Weekend fishing report

AREA 1: D.C. AND VICINITY

POTOMAC RIVER: 0-35 miles (…) — At Fletcher”s Cove (Georgetown, off Canal Road; call 202/244-0461) There’s warm water and not many boat renters, although they could find some decent catfish and bass action if they tried. In the main-stem and all the downstream feeder creeks, bass guide Dale Knupp (301/934-9062) finds good numbers of bass, fishing grass beds, marsh banks and some sunken wood. He prefers small finesse worms, topwater poppers and shallow crankbaits. In the lower Potomac, from Blackiston Island and Tall Timbers down to Point Lookout, anglers will find croakers, some scattered flounder and mixed sizes of rockfish.

WICOMICO RIVER: 55 miles (…) — Lexington Park’s Ken Lamb says, “Boat renters at Quade’s Store in Bushwood [301/769-3903] report catches every day with no off-days as in the past, when the fish would disappear for short periods.” But I had an off-day last week when a low tide didn’t deliver the goods, yet we caught enough croakers for dinner. The spot have arrived, too.

MATTAWOMAN CREEK: 40 miles (…) — Every weekend angler will see bass tournament after tournament launched at Smallwood State Park. We’re talking big events here, and the local residents are beginning to get fed up with the madness. Meanwhile, the creek offers decent bass catches along marsh banks and in milfoil grass beds.

SO. MARYLAND LAKES: 40-50 miles (…) — Gilbert Run Park“s Wheatley Lake (Route 6 east of La Plata) provides the usual bluegills and mostly small bass, which must be released. A few crappies are hooked. At St. Mary’s Lake (south on Route 5 past Leonardtown to Camp Cosoma Road) the pace picks up with crappies, sunfish, bass and even some pickerel providing decent fishing when the sun isn’t boiling down.

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) are good for early and late hour bass, sunfish, catfish and a few crappies.

WSSC RESERVOIRS: 20-30 miles (…) — (Triadelphia, off Route 97 or Route 650 in Montgomery County; Rocky Gorge, off Route 29 in Montgomery County) Fish the “cool” hours and angers might find a willing bass or two. Crappies and sunfish are available mostly in shore brush.

PATUXENT RIVER: 25-60 miles (…) — Anglers will hook a few flounder in the mouth, but they’re totally unpredictable. Not so with croakers and white perch. The perch are in every creek and main-stem rip-rap and boat dock. White 1/8-ounce spinnerbaits will do. Croakers are caught around deep pockets and lumps from below Sheridan Point out to the mouth, but evening hours and high tides are best.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR: 25-30 miles (…) — At Fountainhead Park (Route 123, Fairfax County), ranger Smokey Davis reports, “The bass bite remains very good as evidenced by the winning weight of 23 pounds of bass [for six fish] at last week’s Fountainhead Club tournament. Carolina-rigged plastics fished over main lake points continue to be the best producers. Crappies and catfish are hooked and some nice bluegills are caught.”

BURKE LAKE: 29 miles (…) — (Ox Road, Route 123, Fairfax County) Fish early or as late as possible and anglers will hook bass and crappies, along with some catfish and sunfish. Bass like soft, scented plastics.

AREA 2: CENTRAL, WESTERN MD.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: 35-100 miles (…) — Low, warm water. Good fishing for smallmouth bass, even some walleyes, from above Brunswick down toward White’s Ferry. Look for a deep-water eddy or deep rock pools in the river’s center, then drop fringed tubes, curly-tailed grubs or spinner lures into them. The Department of Natural Resources agrees that anglers shouldn’t fish for tiger muskies in the river. A lengthy fight might tire them too much, and a live release might not be successful.

DEEP CREEK LAKE: 179 miles (…) — Anglers could do a little drift-fishing with live minnows along sharp dropoffs near lake points. The walleyes might cooperate. Bass, perch and fat sunfish are taken in the backs of deep coves or from under boat docks. Anglers will see lots of bothersome jet skiing and water skiing now. Need a fishing guide? Call Brent Nelson, 240/460-8839.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER: 65-100 miles (..) — Live-lined white perch can result in rockfish anywhere from the Conowingo Dam down to Port Deposit. Low water flows are the norm. The Flats haven’t shown an abundance of bass or striper catches.

AREA 3: CHESAPEAKE BAY

Story Continues →