WEEKEND FISHING REPORT

Rockfish chum boats are doing very well in the lower Maryland parts of the Chesapeake Bay, especially on the Middle Grounds and also along the Point No Point and Point Lookout stretches of the bay’s western shore.

This could very well be the week when smallmouth bass anglers who prefer the mountain rivers of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania can score. Rain that has steadily discolored or raised water levels in the James, Rappahannock, Potomac and Susquehanna rivers during spring and the early summer was absent this week. So get going. A variety of tube jigs and grubs, crankbaits and small surface buzzbaits and poppers will see action.

Tidal water bass fans can score on the Potomac below Washington if they properly parlay the tides and times of day. For example, when it’s overcast or early in the morning and there’s plenty of incoming or receding water, topwater buzzbaits and poppers will be attacked in weedbed pockets and along spatterdock edges found on the main stem or in the feeder creeks.

A catfish-loving reader from Virginia called to say the state record for blue catfish fell a few days ago. Word has it that a North Carolina man fishing in Kerr Reservoir hooked a 921/4-pound blue “cat.” If and when it is approved by the state, it will demolish the current mark, a 75-pounder that came out of the James River this spring.

Are you interested in flyfishing? The Freestate Fly Fishers, a Maryland club, will be making several trips this summer, and each is open to the public. During July a Potomac River outing is planned, followed by Shenandoah River fishing in August. Get additional details by calling publicity director Mike Price at 410/320-0080.

AREA 1: D.C. AND VICINITY

POTOMAC RIVER: 0-35 miles (***) — In the District, the Fletcher’s Boat House (off Canal Road, 202/244-0461) portion is sure to provide some catfish and a few bass. River guides Andy Andrzejewski (301/932-1509) and Dale Knupp (301/934-9062) find early-hour topwater success with loudly clacking buzzbaits cast across weedbeds or into the inside pockets of spatterdock fields. Plastic worms of various types, including Berkley’s Pulse Worm, draw strikes after the sun rises over such areas as the Piscataway and Pomonkey creeks, Occoquan and Belmont bays and most of the Virginia and Maryland feeders. Also check out the main stem grass from Washington to western Charles County. The croaker fishing in the lower river presents a new set of problems this weekend. Environmental officials have identified a large swath of blue/green algae along Colonial Beach and ask that fish caught in the area not be consumed. Swimming also is discouraged. This type of algae bloom generally disappears in a few days, especially if it is overcast. Pontoon boat captain Steve Riha (804/224-7062) finds croakers along with some spot and perch and the always-present channel catfish anywhere between the Route 301 bridge and Swan Point Bar. The Bushwood area of the Wicomico River continues to give up good numbers of hardheads and white perch.

MATTAWOMAN CREEK: 40 miles (***) — Bass boaters find action in creek weed pockets, shoreline rocks and trees. Plastic worms, spinnerbaits and even small crankbaits or topwater poppers score. Channel catfish like clam necks, cut fish chunks or liver strips on the bottom anywhere from the main creek channel next to Marsh Island to the Hancock gravel pit area. Remember to keep weights on the bottom in the center of the creek. The “cats” will do the rest.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND LAKES: 40-50 miles (***) — Gilbert Run Park’s Wheatley Lake (Route 6, east of La Plata) has sunfish, small bass and occasional crappies. St. Mary’s Lake (Route 5 south of Leonardtown, on Camp Cosoma Road) offers more of the same, especially if you’re in a small johnboat that allows maneuverability. Both lakes have plenty of shoreline fishing spots.

LITTLE SENECA LAKE: 30 miles (***) — Black Hill Regional Park (off Route 117, near Boyds, 301/972-9396) and the nearby Seneca Creek Lake (Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, 301/924-2127) provides decent bass opportunities, but fish early in the day. Catfish and bluegills are available.

WSSC RESERVOIRS:# 20-30 miles (***) — (Triadelphia, off Route 97, or Route 650, in Montgomery County; Rocky Gorge, off Route 29 in Montgomery County) Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge will give up bass if scented plastic worms are crawled around sunken rocks, lake point drops and fallen trees or brush. Small spinnerbaits also can score. Bluegills like flyrod bugs or a small piece of worm under a bobber.

PATUXENT RIVER:# 25-60 miles (***) — The upper river gave me some crappies, channel catfish and a whopper of a pickerel but no bass earlier this week. I was using a 1/8-ounce curly-tailed grub smeared with Smelly Jelly and fished in sunken wood and blowdowns. Marsh edges didn’t give up anything. In the lower river, Ken Lamb of the Tackle Box in Lexington Park says boat renters at Bunky’s in Solomons (410/326-3241) are catching croakers. Occasionally, a few spot show up. Don’t be surprised by a cow-nose ray — they are in the bay and the river. Also sighted this week were some bull sharks, unusual for this part of Maryland. The sharks are hunting the plentiful rays.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR: 25-30 miles (***) — From the Fountainhead Park (Route 123, Fairfax County) waters up the lake to Bull Run, the stickups, rock ledges and points will turn early-morning bass action with buzzbaits, Pop-R’s and plastic worms. Flyrod fans can catch a mess of bluegill, using small poppers.

BURKE LAKE:# 29 miles (***) — (Ox Road, Route 123, Fairfax County) Bass are snatching up plastic worms around lake points and in brush piles. Crappie catches are down, but sunfish and catfish are available.

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