Weekly Fishing Report

Let the sun shine and warm the landscape and waters of Maryland this week. After several days of rain, cold temperatures and a root’n toot’n northeaster, I think we’re all ready for some dryer and warmer weather. The rain does bring out the green in everything, and this is a marvelous time of the year to be outdoors. A whole new opportunity has opened up for those who fish for striped bass in the Chesapeake as the minimum size has dropped down to 20 inches. The water clarity in the middle and lower bay is amazing right now, so get out there and enjoy the outdoors; they’re out there waiting for you.

Before we jump in, here is a quick reminder that Maryland will once again be having free fishing days in June and July, providing a unique opportunity to fish the state’s waters without obtaining a fishing license, stamp or registration.

The floodgates at the Conowingo Dam closed this past Sunday for the first time in more than a week, which is good news for fishermen and the bay. The waters of the lower Susquehanna and the very upper portions of the bay will have stained water for a while, as well as floating debris, but will clear up in time. Presently the lower Susquehanna River is loaded with white perch. Now that the river has calmed down, there is excellent fishing to be found. There are still a few hickory shad being caught and released at the mouth of Deer Creek, but there is a lot of white perch eager to take shad darts. Lower flows in the river will also mean better fishing for flathead and channel catfish, and there could very well still be some American shad near the dam pool.

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