FRESHWATER
FISHING REPORTS
Western Region:
Ken Pavol is pictured above with a tiger musky he caught on the North Branch of the Potomac River. Ken is a longtime biologist with DNR's Fisheries Service and one of the best fishermen around. Streams and Rivers of western and central Maryland are nearly back to normal flow rates after heavy rains last week. Fall trout fishing does not have to wait to for hatchery fish. Great trout fishing can be enjoyed now on the several tailrace fisheries we have in MD, including the Gunpowder River in Baltimore County, North Branch of the Potomac and Savage River in Garrett County. Several weeks ago, I joined fellow several of my fellow DNR biologists on the annual Savage River survey. We found excellent reproduction for both brook and brown trout and a 1997 year class that is providing good numbers of quality 13-16 inch brown trout. Up on Deep Creek Lake, walleye are active off the points in 15-foot depths and smallmouth and rock bass can be caught around most piers and floating docks.
Central/Southern Region:
Central Maryland reservoirs are fishing very well now. Liberty Reservoir is seeing nice catches of both smallmouth and largemouth bass on rocky points in 10 to 15 foot depths. A few nice walleye are being caught near Oakland Point. Crappie, bluegills and yellow perch are being caught on the beaver huts in the backs of several of the coves.
Piney Run-yellow perch are being caught on night crawlers on the bottom. Big bluegills and a few crappie are also showing up on minnows or earthworms and are usually found outside the edge of the hydrilla weed beds. A few nice rainbow trout (up to 16") have also come to scale during the past week. Catfishing has picked up with a number of fish in the 4-5 lb. range coming to scale. They are taking either night crawlers or cut bait. Mixed in with the catfish are some nice bullheads in the 2-pound range. Piney Run's next tournament will be the "Fall Fishing Tournament", Piney Run Lake's final angling event for 2004. This event, which features prizes up to $300 will occur on Saturday, October 9th from 6 AM - 12 Noon. Cash prizes will be awarded for largemouth bass, catfish, striped bass and tiger musky. A large trophy will be presented to the angler who catches the largest legal fish for the tournament. Registration fees are just $15 per angler, plus normal park entrance fees. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. A food concession is provided. Call the Park at 410-795-5165 for more information or to register. On Loch Raven Reservoir, plenty of bass are being caught in the weed beds around Feather Island, and in Peerce's and Goetze's Coves. Crappie are being caught at the Dulaney Valley Bridge and the #1 bridge. Pickerel are abundant anywhere you find weed beds. On Rocky Gorge Reservoir, look for bass off the rocky points in 10 to 12 feet of water. Walleye have been taken near the Rt. 29 Bridge. Smallmouth action on Prettyboy Reservoir is turning on in 6 to 15 foot depths. Try Frog Hollow Cove, Graves Run and the periphery around Hoshall's Island
Eastern Region:
Now is the time to fish the numerous millponds of the eastern shore. As I mentioned in the overview, numerous species are now active in these ponds, including big bluegill, yellow perch, crappie, and largemouth bass. Try Leonard's Mill Pond, Wye Mill's Pond, Johnson's Pond, Smithville Lake, Tuckahoe Pond and Unicorn Pond.
Reservoir Bathymetry information. The Maryland
Geological Survey has a bathymetry maps on their website:
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