Fishing report
The locations
Piney Run: Bass are taking Senkos and surface lures around the docks and launch areas early in the morning, said Jim Gronaw of the park office. Panfish and yellow perch are being caught on worms. Channel cat fishing is hot, and 81 anglers entered the Catfish Rodeo on June 27. Tonight, anglers competing in the Bigg Cattie tournament will vie for $250 and a trophy for the heaviest fish over 10 pounds.
Prettyboy Reservoir: Duke Nohe of the Maryland Aquatic Resource Coalition reported largemouth and smallmouth bass caught on pig and jigs, jointed rebels and surface plugs. Spider Jigs and plastic lures also have been attracting bass. White perch can be caught trolling a spinner hook with a worm.
Loch Raven Reservoir: Grass beds are good places to cast spinners or weedless spoons for pickerel. Largemouth bass have been holding in wood structures around Feather Island, School House Cove and Dead Man's Cove. Plastic lures are recommended. White perch can be caught trolling a half-ounce spinner hook with a night crawler. Crappies can be caught on 1/8 -jigs and twister tails under Dulaney Valley Bridge. Blue gills are in the shallows and will take worms and small jigs.
Liberty Reservoir: Crayfish make a great bait for smallmouth bass around the rocky points 15 to 30 feet deep. Crappies and bluegills can be caught from under the bridges and in the coves. Water levels are up around the Nicodemus Bridge, so shoreline fishing should be done north of Nicodemus road, says Martin L. Gray, fisheries ecologist.
Susquehanna River: A few rockfish are in the Flats area. Mike Benjamin of Herb's Tackle Shop in North East says to use weedless top-water lures for bass of all species. Good-size largemouth and smallmouth bass have been caught in the Flats. Fishing for catfish has been good with large fish caught.
Gunpowder River: The water temperature is 58 degrees and the fish are into their normal summer pattern, says Rocky Cox at the Backwater Angler. Fish midges and caddis in the morning, and cast terrestrials at midday. Take advantage of the tubers and canoes, and cast a nymph behind them to catch fish feeding on nymphs dislodged from the bottom. For rainy days, cast a San Juan worm against the bank. Fishing below Masemore Road has been very productive.
Middle River: Spinner baits and plastic worms around the grass beds are attracting bass. Buzz baits produce surface strikes early and late in the day. The canals around Joppatowne are productive.
Patapsco River: With water clarity good and levels slightly high, fishing is good, says Joe Bruce of the Fisherman's Edge. Smallmouth bass and panfish are extremely active and can be caught on various streamer patterns. The fish are also reacting to rubber-legged poppers during midday and early afternoon.
Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge reservoirs: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission officer Hector Padilla said large catfish have recently been caught. One 29 1/2 -inch channel catfish weighing 10 pounds was caught in Triadelphia on a rubber grub. A 27-inch, 7-pound channel catfish was caught below the dam at Rocky Gorge.
Chesapeake Bay: Anglers are still waiting for croakers to make the switchover to a night bite. Weakfish and blues aren't hitting here or in Virginia waters, either. Low salinity because of the tremendous spring runoff is getting closer to the mean for July. Capt. Jim Brincefield recommends the Gooses as a good place to chum for striped bass using a standard rig with razor clams and cut bunker. Stripers, breaking in the evening at Cedar Point Rip, will take lures. For light tackle action from shorelines, fish for perch around and under docks with small jigs during high tide. Use jigs in white, red and chartreuse. Spots are becoming more plentiful in both the Potomac and the Patuxent. Bottom rigs along the Naval Air Station beaches and piers are yielding spot in size and numbers. Ragged Point in the Potomac has been excellent for hardhead. Bottom fishing has been dependable when it isn't stormy. Flounders have been caught at the Three Legged and also between marker Nos. 74 and 76. Bloodworms, squid and peelers are good choices for bait.
