Maryland's Who's who!

[JeepFisher]

Still trying to figure out Rocky Gorge, but funny enough the only action i got was some bass taking swipes at a heddon torpedo.

[JeepFisher]

Fishing by kayak...  Left from Scotts Cove once and Suplee the other times.

[JeepFisher]

8 minutes ago, MountainMan83 said:

Have you thought about going out of Brown's bridge? It's real shallow throughout that stretch. They might be more active through there.

Not to mention I am not used to fishing in 30-60 ft of water - lol.  I think you are right.  Temp was warmer the further i headed up that direction.  I only made it to the 29 bridge yesterday but temps where in the low 60s at the end of the pockets. 

[Junger]

I wanted to take my boat out for some shad fishing, but the weather last night looked like rain in the AM and winds picking up in the afternoon, so I didn't really see a great window to be out there. I ended up going to Whetstone for a couple hours before going to Lowe's to wrap up my honey-do list.

 

First I broke out the popper around isolated pieces of wood, but no LMB hits. It did get tugged down a couple times, but it was just some bluegill going for the tail feathers as usual. The wind picked up a little so I broke out a chartreuse/white war eagle finesse spinnerbait. I immediately picked up 2 on the same isolated piece of wood that I had just thrown a popper at. So pattern of the day, tight to wood, and spinnerbaits. Caught 5 in all, with the best just over 2lbs, a short but girthy female.

 

[fishwizzard]

 

Never have I had a bass hit a lure so many times in a row.  Cast next to a laydown, the line moves, I set the hook, feel weight for a second, then he comes off. This happens three more times before I get him, but just barely as you can see. Each time the hook point was exposed, but not fully. 

 

No idea what was going on, 884c, 16lb Invizx, 3/0 Owner hook.  The bass was very close to the bank, like 10-15’ of line out at most.  Super close range hooksets with longer rods are always tough for me but this was just absurd.  

[Junger]

47 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

 The bass was very close to the bank, like 10-15’ of line out at most.  Super close range hooksets with longer rods are always tough for me but this was just absurd.  

Maybe it was a bedding bass just trying to move your worm off the bed? 

[fishwizzard]

 

14 minutes ago, Junger said:

Maybe it was a bedding bass just trying to move your worm off the bed? 

That is what I assume, but I have never had one in that situation hold a worm for so long or move so far.  He was running 2-5’ with the worm each time, which made my inability to get a hookset all the more annoying. 

 

 

[Milkncookies79]

So I grew up in upstate NY lake fishing.  For twenty years even though I live in DE my boat was kept in NY.  I finally brought the boat down last year and started fishing the Upper Chesapeake and rivers for the first time.  I never thought it would be this hard to simply catch any fish let alone a largemouth.  Since last year I’ve been to the Sassafras nine times and I’ve caught one striped bass  and a couple dinks.  I’ve fished the Northeast and the flats 5-6 times and caught a few but not much to speak of.  It feels like I’ve tried everything.  Interestingly in 15 times I’ve been out I’ve seen a lot of boats but I’ve never seen someone else catch a fish either.  Seems like no feast and all famine.

 

So am I just really unlucky to pick awful days to fish or is tidal fishing really this tough?

[Mantis7]

Hey fellas, new guy here in the Bethesda area.  I have been scouting out small ponds on google maps and hitting the tidal basin on the weekends.  Are there any good spots in my area that you would recommend?  I also just got a Jackson Cuda 14 Kayak. I am interested in meeting up for some kayak fishing if anyone has one.

[ptomacbass]

21 hours ago, Mantis7 said:

Hey fellas, new guy here in the Bethesda area.  I have been scouting out small ponds on google maps and hitting the tidal basin on the weekends.  Are there any good spots in my area that you would recommend?  I also just got a Jackson Cuda 14 Kayak. I am interested in meeting up for some kayak fishing if anyone has one.

I live in Friendship Heights too, I'm the house near Mass ave with the bass boat.

[fishwizzard]

21 hours ago, Mantis7 said:

Hey fellas, new guy here in the Bethesda area.  I have been scouting out small ponds on google maps and hitting the tidal basin on the weekends.  Are there any good spots in my area that you would recommend?  I also just got a Jackson Cuda 14 Kayak. I am interested in meeting up for some kayak fishing if anyone has one.

I am over by Annapolis but I fish out of a yak as well.  I do a lot of weekday fishing due to my work schedule but I can makes weekends work as well.  

[Mantis7]

3 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

I am over by Annapolis but I fish out of a yak as well.  I do a lot of weekday fishing due to my work schedule but I can makes weekends work as well.  

I am thinking about hitting 4 mile run on May 4th with my Kayak.  I don't know if you want to tag along, but it would be nice to go with someone who knows it well.  I am not even sure where to park or put my yak in the water, google maps can be tricky when scouting for spots.  

[Lock]

Hey guys,

I've been at Walter Reed for a bit now and I'm searching for some good bass spots. I've got a fly setup as well as gear. I'm originally from WA state where I pretty much exclusively fished for salmon and trout, so I'm semi-new to the bass game. I fished Widewater on the C&O last weekend and had a largemouth smash a woollybugger on the flyrod and now I'm obsessed. Spotted a couple monsters but couldn't get them to hit. If you guys any tips or advice for a newbie, it would be much appreciated. I also have a cheap pelican yak that will get me on the water. Thanks.

[Fried Lemons]

2 hours ago, Lock said:

Hey guys,

I've been at Walter Reed for a bit now and I'm searching for some good bass spots. I've got a fly setup as well as gear. I'm originally from WA state where I pretty much exclusively fished for salmon and trout, so I'm semi-new to the bass game. I fished Widewater on the C&O last weekend and had a largemouth smash a woollybugger on the flyrod and now I'm obsessed. Spotted a couple monsters but couldn't get them to hit. If you guys any tips or advice for a newbie, it would be much appreciated. I also have a cheap pelican yak that will get me on the water. Thanks.

That spot has some big bass but they are very pressured. I don't know anything about flies but I recommend upsizing your presentation to represent a bigger meal. Fish them slowly as the big fish are lazy and do not want to chase. Here's one I caught a few weeks ago on a hudd 68.

 

 

 

[Junger]

3 hours ago, Lock said:

Hey guys,

I've been at Walter Reed for a bit now and I'm searching for some good bass spots. I've got a fly setup as well as gear. I'm originally from WA state where I pretty much exclusively fished for salmon and trout, so I'm semi-new to the bass game. I fished Widewater on the C&O last weekend and had a largemouth smash a woollybugger on the flyrod and now I'm obsessed. Spotted a couple monsters but couldn't get them to hit. If you guys any tips or advice for a newbie, it would be much appreciated. I also have a cheap pelican yak that will get me on the water. Thanks.

Super pressured area. If you see them, they probably see you and will not bite. I've had many many follows right up to the bank and they'd just turn around. Slow is the key, the water drops off pretty quickly about 8-10 feet from the bank walls and that's where they lurk. I've had good luck toward the narrow end near the north lock too along the bluff rock walls. The access is just much tougher since you have to climb down rock ledges to find a decent casting area. Bonus part of C&O canal are all the conversations you can pick up on....some of them are comedy gold when the drama llama ladies roll through.

 

What a monster @Fried Lemons!

[fishwizzard]

6 hours ago, Mantis7 said:

I am thinking about hitting 4 mile run on May 4th with my Kayak.  I don't know if you want to tag along, but it would be nice to go with someone who knows it well.  I am not even sure where to park or put my yak in the water, google maps can be tricky when scouting for spots.  

I think I have a gig on May 4th but I will know by this coming Monday.  I have never fished there before however.  Rocky Gorge is the biggest spot I normally fish, I mostly stick to smaller spots around southern MD.  

 

1 hour ago, Fried Lemons said:

 

 

 

 

Dude your average canal bass is like twice size of one of my better ones, it's insane what you pull out of there.  

[Junger]

Fishwizzard and I met up for an impromptu fishing session at Widewater in the AM. He first scouted out Swains Lock, but said the water was way too low, barely a trickle. Started at the water overflow structure around 9AM and walked up the towpath. Fishwizzard got the first one with a chunky 2.6lber on a 6" stick bait. We kept walking and looking for fishy spots, as our goal was to get up and cross over to the Berma road side and fish back down to Anglers. At the towpath bridge, I saw a good one around 4lbs at the first bridge piling. Threw a chatterbait, a swimjig, a paddle tail but nothing. Went with a finesse spinnerbait to try and coax a reaction strike but I only got the small male to chase for a moment. Water felt too cold for spawning, but I think they were in spawn mode or close to it. The female was not budging much from the piling. We finally crossed over to Berma road and stopped at a couple places but nothing. Then we finally saw some nice wood laydowns and I was on with my first on a shad spinnerbait with a rage menace trailer. A small one probably just over a lb. 

 

We kept going in and out of fishy looking nooks, ones with timber laydowns and then I stuck another one. I knew it was a good one, but had stuck it in about 8 feet of water, the laydown extended way out and the water is deep on that side. The bass had wrapped once around a log so I kept it pinned until it finally decided to swim to the left and miraculously it unwrapped and I hauled in a nice 3.6lber.

 

 

Fished a couple more fishy spots and then I called it because I am leaving for NJ for easter. Fishwizzard is probably going back this evening so hopefully he'll post some more pics of some monsters!

 

Happy Easter/Passover everyone!

[Junger]

First topwater fish of the year! Hit it on the jackall pompadour jr on the pause near a rock pile. Started with a spinnerbait from Anglers to the towpath bridge and only got one hit, but saw several bedding bass that were not interested in any artificial lures. This stretch is so pressured, they seem to know what's a real threat vs not.

 

 

[RichF]

On 4/18/2019 at 5:19 PM, Fried Lemons said:

That spot has some big bass but they are very pressured. I don't know anything about flies but I recommend upsizing your presentation to represent a bigger meal. Fish them slowly as the big fish are lazy and do not want to chase. Here's one I caught a few weeks ago on a hudd 68.

 

 

 

Does the C&O "count" as the Potomac? Meaning, will my VA license reciprocate here like it does on the Potomac?

[Junger]

5 hours ago, RichF said:

Does the C&O "count" as the Potomac? Meaning, will my VA license reciprocate here like it does on the Potomac?

I reached out to MD DNR via Twitter, here's the response:

 

Quote

 

A resident of Virginia possessing a valid Virginia nontidal fishing license issued in that resident’s name may fish in nontidal waters of the mainstem of the Potomac River opposite the shore of Virginia. A resident of Virginia possessing a valid Virginia saltwater fishing license issued in that resident’s name may fish any portion of the tidal waters of Maryland, so long as they have obtained a Maryland Saltwater Angler Registration. A resident of Maryland possessing a valid Maryland Nontidal Sport Fishing License issued in that person’s name can fish from the Virginia banks of the Potomac River opposite the shore of Maryland without a Virginia fishing license. Any holder of a valid Maryland Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License may fish in Virginia tidal saltwater, regardless of residency, so long as they have obtained a Virginia Saltwater Angler Registration.

 

 

 

So although they did not directly answer the question, C&O canal is not considered part of the mainstem Potomac River.

 

Edit: DNR followed up, and they confirmed the C&O Canal is not part of the mainstem Potomac River and you would need a MD fishing license for it.

Edited April 24, 2019 by Junger
DNR confirmed

[RichF]

34 minutes ago, Junger said:

I reached out to MD DNR via Twitter, here's the response:

 

So although they did not directly answer the question, C&O canal is not considered part of the mainstem Potomac 

That stinks for me. Thanks for the info!

[ptomacbass]

23 hours ago, RichF said:

That stinks for me. Thanks for the info!

Definite no on the VA license thing and every time I've been there in the past couple years there's someone checking licenses (on a horse lol)

[ptomacbass]

Few fish from the past few weeks, lots between 4 and 6 lb recently but no real giants. I'll take it.

 

 

 

 

[MakeUltraLightGreatAgain]

21 hours ago, ptomacbass said:

Definite no on the VA license thing and every time I've been there in the past couple years there's someone checking licenses (on a horse lol)

I've never been stopped in either VA or MD and wish I saw more of them checking ID's.

[Junger]

Made it out Saturday the first time out on my boat this year with my dad. We got to Slavin's at 7:30AM, and off shortly afterwards. The lot was almost full, and saw lots of kayakers as well. We headed up the creek, past the trail wall to get away from crowds and we were the only boat up there for a couple hours. The weather was picture perfect, overcast with the sun peeping in and out at times, almost no wind until about 11:30AM when it picked to gusts of about 12mph.

 

An adult eagle swooped down from a tree and landed on this log about 300 yards away. I saw juvenile eagles flying around too. Magnificent birds.

 

The main creek was stained and a little muddy, with about 4-6" visibility and 66 degree water temp, so I headed into some pads hoping for some cleaner water. I had some success in a spatterdock cut across from the trail wall so I started there, but got nothing on chatterbaits and paddletails. When we exited the pad cut, the vegetation transitioned from pads to pickle grass and there were some nice pockets to pitch. I told my dad our best chances were to probably pitch the chatterbaits into those grass cuts and then slow roll them back to the drop off. My dad is a stubborn man, and just threw 4-5' off the edge closer to the channel. Then next thing you know he's hooked up...I guess his 40 years of fishing told me to shut up. 6.3lb snakehead which gave him a heck of a fight on his 6'6 MH spinning rod.

 

Ultimately, the pattern I thought would work did, and I produced a nice largie shortly afterwards with a black and blue chatterbait. I had two more on but both shook off at the boat, both would probably have been over 4lbs, with one of them maybe more...it had a huge head that I saw as it came off and shook out the hook.

 

Winds picked up, and I tried a spinnerbait but no takers and then the clouds disappeared and we decided to head back around 1PM. Lot was full and some trailers had to park on the side of the road when we put back up.