidence that the fish I have caught lately have had sores etc.  I have caught many before that with zero issuses. So if everyone is seeing no problems, its probably my poor fishing techniques lol. Only the swimming wounded near blind and starving buy my unnatural senkolicious presentations.  Joking aside, I cant see how it would be that one part of the lake. Maybe next time i will take a picture. It was a bit disturbing but I am happy to hear no one else has seen issues. Phew. We need the fish there to be strong.

[wv]

I would like to welcome Steve, too. Been a way a while and am surprised people still fishing this late in year. My son and I have been out three times this month. Two times at Potomac and once in Berkeeley Springs, WV. River was pretty low both places - Sheperdstown and Dam 4. Just lost equipment...no fish. At Cacapon Lake I got four hits on a Berkeley  Gulp-type worm. Must have gotten too excited....missed all four times. :-[ Need to think seriously about getting a MD non-resident license if not too costly. Looks like we can put our equipment away now for a while. I have really enjoyed this site. I will keep checking in to see if the fishing is still OK...never really fished much during colder weather. Always figured fising slowed down after October.

[basser89]

Hey wv,

I fish year round. When the lakes get iced over, there are 2 warm water discharge areas I fish on the Potomac that I can still hit. They do get crowded when they're running the warm water but if you beat the crowds, the action can be good! If there's no ice on the river, I'll still get my boat out from time to time in the winter as well and have done ok with smallies, walleye and musky in november and december too. But you're right, the action does slow down. I've only managed a couple of outings on the Potomac (from shore recently). The best day I had was below one of the dams. Only had 2 small smallies, a 2 1/2lb largemouth and a 19" walleye. Jerkbaits and cranks did the trip on that outing and the water was super shallow! Not sure what the cost of the out of state license would run you. I pretty sure MD does the reciprical charging so my guess is, it would cost you the same as the out of state license for WV. Hope this helps!