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John Mullican, Fisheries Biologist - Total Reports: 41
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Posted on August 17, 2012 | Permalink
Potomac River Smallmouth Bass Angler Catch Rate Survey
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Upper Potomac River
The Potomac River Smallmouth Club and the Maryland Bass Federation have partnered with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Inland Fisheries Division to conduct a catch rate survey of Potomac River bass fishermen. Inland Fisheries collects smallmouth bass population data annually, but we would like to improve our knowledge of fishermen catch and harvest rates. The data will help us monitor the smallmouth population, harvest attitudes, and evaluate regulations.
For the pilot project this year, the survey began in June and will continue through October and extends from the Route 340 bridge near Harpers Ferry downstream to the lower end of the Seneca pool at Seneca Breaks, a distance of 39 miles. The survey area is divided into two sections, Rt 340 downstream to the Monocacy and from the Monocacy downstream to Seneca Breaks. Future surveys will run through the entire fishing season March through October and sample other sections of the river.
Creel clerks are providing fishermen with a postage-paid survey card. At the conclusion of their fishing day, fishermen simply answer a few brief questions about their days catch and drop the card in the mail. Each returned card (make sure to provide your return address) is another chance to win $50 (10 prizes awarded) from a drawing held at the conclusion of the survey in October. If contacted by a creel clerk, please consider participating in this survey. Using information provided by fishermen is cost effective and an important part of managing fisheries. For more information please contact John Mullican at 301-898-5443 or jmullican@dnr.state.md.us.
Fishing for smallmouth bass on the upper Potomac River has been very good. With the recent cooler nights, water temperatures have dropped into the upper 70s to low 80s and fish activity has picked up. Try topwaters early and late in the day and tubes, grubs, stick worms, and unweighted soft jerkbaits when the sun is up. Fisheries Technician Josh Henesy recently floated a section of the lower river while distributing survey cards to fishermen and caught many nice smallmouth and a bonus largemouth bass.
Posted on July 30, 2012 | Permalink
Potomac and Monocacy River Juvenile Fish Surveys
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Potomac and Monocacy River
Fisheries staff recently completed the annual Potomac River and Monocacy River juvenile surveys. A 30 foot seine is used to collect juvenile fish at 10 sites on the mainstem from PawPaw, WV downstream to Seneca. Although the survey focuses on documenting the annual abundance of young of year smallmouth bass, the abundance of other game and non-game species is recorded as well. This data can be important when looking at long-term population trends. Typically, 9 hauls are taken at each site to account for differences in habitat and the mean number of young smallmouth per haul is determined. The 2012 Potomac survey documented an “average” yearclass of smallmouth (1.8 smallmouth per haul), nearly identical the 2011 survey. Smallmouth reproduction on the Monocacy River was higher at 3.0 smallmouth per haul, the third highest index since 1997. The biggest influences on spawning success and fry survival are river flow and turbidity. The abundance of young bass has been highest during springs with moderate, relatively stable flows and lowest in springs with above average flows and flooding.
Young fish must constantly be on the lookout for predators. While conducting the juvenile survey on the Potomac we observed a large northern watersnake struggling with a yearling channel catfish. The catfish was approximately 6 inches in length.
Posted on June 8, 2012 | Permalink
Greenbriar Lake Habitat Improvement
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Greenbriar Lake
Fisheries recently completed a habitat improvement project at Greenbriar Lake in Greenbriar State Park. Discarded Christmas trees were placed in approximately 10 feet of water to attract bass and sunfish for fishermen. Cement was formed around the base of each tree so that when submerged most of the trees remained upright. Trees were placed in deep water habitat in 17 to 20 feet of water earlier this year. In total, nearly 50 trees were placed in the lake. Down imaging sonar clearly showed the trees and nearby fish. For those that want to try their luck around these structures, here are the coordinates: deep water structure N39 32.3472 - W77 37.1484, shallow water structure N39 32.19 - W77 37.23 Good Luck!
Posted on May 11, 2012 | Permalink
Rock Snot (Didymo) in Hunting Creek
Type: Freshwater
Region: Central
Location: Hunting Creek
The invasive algae Didymosphenia geminate, didymo for short and more appropriately called “rock snot”, was recently confirmed in the popular Hunting Creek fly-fishing-only, catch-and-return area.
Didymo forms thick unattractive mats on the stream bottom that can negatively impact the insects that trout eat and make fishing difficult. It is most commonly spread by hitching a ride on fishermen’s waders/boots. Since “rock snot” is a recent invader, it is not known how damaging it will become in its new environment.
Fishermen can help prevent the spread of invasive species like didymo by disinfecting waders and boots before fishing other waters. The best way to do this is to thoroughly clean, rinse, and allow boots to dry in the sun for several days. A salt solution using 1 cup of salt per gallon of water can be used to disinfect gear if thorough drying is not possible between trips. Wader wash stations are available on Hunting Creek as well as many other streams where a salt solution is available. More information on didymo can be found by clicking here.
Posted on March 15, 2012 | Permalink
Walleye Fishing on Potomac
Type: Freshwater
Region:
Location: Upper Potomac River
I recently had the pleasure of spending a nice day on the upper Potomac River walleye fishing with Mike Peters and his buddy John. The action has slowed down a bit since the fish have begun to spawn and most of the walleye landed were males. Persistence won the day, however, and we ended up with about a dozen walleye, finally connecting on a heavy 24 inch female near the end of the day.
Posted on March 5, 2012 | Permalink
Spring Walleye Survey on the Potomac
Type: Freshwater
Region:
Location: Upper Potomac River
The Fisheries Service has been conducting electrofishing surveys of the Potomac River walleye fishery. The surveys are conducted annually during the spring to gather population and size distribution data. A good portion of the catch has been 20 to 21 inches in length, within the protected size (From January 1 through April 15 the minimum size for walleye is 15” with a maximum size of 20” in the Potomac mainstem). Walleye from the 2011 yearclass (12 – 13”) and the 2010 yearclass (15 – 17”) were also represented in the samples. Although natural reproduction has been fairly consistent, the yearclasses have been relatively low. To supplement the existing natural reproduction, a small sample (30) of mature walleye was transferred to Manning Warmwater Hatchery for spawning. Following the spawning process the adults and resulting fingerlings will be returned to the river. Producing fingerlings in the hatchery increases their chance of survival because they don’t have to contend with potential floods that can reduce the survival of the fry produced in the wild. Potomac walleye typically spawn around the first week of April. River conditions are currently unsafe for boating following the recent heavy rainfall, but walleye fishing is predicted to be very good when river levels recede and the water clears. The report summed up what we have been doing, the river was too high to fish this past weekend.
Posted on February 13, 2012 | Permalink
Winter Potomac Walleye
Type: Freshwater
Region:
Location: Upper Potomac River
Freshwater fishermen in Maryland are blessed with a diversity of year-round fishing opportunities. Potomac River walleye is a great winter option for those that dont mind a little uncomfortable weather. Walleye continue to bite well during frigid conditions when other fish become nearly dormant. Friends Kevin Gladhill and Steve Peperak and I endured cold winds and heavy snow squalls to catch a few walleye last weekend. Keep in mind that from January 1 through April 15 no walleye over 20" may be kept from the Potomac mainstem. Many walleye in the current fishery will be in this protected size this spring. Carefully releasing these large females will help ensure that the quality of this popular fishery remains high. Good luck and most importantly, be safe.
Posted on February 7, 2012 | Permalink
St Judes Benefit Tournament on the upper Potomac
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Brunswick
An open tournament to raise money for St Judes Children’s Hospital was held on the upper Potomac River at the Brunswick Campground last Saturday. Dave and Mary Baker and Smoketown Bait and Tackle have hosted the popular winter tournament since 2009. Although State regulations permit five bass per angler with a 12” minimum size, tournament rules limited anglers to five bass per boat with a 15” minimum size. In the midst of a heavy snow squall, the twenty seven participating teams brought in 68 smallmouth bass over 15” with 11 of those exceeding 18”! First place went to the reigning champions Chris Cannon and Jerry Dayhoff who brought in five bass with a weight of 14.7 lbs. Runners up Jason Barrick and Doug Zittle finished a close second with five bass at 14.5 lbs. Congratulations to all the anglers that participated to raise money for a good cause. Several of the winners also donated their winnings.
Open tournaments like this one are a good opportunity for Inland Fisheries to collect information about angler catch rates and bass growth rates and are an important tool in managing the fishery. Following the weigh-in procedure and data collection, the bass were held in an aerated tank and subsequently released back into the Potomac.
Posted on January 30, 2012 | Permalink
Winter Smallmouth
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Upper Potomac River
My good friend Kevin Gladhill and I fished the upper Potomac River over the weekend for smallmouth bass. Warmer air over the 39 degree water made for a beautiful foggy morning until the sun burned through. It took light jigs fished very slowly to tempt the lethargic bass. We landed about a dozen nice smallmouth between 13 and 19 inches and lost a few more before gusty 30 mph winds cut the day short.
Posted on January 5, 2012 | Permalink
New Years Day Smallmouth
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Upper Potomac
My fishing partner Steve Peperak and I decided to start 2012 off right – with a fishing trip to the Potomac of course! We hit the river on New Years Day to try for smallmouth bass (don’t forget to get your new license!). Thanks to a much warmer than normal December, the river has remained near 40°F extending the fishing season well into the winter. Fishing in cold water frequently requires smaller lures and a slower presentation, tough to do given the gusty winds. The bass cooperated, though, and we caught quite a few from 12 to 18 inches. Warming trends during the winter can bring very good fishing. Try small jigs fished very slow on the bottom. Most takes will be subtle and can be easily missed if you’re not paying attention. Be careful and wear your PFD.
