Gene Mueller’s weekend fishing report

Monsoon-like rains inundated the Washington area, and the fishing picture for those who enjoy freshwater rivers and lakes looks dim. It will take four days, at least, for the Shenandoah River, the upper parts of the Potomac, Rappahannock, James and Susquehanna to clear and run slower before decent fishing is again available.

However, in the Chesapeake Bay the fishing will return quickly. In fact, by the time you read this the striped bass catches should begin to return. Don’t forget, Friday the Maryland rockfish season enters its second phase as two 18-inch-and-over stripers can be kept, but only one of the two may measure over 28 inches.

In the lowest portions of the Chesapeake, the black drum bite is going great guns, while red drum (aka redfish or channel bass) are taking baits and lures on the seaside of the Eastern Shore. The Peninsula Saltwater Sport Fisherman’s Association’s Ken Neill said, “Fisherman’s Island Inlet is still the best location. More fish will be caught on the Inner Middle Ground Shoals over the next couple of weeks.”
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Neill added that the black drum bite is just ridiculous, with huge fish being caught in the Buoy 13 and Buoy 16 area. Chowder and sea clams are the top baits. This bite is at its peak just in time for this week’s Black Drum World Championship. Check out www.esvachamber.org/festivals/drumfish for details on the contest.

Locally, tidal water bass fans will probably be able to fish some of the Potomac’s feeders, including the Mattawoman, Chicamuxen, Aquia and Potomac creeks. The bass are there and they’re used to seeing stained water, so use loud or bright color lures along spatterdock, wood and marsh edges.

Here’s this week’s outlook:

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

AREA 1: D.C. AND VICINITY

POTOMAC RIVER: 0-35 miles (★) At Fletcher’s Cove (Georgetown, off Canal Road; call 202/244-0461), Ray Fletcher said it might take until late Sunday or Monday before the fishing resumes. Currently it’s high, muddy and swift. Downstream, from the Piscataway to the Chicamuxen, weekenders might see good enough conditions inside the feeders to hook a few bass. Cut baits will find big catfish.

WICOMICO RIVER: 55 miles (★★) From the Bushwood area on out to the middle of the river and upstream there will be croakers caught by Saturday. The fish are definitely there.

MATTAWOMAN CREEK: 40 miles (★★) There’s a chance for bass by tomorrow. Use 4-inch plastic worms, small crankbaits and blunt-nosed poppers around spatterdock or marsh edges. Catfish are hungry in center channel waters. They like cut fish or special blood baits.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND LAKES: 40-50 miles (★★★) Gilbert Run Park’s Wheatley Lake (Route 6, east of La Plata) will turn up young bass and fat sunfish. St. Mary’s Lake (south on Route 5, past Leonardtown, to Camp Cosoma Road) will catch crappies, bass, sunfish galore despite the heavy rains.

LITTLE SENECA LAKE: 30 miles (★★★) Black Hill Regional Park (off Route 117 near Boyds, 301/972-9396) is good to go; the rain did no damage. Catfish, bass and sunfish are biting. Donna at the nearby Seneca Creek Lake (Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, 301/924-2127) said the lake is open to fishing, but she couldn’t say if anyone was hooking bass or other species. Give it a try.

WSSC RESERVOIRS: 20-30 miles (★★) (Triadelphia, off Route 97, or Route 650, in Montgomery County; Rocky Gorge, off Route 29 in Montgomery County) There’ll be discolored and muddy water in the lakes, but by the weekend you’ll at least catch a catfish or two, maybe a bass.

PATUXENT RIVER: 25-60 miles (★★) Starting Friday you’ll be able to hook 18-inch-and-over rockfish and keep them only as far up as Point Patience, but farther upstream the chance for white perch, maybe scattered croakers is improving.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR: 25-30 miles (★) From Fountainhead Park (Route 123, Fairfax County) ranger Smokey Davis said the lake is a total mess. Floating debris and high, muddy water is everywhere. It will take four or five days to become fishable again.

BURKE LAKE: 29 miles (★) (Ox Road, Route 123, Fairfax County) This 200-odd-acre impoundment is not as bad as its neighbor, Occoquan. Burke Lake stays clear longer than most and if discolored will clean up quickly. Crappies and bass should be caught this weekend.

AREA 2: CENTRAL, WESTERN MARYLAND

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: 35-100 miles (★) High, muddy, fast water. Forget it for a while.

DEEP CREEK LAKE: 179 miles (★★) Lake guide Brent Nelson (240/460-8839) says there are bass to be caught, but recent weather conditions weren’t the best. He has not been able to check how quickly the fish will turn on again. However, walleyes, perch and some decent bass will be hooked this weekend.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER: 65-100 miles (★) There’s no big-time rockfish action on the Flats and the river inside the mouth is strongly discolored.

AREA 3: CHESAPEAKE BAY

MARYLAND: 45-75 miles (★★★) We’re betting that the rockfish will be front and center again this week from near the Virginia state line up to the Bay Bridge. As the stripers begin to head south again after spawning, big specimens continue to be hooked, but don’t forget that starting tomorrow you’ll be allowed to keep two stripers 18-inches-and-over. Only one of your two rockfish can measure over 28 inches. By the way, the first bluefish was checked into Buzz’s Marina along St. St. Jerome’s Creek in St. Mary’s County. The 8-pounder struck an umbrella rig filled with Sassy Shads.

VIRGINIA: 75-150 miles (★★★) Black drum are caught in strong numbers around buoys 13 and 16, not far from Cape Charles. Chowder clams or the larger sea clams have been the best baits on bottom rigs. Everybody down this way is awaiting the arrival of cobias. The powerful fish usually make a showing by Memorial Day. Flounder and some decent rockfish are caught at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. If you look for croakers, get to the mouth of the Rappahannock River or the outside of the Great Wicomico River in the Northern Neck, as well as the Smith Point Light. Rockfish, meanwhile, are hooked by Virginia trollers all around the state line.

AREA 4: EASTERN SHORE/MARYLAND

CHOPTANK RIVER: 120 miles (★★) (Route 50 east to Cambridge) Croakers, perch and rockfish are possible, but the upper river is releasing a lot of murky water right now.

POCOMOKE RIVER: 140-170 miles (★★★) (From Snow Hill down to Shad Landing) Continued good bass catches are promised even after the strong rains. Small crankbaits, 4-inch soft plastic worms and 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits work well around flooded timber and vegetation.

NANTICOKE RIVER: 120 miles (★★) (Sharptown ramp off Route 313, or use the Marshyhope Creek ramp outside Federalsburg) Muddy waters, but by the weekend at least the Marshyhope should give up a bass or two.

AREA 5: CENTRAL VIRGINIA

LAKE ANNA: 82 miles (★★★) (Route 208, Spotsylvania County) From Sturgeon Creek Marina, owner Campbell Edenton said the upper lake clear down to the Splits is muddy, or at least murky, but from the Sturgeon Creek area down to the dam it’s very fishable and bass can be caught now that they’re off the beds. “No more sight-fishing for bass,” said Edenton. “Now you’ll have to work typical bass hangouts away from the spawning beds.” Crappies and a few rockfish are taken as well.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER: 47-100 miles (★) The upper river is muddy and it will take some days before it clears. The runoff is strongly affecting the waters from Fredericksburg south. The bass fishing is not very good now.

LAKE BRITTLE: 59 miles (★★) (Route 793, off Route 29) Discolored, hut crappies, channel catfish and bass are possible.

LAKE ORANGE: 75 miles (★★) (Concessionaire: 540/672-3997; look for left turn sign on Route 20 before entering town of Orange) Mostly catfish until the water settles more. The “cats” don’t mind as long as they can “smell” a fragrant piece of bait.

LAKE GASTON: 179 miles (★★) (Route 46, Gasburg) Less than 14 pounds of bass (five fish) was good enough to win a local bass tournament over the weekend. The bass, however, are biting in slightly discolored water.

KERR RESERVOIR: 185 miles (★) (Route 58, Clarksville) Strongly discolored water. Catfish maybe, but little else for a few days.

JAMES RIVER: 115 miles (★★) (Tidal Richmond area and downstream) Blue catfish bite in fast, muddy water. Forget other species for a few days.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER: 135 miles (★★) (Williamsburg area) Water color isn’t all that bad, but few bass are hooked. The catfish are a different story. They’re hungry.

AREA 6: WESTERN VIRGINIA

SHENANDOAH RIVER: 75-85 miles (★) (Route 340, Front Royal, Luray and Bentonville areas) The river is described as a fast, muddy mess. Stay away for three or four days.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE: 210 miles (★★) (Route 122, east of Roanoke) Bass and crappie chances are good, but the stripers haven’t been very cooperative.

UPPER JAMES RIVER: 130 miles (★) (Route 6, south of Charlottesville, Scottsville)

Forget it. High, fast and muddy isn’t good for fishing.

AREA 7: ATLANTIC OCEAN

MARYLAND: 153-175 miles (★★) (Route 50 to Ocean City) After strong winds and rain, not much was happening up this way, but by the weekend there’ll be flounder, young bluefish and tautog catches from the inlet down to Route 50 bridge and beyond. Offshore fishing was on hold. We have no reliable reports.

VIRGINIA: 210 miles to Virginia Beach (★ ★ ★) Ken Neill, of the Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association, said the red drum (redfish, channel bass) continue to bite nicely along the Eastern Shore’s barrier islands, particularly Fisherman’s Island inlet. Offshore bottom fishing could be good if it’s seabass and tautogs you want, but wind and rain has not allowed many to go out and try it. Offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet, N.C., are finding lots of tunas. For charters, call the Virginia Beach Fishing Center, 757/491-8000.

• Look for Gene Mueller’s Outdoors column every Sunday and Wednesday, and his Fishing Report every Thursday, only in The Washington Times. E-mail: gmueller@washingtontimes.com.