Weekend fishing report

The weekend fishing for ocean species, such as marlin and tuna, depends entirely on Ophelia. Chances are there’ll be strong winds, rain and general misery for Atlantic and lower Chesapeake Bay boaters. Perhaps it’s best they stay in safe harbors. Even if the storm moves a great deal farther east, there’ll be remnant winds that would make fishing a real chore.

Affected to a lesser degree, but still not very inviting, might be the waters of the Chesapeake Bay around Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the general Hampton Roads area. However, with a little luck, upper bay parts in Maryland should be fishable.

Meanwhile, the upper portions of tidal rivers in Maryland and Virginia will present a variety of sport fishing. It begins with the tidal Potomac from Washington south to western Charles County, where largemouth bass catches can be very good. This time of year it’s mostly the use of topwater lures early in the day and soft plastics as the sun drives the fish down that will deliver good outings.

While forecasts of heavy rains greet anglers in eastern North Carolina and Virginia, the fishermen in the mountains of the Middle Atlantic states could use a nice, prolonged, soft rain to help raise water levels in all the rivers where smallmouth bass, sunfish and walleyes thrive.

If you want, e-mail us at gmueller@washingtontimes.com

(Ratings key: …. =excellent fishing; … =Good; .. =Fair; . =Poor.)

AREA 1: D.C. AND VICINITY

POTOMAC RIVER: 0-35 miles (…) — The Boathouse at Fletcher’s Cove (Georgetown, off Canal Road; 202/244-0461) and vicinity shows continued low water conditions and mostly catfish and a few bass for rental boaters and shore walkers. Bass guides Andy Andrzejewski (301/932-1509) and Dale Knupp (301/934-9062) are using early-morning topwater lures and cast them around the edges of hydrilla and milfoil beds on the main stem and in the feeder creeks. Occasionally, good surface catches are seen. As the sun rises, the guides switch to a variety of soft plastics that include Berkley Power Worms, Strike King Zero worms, Senkos, and some finesse worms. Marsh banks in the feeder creeks can hold excellent numbers of bass as long as it’s a type of bank that goes from very shallow to deep quickly. Downriver, especially toward the lower end, Cornfield Harbor near Point Lookout has shown to hold flounder for minnow drifters, and mid-river trollers and sight casters score on a mix of rockfish and blues. Some of the ditches and drops near shore and in the feeder creek mouths are home to Norfolk spot. In the Wicomico River, rental boaters who start at Quade’s Store in Bushwood (301/769-3903) find perch and spot, maybe an odd catfish on baits.

MATTAWOMAN CREEK: 40 miles (…) — Check out the areas where wood is found along the banks but also work the marshy sides of the creek with plastic worms and very light slip sinkers. The bass will do the rest. I’ve done well on Green Pumpkin/Red Flake Zero worms, but others score on junebug and blue fleck colors. Occasionally, a shallow crankbait can be worked along a grassy edge and get results.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND LAKES: 40-50 miles (..) — Gilbert Run Park’s Wheatley Lake (Route 6, east of La Plata) shows mostly sunfish and some small bass, but this lake surprises with some real whopper bass now and then. The bass must be let go. St. Mary’s Lake (Route 5 south of Leonardtown, on Camp Cosoma Road) has been slow for most bass angling visitors, but the low water and no rain have made a difference.

LITTLE SENECA LAKE: 30 miles (…) — Black Hill Regional Park (off Route 117, near Boyds, 301/972-9396) and nearby Seneca Creek Lake (Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, 301/924-2127) will deliver some fat sunfish and catfish, but you can hook bass if you concentrate on slow, easy fishing around weed edges and waterlogged obstacles with 4-inch Senko worms and the like. I prefer a 4-inch blue fleck Berkley Power Worm that is very effective. However, finding the blue fleck color in local stores might be a problem. In that case, use a junebug color or green pumpkin.

WSSC RESERVOIRS: 20-30 miles (…) — (Triadelphia, off Route 97, or Route 650, in Montgomery County; Rocky Gorge, off Route 29 in Montgomery County) Both lakes need a little rain to help spark up the water, but for the bass locate some sunken wood or rock-filled lake points, then cast spinnerbaits and slowly retrieve them. If that doesn’t work, be sure to fish with a 4-inch ring worm or Berkley Bungee worm and slowly move it around underwater obstructions. You’ll get “bit,” as they say down South.

PATUXENT RIVER: 25-60 miles (…) — The Tackle Box in Lexington Park reports that breaking rockfish of 12 to 15 inches are in the mouth of the river daily, with birds wheeling and diving for scraps, but legal 18-inch-and-over are scarce. There is good news for bottom fishermen. Norfolk spot and white perch are plentiful in the river from Benedict to the Chinese Muds. The perch are big and eager most everywhere you fish. Spot are hanging out from the mouth of Cuckold’s Creek to the Three Legged Marker, (No. 3), which also delivers some flounder. Ken Lamb says the perch love to chase after the whirling blades of Beetle Spins, Mepps spinners and 1/8-ounce spinnerbaits of any manufacture. He says a tiny bit of artificial Fishbites in the bloodworm flavor enhances the strikes.

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