Fishing report
The locations
Piney Run: Small "whacky" rigger plastic worms are your best bet to catch largemouth bass, said Jim Gronaw and Loren Lustig at the park office. Surface plugs, 4- to 5-inch Cinco and Stik-O worms have all been successful, too. Hot spots are inside and outside edges of the hydrilla beds. David Sterner of Westminster caught a 22-inch, 4.8- pound largemouth bass. A number of citation-sized catfish were captured on cutbait and chicken liver. Rick Lawson of Sykesville reeled in a 25-inch, 6- pound channel catfish. Panfish have been taking nightcrawlers in 18 to 25 feet of water.
Prettyboy Reservoir: The water temperature is 78 degrees and 68 degrees at 25 feet, said Duke Nohe of the Maryland Aquatic Resource Coalition. Plastic worms and pig and jigs are catching bass. Early in the morning, Pop R's are the best bet.
Loch Raven Reservoir: Numerous stout bluegills have been reeled in. White perch are averaging 8 to 10 inches. Trolling a spinner hook with a night crawler in 12 to 15 feet of water works best. Plastic worms, pig and jigs, or stickbaits worked over points, stumps, and grassbeds in 15 to 20 feet of water have been catching bass.
Liberty Reservoir: The best places to fish are where there is deep water with warm temperatures. There have been various fish on the Baltimore County side of Nicodemus Bridge. Live crayfish, shiners, or chicken livers are perfect. Shoreline bass fishing continues to be strong; 10-inch power worms, crayfish, chicken liver, medium to large shiners, and crankbaits. Fishing early or late in the day from shore, Tony Torpedos, jitterbugs, or spinnerbaits (white or chartreuse) are the best bet. A few striped bass have been seen in the deep water around Snake Point and Eagle Point. Large to extra large shiners will attract them. Oakland Point is housing a variety of fish.
Susquehanna River: Fishing continues to flourish, said Capt. Mike Benjamin of Herb's Tackle Shop in North East. Use rubber worms and poppers to reel in rockfish and smallmouth bass. Catfish and perch are in the Elk and Northeast rivers. Cutbait and worms are best. Stripers, rockfish and a few bass are in the Flats. Poppers will do the job. Crabbing is still thriving in the Elk.
Gunpowder River: The water level increased six inches and the temperature is a refreshing 56 degrees. This makes it a little difficult for wading. Caddis is the best bet in the morning, while size 16 ants, small hoppers, and beetles are ideal for the afternoon. Local guides recommend long leaders with 6X or 7X tippet. Call Theaux LeGardeur or Rocky Cox at Backwater Angler in Monkton. (410-329-6821).
Middle River: Chumming and eeling are having success at Pooles Island, said Matt Garick at The Fishin' Shop on Pulaski Highway. Croakers are inhabitating the mouth of the Chester. Bloodworms, peelers and squid will do the trick. Rockfish, croakers, spots and white perch are at Love and Swan points. Trolling bucktails have been luring stripers.
Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge reservoirs: Plenty of fish are being caught, said Hector Padilla, the WSSC officer at Brighton Dam. Largemouth bass are being caught on nightcrawler, plastic worms and crank bait in Triadelphia and Howard Duckett. Northern pike and walleye have been making appearances at Triadelphia. Hot 'N' Trot bait will do the trick. Fish early and late at the fish points, underwater humps and steep rocky channel banks in 8 to 30 feet of water. Jigs and Carolina-rigged lizards are hot baits. Water temperature is 85 degrees with three feet of visibility.
Chesapeake Bay: The Gas Docks, Nuclear Climate Cliffs, remain a hot spot for striped bass in the 18- to 20-inch range. Chumming with fish and clams is effective. Crowds have been slowing fishing. The Hill is a great place to fish without the large crowds. Fish prior to slack tide. Fishing is sluggish at Franklin Manor due to the mud, but there is decent action around slack tide. Trolling for stripers is respectable around Herring Bay. Double-rigged bucktails and No. 15 and No. 17 Tony spoons are ideal. Rockfishing is prospering at the remains of the Cedar Point Lighthouse. Sassy shads, Youzri swimming plugs, bucktail and spoons are all effective. Bottom fishing for trout in the Patuxent and Chinese Mud is excellent. Fishing for flounder has stalled. Croakers have been captured in the lower Potomac.
Ocean City: Through Aug. 11, flounders must be released. Not to worry, said Sue Foster of Oyster Bay Tackle, there are many fish out there. Croaker, bluefish, trout, tautog, sheepshead, drum, blowfish, spot and stripers are flourishing. Stripers are numerous at the U.S. 50 bridge. Derrick Miller of Ocean City reeled in a 13-pound, 5-ounce striper at the bridge on fresh-cut tuna. There are also some trout and tautog at the bridge. Flounder, tuna, and croaker are just beginning to show up. Gary Schuchart of Baltimore reeled in three keeper flounder. They measured 17, 21 and 22 inches and were taken around 28th Street on live minnows. There was an evening croaker blitz at 130th Street. Cut mullet was the key. A few bluefish, weakfish, kingfish, sharks and skates have been caught. Cutbait, bloodworms, and squid strips will do the trick. In the Inlet or East Channel, fishing at the end of the incoming tide and start of the outgoing tide is best. A few croakers and numerous spot have been caught in the inlet.
Potomac River: The water temperature is in the low 80s, said guide Ken Penrod of Life Outdoors Unlimited. The hydrilla continue to overpower the grass beds while bass fishing remains decent. Fishing from the bridge foundations was off, except for Key Bridge. The Washington Channel grass and dropoffs were sparing. The Woodrow Wilson Bridge sector has had some success. The Belle Haven Marina grassbeds house some bass. Buzzbaits and spinner baits will do the trick. At Pomonkey Creek, Big Mouth spinnerbaits and Case Majic Stix are attracting many bass in the 4-pound range.