Maryland's Who's who!

[Bill Poch]

Welcome again Bill!

A few places you can try out that's near you as well that you can fish from shore. Cunningham Falls, the pond in the park at Middletown, the pond at Baker park (I JUST found out there are bass in there) just to name a few. Scroll back through the pages, or I'm sure some others will chime in as well on other places nearby.

I've been taking my kid to daycare in Middletown for the past 2 years, I had no idea there was a pond up there. I had no idea there were bass in the pond at Baker park either. I never made it up to Cunningham Falls last year, but it was always in the back of my mind. Thanks for the info.

[301-fisherman]

There are bass in baker park?? Lived here my whole life and never knew that. Anything of any size?

[basser89]

LOL 301! I lived in Frederick for quite a few years as well and never knew until monday. A co-worker of mine fished there, and he's definitely a rookie when it comes to bass fishing. The one he caught at somewhere between 17-18". Now its been a while since I've been down at Baker park but I believe it's the "pond" called color lake that's technically behind Frederick High and adjacent to Baker park itself. Hope that makes sense!

[basser89]

Took an extended lunch today and hit Black Hills again.

Surprisingly, I ran into KenLattimore when I first got there! Good to see you again Ken! Hope you caught a few before you had to go!

It didn't initially start off to be an extended lunch but I got into a good bunch of fish! Started off catching a 14.5 inch crappie, followed up with a 1 pound largemouth. After that, I hooked into a good bass that hooked the lipless crank I was using on a log and it got off. That's when I decided it was time to extend lunch. I tied on another lipless crank and started fan casting the area. Caught a 3-3, a 1-8, then I landed my biggest of the outing which went 4-4 and measured 21 1/4 inches! Managed one more that went 20 inches. I didn't get a weight on that one because she inhaled the crank and one of the trebles caught her in the gill. Estimated total weight of the 5 bass was around 13 1/2lbs. The trick today was to barely brush the bait against the wood. When the bait came off, they'd hammer it! All the fish were in roughly 3' (MAYBE 4') or less.

Here's a couple of pic's of 2 of the bigger ones I landed.

[Fat Boy]

Way to go Sean! Nice fish man!

[basser89]

Thanks Kevin! Think I've finally found my mojo!

[KenLattimore]

Way to go Sean! I didn't have any luck and left almost right after I saw you. Hopefully I'll be able to get out tomorrow morning and have the same luck as you!

[Bill Poch]

Those are some nice looking fish. I feel like a novice looking at all these huge fish you guys catch on this site. I'm gonna have to start studying all the tips instead of just chucking crankbaits for smallies and plastic worms for LM.

[basser89]

Thanks Ken. Much appreciated!

Hey Bill, no need to feel that way. One of the reasons I created this thread was to share information to help others become better anglers! Any specific questions, just ask away! There's a lot of skilled anglers are on here!

[Bill Poch]

The pictures actually inpire me. That's what I like about fishing, you just never know when that big guy is going to hit. Lucky for me, my basic tactics catch fish but I would love to expand on my limited techiques for those days when what I know just isn't working.

For the rivers (Monocacy at Pinecliff and Potomac just up from Hapers Ferry) my main lure is the Rebel floater/driver crawfish crankbait. For me, those are pretty money for catching fish. My 2nd that didn't seem to good last year are 3" power grubs on a jig head. Maybe I'm not working them right, I would just cast and retive, but I got tired of always getting hung up on the bottom with those guys. My only topwater bait was a few poppers that got a few hits, but those are hard to work in a moving river. This year, I have a kayak so I'll be able to cover more ground and not be limited to jumping rocks to get out in the river, although the Potomac was down most of the summer so I could get out pretty far.

At Blackhills, from land I stayed away from any crankbaits that had treble hooks because I'd end up losing it getting snagged. I didn't catch much there last year, but got a few. When I was younger I used Berkley powerbait worms and slugo jerk baits, so that's what I've stuck with. The worms I would just texas rig (I think that's right, with the bullet weight on the line and a 2/0 hook in the head to body). Again, I used some topwater poppers and actually caught the biggest LM out of there last year in the backwash out on the long point working the tree's sticking out. I don't have a scale but he had to be close to 2lb. I've tried spinnerbaits but have never had any luck with them. It's either I'm to impatiant or just not working it right.

Maybe when the weather gets a little nicer and I'm able to get out a few times a week we can come up with some "technique of the week" for us guys that are looking to learn to fish and not rely on one minded techniques

[301-fisherman]

About to hit the Hills. Anyone else making it out today!

[basser89]

About to hit the Hills. Anyone else making it out today!

Sorry, spent the most part of the mid-day there 301. LOL! Good luck and give us a report when you get back!!!

I figured with as hard as I hit them yesterday, that I'd throw something other than a lipless crank. Ya know, show them something different. Well.... I threw jigs, lizards, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and even a large senko style bait. Not...... even...... a...... nibble. LOL! I realized that I hadn't taken my box of lipless cranks out of the bag so I tied one on the softest rod I had with me which was a lot stiffer than I like throwing my lipless baits on. I made the best of the time I had left, managed 4 and lost about 4 or so more. My best one was about a pound and a half or so. Smallest, about a pound. 2 of the ones I lost were better bass. I got a decent look at the one and guesstimating it went about 4lbs or so. Sorry, completely forgot my thermometer today.

[TheKingFisher]

Wow, nice fish Sean! Glad to see someone catching from the banks. I've been out a couple times this year and have only managed 1 so far. I saw you out there when I was catching up with Ken for a minute. I can't wait to get dialed in. Maybe I'll see you out there.

[KenLattimore]

Well Sean. I feel better knowing it wasn't just me the day I saw you because I threw everything except a lipless crank for nothing. And guess what I picked up yesterday...LOL!

[wv]

Wow. Some nice fish Basser89. We finally got the licenses and got out yesterday. First tried the Potomac below Shepherdstown. River was too fast for our shore fishing and a little off color. Nothing there. Headed over to Sharpsburg Pond. Was surprised to see the slop still on top. Saw a lot of small sunnies and bass and a couple trout fishermen.. My son got on the board first. Caught a litlle chubby ten-incher on a Creme worm. I got the skunk. Headed to Middletown Pond...wall-to-wall trout fishermen. Water was cloudy and nothing there. I did meet a nice young man at Sharpsburg and we talked about fishing in the area. He said he lived in Williamsport. I gave him the info here...had a senior moment and thought the name was "Ultimate Bass" and not "Bass Resource" . Gave him the thread name and mentioned Basser89 and the job he does hosting the converstaion and told him lots of good posters. Hope he finds it in spite of my mis-information. Maybe I 'll see him again and tell him correctly. Might head out today...not sure. Working 6 days next week and then vacation starting about 9:30PM March 24...my son's 17th birthday by the way. I can't really teach him to be a great fisherman but I hope he can learn to be a great person by learning about fishing. It's something I've enjoyed off-and-on for about 50 years. Hope everyone keeps getting the bites.

[301-fisherman]

So managed to get one when I was out yesterday. Sean I tried to find the area you and Ken hit nowadays but wasnt quite sure where it was so I ended up somewhere new that I never fished before. It had alot of stick ups and trees laying down seemed like a good area. I caught mine on a crank bait which I NEVER use. Matter of fact it was my first fish ever caught on one. What size cranks are you all using. I was using square bill 1.5 and 2.5, the fish bit on the bluegill looking 2.5

[TheKingFisher]

I love lipless cranks and spent the previous outing to the one I saw you guys throwing them to no avail. Everywhere I threw them I was just bringing back leaves and a little bit of green. Spent more time unplugging the things than fishing then. I like what Sean says about the bouncing it off the wood, seems like it would prevent the big splash I always think scares any fish in the immediate vicinity of where it lands but I would be concerned about getting caught on the wood.

[TheKingFisher]

301 I really like that 2.5 Bluegill and had good success with it at BH last year. I think most people think I'm crazy when they see the size of it. For me though, it's bass or bust! Plus I've discovered that little bass are like little dogs, meaning they must not know they're little, cause I've caught some I thought had no business going for that lure!

Kevin

[Fat Boy]

I fished the tidal Potomac courtesy of my friend Mark, Greenway Flats to Mattawoman. We arrived to our first spot around 9 AM. We both had bass on our minds, so that's what we primarily did. Water clarity, not too bad for bass, about a foot and a half visibility, perfect for cranks and spinnerbaits.

When I think spring, I'm thinkin' emerging weed beds and lipless crankbaits, so that's what I used. When fishing isolated cover, I'll either flip or toss Texas rigged plastic worms. But open water over big tidal weeds can put up numbers of good size pre spawn bass that key on chasing shad and herring. Nothing imitates the blue back herring better than chrome/blue cranks, and the Rat-L-Trap or similar baits seem to call 'em in.

I caught this fish on my third cast:

The Rat-L-Trap bite was on. For me, the lipless crankbait caught me 14 largemouth, with my biggest going 21", followed by an 18 1/2", 18", two 17" and the rest between 14 and 17". When the tides moved, as you'd expect, the fishing picked up. Other than that, we picked up one here and there. The way we started out, I thought that we would have had a better numbers day.

At the end of the day, we left a spot that was giving up fish to both of us steadily and went to a spot on the morning that gave up fish, but that move didn't pan out. We broke my golden rule, "Don't leave fish to find fish". Had we stayed, we may have been able to pad our numbers a little more. I'm getting out Monday, so at least I have a head start on what to expect. Maybe the numbers weren't all that great, but the size was. Wow, I love the Potomac. We are so blessed to have such a great place to fish.

I also caught three spawned out yellow perch. Only one of the bass came off a different lure, as did the perch, by swimming a grub while taking a break from casting the trap, testing the waters for panfish.

Here's the one that I caught while trying to catch yellow perch, on my ultralight while swimming a grub, a 17" bass. Although I'm a believer in the big bait theory, small lures will catch big bass.

Here's the 21" bass:

We were leaving one spot to go to another, and I said, OK, one more cast. This guy hit on that cast!

The rest of our bass pics:

The yellow perch were spawned out, long and lean:

The funny thing is that. before leaving for the afternoon at 4 PM, I said, OK, last two casts. On my very last cast, caught another 15" bass. What a great way to end a beautiful warm March day.

In summary, we had a wonderful time, wonderful weather, and the company was awesome! On top of that, we caught fish!

[Fat Boy]

Thanks Kevin! Think I've finally found my mojo!

I think that you've had the mojo, you just needed the bass to make an appearance!

[basser89]

Wow, nice fish Sean! Glad to see someone catching from the banks. I've been out a couple times this year and have only managed 1 so far. I saw you out there when I was catching up with Ken for a minute. I can't wait to get dialed in. Maybe I'll see you out there.

Welcome to THE boards TheKingFisher! Thanks!

Well Sean. I feel better knowing it wasn't just me the day I saw you because I threw everything except a lipless crank for nothing. And guess what I picked up yesterday...LOL!

Glad I could "inspire you" into trying them! LOL!

Wow. Some nice fish Basser89. We finally got the licenses and got out yesterday. First tried the Potomac below Shepherdstown. River was too fast for our shore fishing and a little off color. Nothing there. Headed over to Sharpsburg Pond. Was surprised to see the slop still on top. Saw a lot of small sunnies and bass and a couple trout fishermen.. My son got on the board first. Caught a litlle chubby ten-incher on a Creme worm. I got the skunk. Headed to Middletown Pond...wall-to-wall trout fishermen. Water was cloudy and nothing there. I did meet a nice young man at Sharpsburg and we talked about fishing in the area. He said he lived in Williamsport. I gave him the info here...had a senior moment and thought the name was "Ultimate Bass" and not "Bass Resource" . Gave him the thread name and mentioned Basser89 and the job he does hosting the converstaion and told him lots of good posters. Hope he finds it in spite of my mis-information. Maybe I 'll see him again and tell him correctly. Might head out today...not sure. Working 6 days next week and then vacation starting about 9:30PM March 24...my son's 17th birthday by the way. I can't really teach him to be a great fisherman but I hope he can learn to be a great person by learning about fishing. It's something I've enjoyed off-and-on for about 50 years. Hope everyone keeps getting the bites.

Thanks wv! Glad to see you guys getting out as well!

So managed to get one when I was out yesterday. Sean I tried to find the area you and Ken hit nowadays but wasnt quite sure where it was so I ended up somewhere new that I never fished before. It had alot of stick ups and trees laying down seemed like a good area. I caught mine on a crank bait which I NEVER use. Matter of fact it was my first fish ever caught on one. What size cranks are you all using. I was using square bill 1.5 and 2.5, the fish bit on the bluegill looking 2.5

Sounds like you found the area I call "the stick ups". I was throwing 1/2oz Ratltraps, Red Eye Shads and a One Knocker. I've had some success with the KVD 2.5's as well. Haven't broken them out yet this year. Will have to do that soon.

[basser89]

Great post Kevin! Think I'm seeing a lipless crank theme here! LOL!

[Fat Boy]

Great post Kevin! Think I'm seeing a lipless crank theme here! LOL!

Absolutely, great minds think alike!

The trap and spinnerbait bites are tough bites to beat. I can't think of any better bite than maybe the topwater bite, buzzers in particular.

OK, truth be told, all bites are good bites. I love wormin' and jiggin' too.

[TheKingFisher]

Wow, Kevin that's some outing you had. Thanks for sharing the pics, I better wipe this drool of my keyboard now!

Nice name btw, I'm also a Kevin.

[Bill Poch]

Since I live in and work in Frederick, I think I'm going to see what the pond at Baker park looks like tomorrow (Mon) at lunch. I don't anticipate much of anything, going through my tackle tonight, all I have for LMB from last year are some plastic worms, plastic jerk baits, and a few cranks. I'm on a tight budget so I'll have to pick a few things up when I get paid this week. Tuesday after work I'm going to hit Black Hills and if we don't get much rain, I may run up to the Potomac at Harper's Ferry on Wed. I was up there last week but the river was still up a bit and couldn't get out of the shore line. Unfortunately the Hydrograph up there hasn't reported a river level since the 14th.