Maryland's Who's who!

[sean_steiner]

Got tierd of fishing the potomac.We need a little rain. Took the drive to the mighty susquehanna to try are luck. That was the best decision i ever made. First fish of the day was me new PB smallmouth.

You should try the cacapon at some point in morgan and hampshire counties in WV. It rarely gets muddy with rains. However, it's not deep enough for a boat, so you would need a canoe or a kayak, or to wade and shore fish. People will say the upper parts of the capon are the best, and they are, but the lower capon is still much better in my opinion then the potomac. I'd also suggest not using a canoe in august, as you'll be walking and pulling more than fishing lol. I find it a better smallmouth fishery by far than the potomac, I've never fished the susquehanna, but by the looks of your photos it must be nice! I've only driven over and it seen how huge it is.

[sean_steiner]

Welcome to THE boards Sean! If memory is right, that makes 3 of us on here now. And 2 of us in Germantown. LOL!

Small world! Yeah, I've seen your post on black hills aka little seneca lake, and my advice on that lake is to use what most people don't, and go where most people don't. Or risk the fine and night fish. That lake is the most temperamental body of water I've ever seen. And I know use bass fisherman don't use live bait, I would have to suggest it if nothing else is working in black hills, with barbless circle hooks. Circle hooks almost never are swallowed, and if they are you can just cut the line and the barbless hooks just fall right out eventually. I caught my biggest bass in that lake playing around with a gamefish spoon meant for lake trout in northern canada in the deepest area of the lake by just letting it up and down like a jig. I didn't expect to catach anything, and when I hooked something I thought for sure it was a tiger muskie. Turns out it was an almost 9 pound bass. They are in there, just not in places you would expect! Also, everything that is in that lake washes down from the dam into little seneca creek. If you walk up from the seneca lodge in clopper through the woods all the way to the railroad, you'll notice a huge area of relatively deep slackwater caused by the damming of washed down logs. I have pulled out monster catfish, huge sunfish, as well as a 5 pound largemouth. I even once hooked a 25 inch tiger muskie, and as I had it on the bank it snapped the line and went back into the water. This pool is where all the washouts from the lake settle into. I've never seen anyone else fish it either.

[KenLattimore]

My name is also Sean, live in montgomery county in Germantown. Private ponds are the best places in my area to catch big largemouth, as they aren't as wary. My biggest was almost 9 pounds in a privately owned pond. In this area, I fish seneca creek and the potomac by pennyfield lock. You'd be suprised at the size of some of the largemouth I've pulled out of seneca creek, probably wash-downs that have actually stayed to breed. Also, the sucker run is very productive, and they fight very hard. For the potomac near me by pennyfield, look under the star grass for bass. There are also huge numbers of catfish in huge sizes here for the catfisher, I once caught a 22 pound channel while throwing in a small spoon for bass. I have a house in west virginia by great cacapon, and for smallmouth nothing surpasses the cacapon. I've caught a couple smallies there slightly over 20 inches. It's the perfect habitat, relatively swift moving water with lots of riffles. 90% of the creek has a rocky bottom, perfect smallie habitat. I've had 50+ smallie days there multiple times, not counting all the sunfish and catfish I bring in. It's a very clean and beautiful river. My favorite place however is canada, specifically northwestern and north-central ontario. If you want to experience smallmouth bass fishing where you rarely catch fish below fifteen inches, this is the place to go. Also, they aren't wary at all and will take literally anything you throw in the water, no matter what the size. The only problem is getting the lure in their field of view. It's a much different experience from smallmouth fishing down here. The biggest smallmouth I've ever caught up there was a 25 incher, he even pulled our motor boat for a short time. I also love fishing for pike, nothing puts up more of a fight. The biggest of those I've caught was a fat 47 incher, I have a scar on my arm from that pike. Walleye are my second favorite, behind smallies. They aren't fighters until they get over 24 inches, but they make great eating. The larger ones are a good fight, and I've caught many over 14 pounds in Canada. If you are a smallmouth fanatic, I'd suggest taking a trip to a remote lodge that offers very good smallmouth fishing. You'll be amazed how you can catch smallmouth over twenty inches with every cast, and how aggressive they are. It's not like the smallie fishing here.

Sean, welcome to the boards! There seem to be a good number of us who live in Germantown. Thanks for the tip about Seneca Creek, I'll have to do a little exploring one day! I'm by no means a good angler like some of the others on the board since I've only been bass fishing for a year now, but slowly but surely getting the hang of it.

I think most of us in Germantown have met up at some point, so perhaps we'll meet soon.

[sean_steiner]

Sean, welcome to the boards! There seem to be a good number of us who live in Germantown. Thanks for the tip about Seneca Creek, I'll have to do a little exploring one day! I'm by no means a good angler like some of the others on the board since I've only been bass fishing for a year now, but slowly but surely getting the hang of it.

I think most of us in Germantown have met up at some point, so perhaps we'll meet soon.

Yeah, many people don't know about the largemouth in seneca. Of the places I've fished, the best is right after rt 355 to a littleways past 270. Fish the deep slow moving pools. During the fall you can actually see the largemouth close to the surface. There are a few places to park on game preserve road to get to them. I haven't really fished much downstream, although I've seen monster suckers, and a few catfish.

There was a time too for a while where I caught smallmouth up to 16 inches far up seneca creek past 118 towards watkins mill high school, but I havent seen them for a few years. They are probably found in good numbers downstream farther.

[Bill Poch]

On a last minute decision I went to Point of Rocks tonight. It was the best decision I've made this year. Only caught 2 put 1 was my PB. 20" easy, 3+ lb smallmouth

I also learned why not to use a swivel. After I got him in I was working him around to pick him up. He made one last effort for freedom and bent the swivel wide open. I've caught 4lb largemouth on those swivels. This guy was a beast. I've learned my lesson, swivel = bad.

[BrianinMD]

Welcome new Sean!!!

Great fish Bill, got to love smallies

Tomorrow will be interesting, have a tourney at Black Hills. Forecast range from 101 to 104 degrees, with humidity will feel around 110. Will make preparations a little different, but should keep some people off the water which will help.

[KenLattimore]

Welcome new Sean!!!

Great fish Bill, got to love smallies

Tomorrow will be interesting, have a tourney at Black Hills. Forecast range from 101 to 104 degrees, with humidity will feel around 110. Will make preparations a little different, but should keep some people off the water which will help.

Good luck tomorrow Brian! Let's us know how you do tomorrow.

I'm giving it some thought about going out around 5:30am tomrrow and getting off the bank no later than 11am since according to my Weather Channel app it'll be 93 degrees at that point!!!

[Weasel07]

Hi everyone, my name is Greg and I live in Odenton. My profile picture I just caught yesterday in the Piney Orchard Nature Preserve, weighed about 4 pounds, and one of a few nice bass I've pulled out of there. I usually fish Centenial Lake, Cash Lake, and a few other smaller ponds. Might sneak some in tomorrow before I head to work.

[Fat Boy]

Welcome to the Maryland thread Sean and Greg. Bill, congrats on your PB smallie, nice fish!

I waded the Monocacy on Wednesday for a half day and caught 31 smallies and two largemouth, nothing big, and a bunch of pesky but beautifully colored red-breast sunfish. But man those little smallies are pugnacious. My buddy Rodger (Monocacy on this board) caught a bunch too. Small plastic worms were the ticket.

I also spent half the day yesterday on the Potomac wading, but when it got hot we decided to hit a cooler shadier small stream for the late afternoon. On the river, I caught 37 smallies and one largemouth, again nothing big with the biggest smallie going about 16" long or so. In the creek, the average size was better but to my surprise, even though the water was much cooler the fish weren't biting as well as they normally do. My buddy Howard got similar numbers in the river and caught 10 fat smallies out of the creek. I managed 6 bass in the creek and a surpise, a small rainbow trout! The biggest creek bass was 16". Probably the best thing about the creek fishing was to take all our gear off and lay in the rapids, man was that ever refreshing on a hot day. Here are some pics:

Monocacy:

Monocacy (Rodger) with a Monocacy smallie:

Howard with a spunky Potomac smallie:

Here's a creek smallie, nice size for a creek fish

[sean_steiner]

Welcome new Sean!!!

Great fish Bill, got to love smallies

Tomorrow will be interesting, have a tourney at Black Hills. Forecast range from 101 to 104 degrees, with humidity will feel around 110. Will make preparations a little different, but should keep some people off the water which will help.

It's always amazed me the sheer number of fish in black hills, of any species. The size of the largemouth too has always amazed me, I'll see multiple 20+ fish patrolling the shores together. Just gotta know where and what to fish with!

[sean_steiner]

Welcome to the Maryland thread Sean and Greg. Bill, congrats on your PB smallie, nice fish!

I waded the Monocacy on Wednesday for a half day and caught 31 smallies and two largemouth, nothing big, and a bunch of pesky but beautifully colored red-breast sunfish. But man those little smallies are pugnacious. My buddy Rodger (Monocacy on this board) caught a bunch too. Small plastic worms were the ticket.

I also spent half the day yesterday on the Potomac wading, but when it got hot we decided to hit a cooler shadier small stream for the late afternoon. On the river, I caught 37 smallies and one largemouth, again nothing big with the biggest smallie going about 16" long or so. In the creek, the average size was better but to my surprise, even though the water was much cooler the fish weren't biting as well as they normally do. My buddy Howard got similar numbers in the river and caught 10 fat smallies out of the creek. I managed 6 bass in the creek and a surpise, a small rainbow trout! The biggest creek bass was 16". Probably the best thing about the creek fishing was to take all our gear off and lay in the rapids, man was that ever refreshing on a hot day. Here are some pics:

Monocacy:

Monocacy (Rodger) with a Monocacy smallie:

Howard with a spunky Potomac smallie:

Here's a creek smallie, nice size for a creek fish

31 smallies isn't bad for one day at all! I'll have to try the monocacy sometime, I've only fished from the shore a couple of times.

[Weasel07]

Went fishing yesterday and caught a handful of Largemouths while I was out. Of note a PB 5.5lbs, I can't quite figure how to put the pictures on here, but there are a couple in my album.

[BrianinMD]

Welcome Weasel!!

Well I survived the tourney yesterday, unfortunately did not have the best of days. Ended up with 4 fish to finish in 5th place. All in all not terrible, just not what I was hoping for. Was a slow day for almost everyone, was surprised at weighin by the variety of baits which fish were caught on.

The funniest thing of the day was a guy with his son trying to put a jet ski on an electric only lake. Wasn't out for a minute before park police got him.

[Fat Boy]

The funniest thing of the day was a guy with his son trying to put a jet ski on an electric only lake. Wasn't out for a minute before park police got him.

Not only that, but you ain't allowed in the water either, not exactly a jet ski plus. At least you got some keeper fish, those hot conditions make it tough to catch anything. How much weight took first?

[BrianinMD]

If I remember correctly it was around 17 pounds to win in, this tourney last year was over 23 pounds.

[Bill Poch]

It was smoking hot outside today but my brother's and I finally got our Jon boat ready for the water so we ran up to dam 4 on the Potomac. Put in about 7:00 and stayed out for 4 hours. We didn't catch anything. I've never fished up that way, so we just pretty much worked the shorelines with just about everything in out tackle box.

Plus side is, the boat didn't sink. The motor needs a little tweaking but we now have a functional boat.

[basser89]

Welcome to THE boards Greg!

As always, great post Kevin!

Glad to see you didn't get sunk Bill! How bad was the boating traffic when you were there?

Got to sneak out for a late lunch outing today at Black Hills. Only had a little time so just hit the backwash area. Wasn't expecting much with the heat and the water clarity (very stained). Didn't get a temp but with the color of the water, I'd tend to think it was cookin. Started off trying to break in my new Diesel rod but no takers there. Switched up to some soft plastics but had issues with stumps eating my bait so went to my third rod. LOL! I had a buzzbait tied on and was running a little low on time so figured, what the heck. Turned out to be the trick. Managed a keeper and on my very last cast I caught a 4-1 on my scale. She measured 20.5 inches and put up a great fight (even went airborne on me).

I did manage to snap a pic before I let her go.

[nastynate]

It was smoking hot outside today but my brother's and I finally got our Jon boat ready for the water so we ran up to dam 4 on the Potomac. Put in about 7:00 and stayed out for 4 hours. We didn't catch anything. I've never fished up that way, so we just pretty much worked the shorelines with just about everything in out tackle box.

Plus side is, the boat didn't sink. The motor needs a little tweaking but we now have a functional boat.

How far up did you run. Does the jon boat have a jet or prop?

[BrianinMD]

Not sure of the temps in the backwash but main lake was upper 80's for the tourney saturday, feels like bath water.....

[Bill Poch]

How far up did you run. Does the jon boat have a jet or prop?

It's a prop. We didn't run up too far, about up to where those white balls are in the water. It's the first time we had her out and we were not sure how it would run.

[JigMe]

Hi everyone, my name is Greg and I live in Odenton. My profile picture I just caught yesterday in the Piney Orchard Nature Preserve, weighed about 4 pounds, and one of a few nice bass I've pulled out of there. I usually fish Centenial Lake, Cash Lake, and a few other smaller ponds. Might sneak some in tomorrow before I head to work.

Weasel, I fish centennial park almost every week. Lake elkhorn, and wilde lake have some decent size bass in them as well. I have never fished at Orchard nature preserve, where is that place located by the way?

[Bill Poch]

Here's a question for you all. Has anybody camped along the potomac river between say Harpers Ferry and Point of Rocks? I'm not talking about going to a camp ground, but gone out, found a spot on the river and setup camp? I'm not sure how much of that stretch of the river would have river levels safe enough to run the prop on the Jon boat, but if we could find a place for that, it would be a huge plus.

My brothers and I are interested in doing just that.

[Basser714]

Nope, not that far north Bill but I think you can probably do it - just keep an eye out for river levels at USGS and go out in the daylight real slow if you dont know the rocks / area. I have camped on an island just north of Riley's - great night!

Good night fishing last night at BH. Funny story - working topwater I got a big hit and he dove, and when he got near shore, he rose up and spit it out, like a sling shot right at me. It hit the high cattails right in front of me - nice try though.

I remember previous years night fish were done during a full moon and I never had much luck. Last night, it was nice and dark. Anyone else finding better night fishing when its not a full moon? I had long thought full moon was best, but know fish generally dont like bright light. And a full moon is darn bright.

I heard a loud boom at about 11pm on the south side - dont know what that was. Time to bail.

[Smiths.R]

I fish the river at Harpers Ferry (just north of the 340 bridge) quite often. The fishing there is almost always awesome. The small mouth are thick in there and you can get into some walleye as well. I would'nt want to take a boat in there though...it's quite shallow and there are TONS of HUGE rocks.

There are places to camp on the bank though. Just gotta walk down the canal path, and check out the paths to the river.

[nastynate]

you can come to williamsport put in at river bottom and make it up to duck island and camp.