Ken Penrod's bass fishing report
Guide Ken Penrod, owner of Life Outdoors Unlimited, files his weekly bass fishing report.
He says, "Fishing hasn’t been much fun during the day but the fish are biting at each of the locations that we report on. A 'good plan' is to be on the water by 5:30 a.m. and off the water when the fish shut down. That’s not necessarily true for tidal bass however so play the tides and try for the last two hours of outgoing and two hours of incoming."
UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: two and a half stars; 82 degrees; algae clumps on Virginia side; sick-looking grass; clear with algae stain; 1.0 feet at Point of Rocks.
Fishing has been quite good despite unfavorable ecological conditions, but if you chose to fish during the middle of the day, you may as well stay home. This is a good water level for drift fishing and I suggest Brunswick to Lander or Point of Rocks, and Whites Ferry to Edwards Ferry.
Whites Ferry and Edwards Ferry are fishing pretty much the same, where bass are feeding in deeper holes, submersed ledges and areas where the river bottom is strewn with chunk rocks. I prefer the upriver chances at both locations. We rely on Case Plastics, especially the 4-inch Magic Stik attached to a 2/0 VMC hook and 6-pound test Sufix ProMix monofilament. A medium-action rod will do the trick.
At Lander, either direction is good, but during very low water it’s best to motor upriver just in case your motor fails for some reason. I recommend the Campground Special (teaser) tubes in Penrod Purple; Roadkill; V-8; Troy’s Trigger and KP Candy. Use 1/8th-ounce RAB jigheads and 6-pound test Sufix ProMix or Deep Crankin’ monofilament. Stay low in your boat and make long casts.
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: three stars; 85 degrees; salt wedge creeping into DC; grasses dying in many areas; algae in creeks and areas of main stem.
Prime conditions exist for fish disease, so be alert. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, do not keep bass in your livewell. Remember, largemouth bass virus exists in this water and conditions are perfect for it to show its ugly head.
In Washington, this is a good time to fish the headwaters, from Three Sisters to Chain Bridge. Cast Rapala DT04 crankbaits (47, 49, 51 and 98); Mizmo tubes (green pumpkin, Penrod Purple and Juniata Treat) plus Big Mouth Lure Co. spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Focus on smallmouth, but don’t be surprised if you catch a few walleye. Bridge foundations are a favorite hot-water habitat, so Key Bridge and Long Bridge are your best bet.
In the Washington Channel, troll Rapala Thug crankbaits in the 10- to 15-foot zone near (but not too near) the Fort McNair wall. In the Woodrow Wilson Bridge sector, we do best in coves near Belle Haven Marina; Penrod Cove; barges and wharf remains nearby; Smoot points; grass north of Broad Creek; grass south of Hog Island; Bulltown Cove; Pohick Bay and Pomonkey Bay and Creek. This is pretty much a grass pattern, except for the immediate vicinity of the bridge, so buzzbaits, Penrod Special spinner baits; Case Magic Stiks and dark-colored frogs are favored.
In and around Mattawoman Creek, we like to 6-MPH zone during high water and the grass beds between Smallwood State Park and the main stem (we see a loss of grass here that are of concern). Penrod Special spinnerbaits have been very good if you can keep the snakeheads off of them.
Nearby areas that are good visits include Occoquan Bay and Belmont Bay; Chickamuxen, south point to Tug Boat Cove; small areas along Arkindale Flats and Mallows Bay. In Aquia Creek, it’s time to investigate the loss of grass and the extensive algae bloom. This little creek seems to be under stress way too often. Anyone with information should contact authorities but I’d like to be kept in the loop, please.
DEEP CREEK LAKE: two and a half stars; mid 70-80 degrees; minus 1.5 feet; clear. LOU guides Bret Winegardner and Brent Nelson continue to escort vacationing families to memory-laden adventures—and that’s hard to do on a summertime lake. “The largemouth bite is back on,” say Bret Winegardner. “We are catching them from grass beds and boat docks in the middle to upper lake arms and coves. Wacky-rigged plastics seem best for the docks but don’t hesitate to cast them to grass along with frogs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and chatterbaits by Big Mouth Lure Co. For smallmouth, the best areas continue to be the Deep Creek Lake State Park shoreline; off shore humps and rocky shores and coves toward the dam. The kids can catch plenty of perch, pickerel and blue gills on live baits along grass beds and in stump fields.
