Way North Fishing Reports
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, June 4 Update:
Opening week of Maryland’s striped bass season produced plenty of action in the Way North region, with anglers finding success trolling, casting soft plastics, and working the Susquehanna Flats. Smallmouth bass fishing above Conowingo Dam has also improved as water levels recede and clarity increases, while blue catfish remain abundant throughout the region’s tidal rivers. Anglers targeting a mixed bag of species are finding plenty of opportunities as summer fishing patterns begin to settle in.
Striped bass season is now open in all Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay, which means that the Way North region is now open for anglers to start targeting them. This region has been off limits to targeting since April, so there’s no doubt anglers have been eagerly waiting for the season to open. Luckily, we had good conditions this week for folks to get out on the water. We heard several successful reports from anglers and also heard that opening day was crowded, which was to be expected. A kayak angler reported a Shadow Rap and Flicker Shad produced while trolling. Topwater did not produce any bites nor did they see other anglers who were casting hook up. Other anglers fishing in the lower Susquehanna River found success this week throwing swim shads and other soft plastics around the rock islands in the river. North of the Conowingo Dam, the smallmouth bite has been good now that the water levels are receding, and the water clarity is improving. Jerkbaits, poppers, and ned rigs have all been noted as effective recently.
Rich Leadbeater of Rhythm Of The Tides guide service reports that he and a friend had an excellent opening day of rockfish season on the Susquehanna Flats. They caught their two keepers plus several other fish in 10 to 15 feet of water. Rich also reports that the bass bite is still good on the flats in the shallow waters over the grass beds. Rich just launched his guide service and is offering trips on the Susquehanna Flats and nearby rivers for several species, including largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish and perch. He is a local expert for this region.
The Conowingo Dam pool is a hotspot for the Way North region. The area will be crowded now that rockfish season is open, but that is because it is usually a productive area. Those looking to catch rockfish should use large surf casting rods with three-way rigs or jigs and soft plastics to cast into the wash. The rockfish usually hang out close to the outflow pipes, so casting close and jigging through the water column is how most folks target them. Big blue catfish and flathead catfish have also been in the area, but the action for the big blues has slowed down as they are spawning right now. The smaller blue catfish in the five-to-20-pound range are biting just about everywhere in the region’s tidal rivers. Fresh cut gizzard shad and eel are two baits that typically work very well. There have also been a few reports of catfish being caught on crankbaits and jerkbaits. Both blue catfish and flatheads are known to hit artificial lures, and it is a very fun way to catch them.
