basser89 Posted January 16, 2013 Author Posted January 16, 2013 This will be my 4th year with FOBA, i guess you left before then. Its been a lot of fun, learned a lot since I started there. yeah Dramer, getting off the bank definitely has its advantages especially in the colder months when fish are deep. Only place I know of up there for this time of year is the heated water discharge but I do not know specific directions. Basser89 knows the details I am sure he will chime in. There used to be 2 warm water discharges around. From what I've been told, the power plant in Williamsport has been shut down but I have not been able to confirm that for sure. The second is at PEPCO in Dickerson. PEPCO is off of route 28 just south of Dickerson. At the light (used to be a signal but now its a blinking light) turn on to Martinsburg road. You'll come up to the entrance to the power plant, not where you want to go, head down the lane and a half wide road. At the end of the lane and a half wide section, stay to the right on Martinsburg road. You'll go down a hill and into a wooded area, Just as you start into a left hand turn, you'll see a road that heads up into the woods, take that road (there is a sign that says something like Dickerson conservation area). Follow that road all the way back to the parking lot and you're almost there. From the parking lot, you're about a 10 minute walk up to the path that leads you down to the warm water discharge. Be careful on the path, it gets VERY swampy! To avoid the majority of the "swampy stuff", keep heading up the C&O trail until you get up behind the PEPCO itself. You'll see another path that will lead you along the fence line to the discharge. It's as easy as following the fence line to the actual discharge area. I've mentioned it before but will note it again to keep you from searching back through this thread. I'll start by saying I follow the Hancock Potomac river gauge. For me, the ideal time (or should I say river level) is when the gauge is at 4.5 feet or higher (not the best when it gets above the 8-9 feet zone because it limits the areas you can actually fish). By the way, the gauge is currently setting at 8.5 feet and rising. When the warm waters are pumping, I've had success with cranks and jerkbaits (I've had friends even have success with top water too). If PEPCO isn't pumping, then I'll switch to soft plastics (tubes produce best for me). Hair jigs have produced for me as well but I will warn you there are tons of jig magnets (ledges, rocks and even wood to get hung up on in there). Hope this helps! PM me if you need any additional info. Quote
basser89 Posted January 16, 2013 Author Posted January 16, 2013 SPEED, the address is right. Brian's note is correct too. Quote
Super User BrianinMD Posted January 16, 2013 Super User Posted January 16, 2013 Its been tough at Dickerson in the winter the last couple seasons. Cannot remember the last time they were actually running heated water. Its fishable but tough when no heated water is running. It can be very good when its running though. I have been there with temps in the teens, big chunks of ice on the main river but heated along the shore. Caught fish casting a popper, some between chucks of ice which meandered into the heated water area. Have a picture somewhere.... Quote
basser89 Posted January 17, 2013 Author Posted January 17, 2013 Its been tough at Dickerson in the winter the last couple seasons. Cannot remember the last time they were actually running heated water. Its fishable but tough when no heated water is running. It can be very good when its running though. I have been there with temps in the teens, big chunks of ice on the main river but heated along the shore. Caught fish casting a popper, some between chucks of ice which meandered into the heated water area. Have a picture somewhere.... Brian and I have talked about this before as well on some of our outings and I may have mentioned it before on this thread as well but I feel it's worth repeating for some of the newer members. I can definitely agree with Brian's assessment that fishing at Dickerson has been tough the past few seasons. From talking with another one of my friends, this is where the levels that I mentioned above come into play. Due to the warmer water the power plant generates the D.O. (dissolved oxygen) in the water is too low for bass and other species to survive in the discharge area without some amount of cooler water mixing in (it didn't make sense to me at first either since the water coming into the channel seems to churned up enough to distribute enough oxygen to the fish). My friend did ask this question to a DNR biologist and he did confirm this case. The river levels the past few seasons, when I have had the opportunity to fish Dickerson, have typically been below the "minimal level" I mentioned above. One note that may be helpful if the levels are low is taking a walk down past the discharge channel. I will add there aren't a lot of spots to fish from shore effectively but there are a few. Brian, I can tell you the last time I fished PEPCO (at the end of November) they were pumping the warm water. Quote
Super User SPEEDBEAD. Posted January 18, 2013 Super User Posted January 18, 2013 What time does the flea market open up on Saturday and Sunday? Quote
basser89 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Posted January 18, 2013 What time does the flea market open up on Saturday and Sunday? Well aren't you nosey. LOL! Here's some info I found...... CABIN CREEK BASSMASTERS Type of Event: Fishing Flea Market Event Date(s): 01/19-20/2013 Event Time(s): SAT 9am-4pm,SUN 9am-2pm Admission: adults $4.00 kids under 12 free Location: WASHINGHTON COUNTY AG EDU CENTER Address: 7313 Sharpsburg Pike Boonsboro, MD 21713 Quote
Super User SPEEDBEAD. Posted January 18, 2013 Super User Posted January 18, 2013 You want to go on Sunday? I think a buddy and I are going to drive down. Quote
TheKingFisher Posted January 19, 2013 Posted January 19, 2013 Thinking about going on Saturday. Had a previous engagement that's falling apart and may free me up to go... Quote
basser89 Posted January 19, 2013 Author Posted January 19, 2013 Thinking about going on Saturday. Had a previous engagement that's falling apart and may free me up to go... Hey Kevin, doesn't look like I'll be able to make it this year. You'll have to let us know how it was! How's the leg feeling? I'm guessing it's all healed by now. Quote
TheKingFisher Posted January 19, 2013 Posted January 19, 2013 I couldn't get free to go so I didn't get to make it up to the flea market and probably won't be able to go tomorrow. Maybe next year... Sean, the leg is good, thanks for asking! I've still got the torn ACL that I'll have to have repaired but the fracture is healed so I'm getting around much easier these days. Until I have it done I'll just have to pick my fishing spots carefully as I work to improve strength and stability. But I'm fiending for some fishing though since I went down in Sept! Tried to go out one day on the fishing pier at black hills but it's just a bit too cold for me right now. So I'm buying a bunch of tackle to make up for it, but it's just not the same. 1 Quote
Dramer77 Posted January 19, 2013 Posted January 19, 2013 i made it over this morning, picked up some plastics for a decent price, got a bag of 25 salted tubes for $3.. and picked up some new stuff from Bust em baits, the guys that own it are pretty cool, also checked out another local plastics company River Rock custom baits.., picked up some 12" spiral tail worms to try.. ill take some pics later to show you guys... the show wasnt to big, a few vendors pretty much had junk.. I cant wait for harrisburg in 2 weeks.. i wanna pick up some jigs and spinnerbaits Quote
Super User BrianinMD Posted January 20, 2013 Super User Posted January 20, 2013 Glad to hear the leg is doing better, hopefully it won't cause you any problems when its time to go fishing again. I guess it soon time for the Harrisburg outdoor show. Been a couple of years since I made it up to that. Large show but seemed to be heading away from freshwater fishing except for guided trip information for Canada or Alaska. Anyone been up there in the last couple years with more recent information? Seems the cold weather is finally settling in, not sure when I will get out. Guess I have no choice but to do my homework now..... Quote
Dramer77 Posted January 20, 2013 Posted January 20, 2013 Glad to hear the leg is doing better, hopefully it won't cause you any problems when its time to go fishing again. I guess it soon time for the Harrisburg outdoor show. Been a couple of years since I made it up to that. Large show but seemed to be heading away from freshwater fishing except for guided trip information for Canada or Alaska. Anyone been up there in the last couple years with more recent information? Seems the cold weather is finally settling in, not sure when I will get out. Guess I have no choice but to do my homework now..... i havent been up in several years, so i have no clue ... hopefully there is a decent amount of fishing stuff up there ... the guys at bust em baits said they are also doing a show in sykesville here soon.. Quote
basser89 Posted January 20, 2013 Author Posted January 20, 2013 I believe I've been up there once since I bought my boat there back in '97. LOL! At that time, there wasn't much on the freshwater side (other than the guides as Brian mentioned). I'd love to see them put a freshwater section in equal to what Timonium USED to do. Quote
Dramer77 Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 heck with all the vendors droping out from the promoters banning assault style rifles i may not go now 1 Quote
basser89 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Posted January 21, 2013 That does surprise me vendors are pulling out. I did make it over to BPS today. Finally picked up my license (good to know you can use gift cards for them, lol), a couple lure wraps, a new pair of fingerless gloves, 2 cranks that I've been wanting and a pack of spinnerbait skirts that MIGHT aid in replacing the one spinnerbait that's discontinued. I thought I had a spare frame that wasn't in use but I can't seem to find one. I do have a chatterbait that I put one of the skirts on, I like! I checked the weather and the river levels, I MAY try a morning outing at PEPCO. Looks like the temps will be in the teens in the morning, so I'm really glad I picked up those gloves! Quote
pagliaroj Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 Hey guys, I was wondering if any of you offer lessons on weekends? I moved down to the Hagerstown area last spring and did quite a bit of smallie fishing in the river with some buddies. The problem is I never catch anything and really do not have anyone willing to teach me more. I never fished growing up and didn't get into it until about a year ago. I would like to be able to hold my own on our trips but I am completely clueless. I am willing to pay and drive up to 2 hours away if necessary. Quote
Super User SPEEDBEAD. Posted January 23, 2013 Super User Posted January 23, 2013 What do you want to learn? Quote
pagliaroj Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 well I have been reading up on the habits of bass, where to look and when, but there really isn't a good way to learn about proper presentation with seeing it in person. So I am mostly looking for guidance in that. Quote
Dramer77 Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 ive been trying to learn myself, i did grow up fishing but never really fished for bass.. ive been learning alot, but need to get more experience... looks like your holding a decent bass in your pic... where have you fished around here.. im from hagerstown too Quote
Dramer77 Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 also the show in harrisburg is cancelled... Quote
pagliaroj Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 Dramer, I caught that large mouth up in Saratoga, NY last summer fishing with a guide service. I have been out mostly on the river with some buddies on their boats and shore fish at Greenbrier and that other one in Clear Spring (can't think of the name). I even drove out to Codorus St. Park once and did some fishing there. Never made it to Black Hills because its a hike but I am planning a trip at some point this Spring during spawn season. Quote
Super User BrianinMD Posted January 24, 2013 Super User Posted January 24, 2013 Pagliaroj, when you get a chance to come down to Black Hills let us know. I will do my best to meet up with you or maybe someone else can. Quote
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