Serving Fresh and Brackish Waters
of MD, VA, D.C.  & PA

Fishing Report June 28, 2009
4708 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
Office: 301-937-0010. Fax: 301-931-2040. Cell: 240-447-2206
E-mail: ken kenpenrod@comcast.net
Websites: www.penrodsguides.com
www.fishdeepcreek.  

Captain Brent Nelson: LOU Guide, Webmaster & VP of Deep Creek Operations: 
bbnelson@comcast.net

NOTES: “as if it never rained,” the regional rivers are in good shape and the fish are biting. Remember—the report placement for water we fish have nothing to do with best opportunities.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER : ***; 72 degrees; 3-feet @ Point of Rocks; green.

At EDWARDS, WHITES FERRY & LANDER, we are catching plenty of smallmouth bass but much smaller that we have been accustomed to the last few years. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many small bass—but that’s good. We catch between 40 and 60 bass per outing with only 10-20% in the 12-inch and larger class. Those bigger bass didn’t take a bus to another area so I believe the productivity will improve once the river levels stabilize. There is substantial SAV below the surface and I predict a major growth in the next month.

By far—Mizmo and Campground Special tubes, in the “Teaser” and “Small Jaws” models account the vast majority of the fish we catch. We are using 1/8^th ounce RAB jig heads and our best colors include Peanut Butter; Irish Coffee; Penrod Purple and Buzz Kill.

There is a lot of surface (floating) grass so using a fast-retrieve lure is a problem. Stay off of the shorelines until the river stabilizes—and fish mid-river habitat. Some “current” is much better than calmed water. 

Check out this upper Potomac keeper--both of them.	Since the river (UP) has calmed, we are catching lots of smallmouth bass but the size-average has been small. This 18-inch bass is an exception.
This UP smallmouth was caught on a Penrod Peanut Butter tube on Saturday near Lander.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER , PA : ***; 67 degrees; 4.9 @ Harrisburg ; 4.5 @ Newport

The river levels have been “holding” much better than in recent years and that’s “good” for those that use jet boats and the like. Expect slowly falling conditions this week unless an up-basin storm provides additional rain. Bass fishing has been very good throughout the system

Congratulations to LOU guide Chris Sanno (717-576-6849) for winning another tournament, capturing approximately 17-pounds of bass in the Riverfront Campground vicinity. LOU guide, Mike Breeding (443-614-9842) and Chris Sanno are available all year-long so don’t hesitate to contact us.

The river is in beautiful shape so a wide variety of lures will catch chunky bass to four-pounds—or better. We favor the area between Harrisburg and Montgomery Ferry where Mizmo tubes, Campground Special Tubes, Case Magic Stiks, Rattlin’ Rapalas, Luhr Jensen Speed Traps and Rapala jerk baits do a great job. Bass are distributed throughout the river but find ledges, holes below island s and current breaks for best results.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER : ***; 80 degrees; clearing; too many big tournaments.

Depending upon whom you talk to—or where you fish, the river’s productivity is either poor or awesome. Find the “magic” spot and you find heaven.

There are too many big tournaments on this river, and that keeps tax-paying residents at a disadvantage. They can’t use state parks because the parking lot is full. I’ve head from the US Coast Guard that tournaments must be considered a “Marine Event” and a permit is required so they can have an “asset” on site. That never happens.  I also find that the USCG may determine that tournament boat operators may have to be USCG licensed. Wow.

In WASHINGTON DC , the flotsam is gone—but still substantial in the southern boundary. We are catching plenty of stripers in the Washington Channel on “trolled” firetiger pattern Luhr-Jensen crankbaits—and we catch a mix of bass on topwater baits there also. Cast an XRap-8 near the DC Harbor Patrol eddy and hang-on. We did not do well in the traditional hot-spots here including bridge foundations and Pentagon Lagoon.

In the BELLE HAVEN/WW BRIDGE sector, coves nearby, plus Broad Creek grass beds; Hog Island during low water; boat docks and grass across the river from Broad Creek and grass beds and coves in Piscataway Creek have been very productive lately. Best offerings include buzzbaits, Case plastics and Rapala DT-8 in firetiger pattern (for the dropoffs.)

To the south—I stayed away from that this week because of immense tournament competitor pressure—and that sucks.

There are lots of keeper-size stripers in the Washington Channel best caught by trolling Rapala DT-8, firetiger colored crankbaits.	"Doubles" are fun and the DC stripers fight like chum-caught Bay fish.
Who says the carp in Deep Creek Lake won't hit a plastic worm?	Kevin Cronin Jr. and Kevin Cronin Sr. (Herndon) with a nice Deep Creek smallmouth bass caught in Penn Cove on Capt. Brent Nelson's Ranger boat.

DEEP CREEK LAKE : ***; 68 degrees; clear

Our guides, Brent Nelson (240-460-8893) and Bret Winegardner (301-616-9889) are “famous” on this lake—for their guide skills and their tournament success.  There is such a mixed-bag of opportunities that we can accommodate—from the best anglers in the world to the family and children. These guys accommodate. This is a vacation destination for the most part—and you can create family memories with my guys. Fishing has been very good. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are staged along grass bed edges and boat docks. See www.fishdeepcreek.com for reports.

KERR LAKE : **; 301 FASL; 80-degrees; stained to muddy above Goat Island .

Our Associate, Tim Wilson (kickassbassin@aol.com) reports a drop of four-feet in 10-days, and that will screw-up fishing anywhere. The upper lake was muddy to stained but from Ivy Hill to the dam—it as clear. The prognosis for next week is good.

Tim says the bass are in summer mode—and that means the dawn hours, over points and coves will provide good topwater opportunities. Those fish do not take a metro, so move out on those points when the sun is high and probe with Carolina rigged plastics. In addition to main lake points, Tim says Grassy, Nutbush and Eastland Creeks are worth the effort.

There are stripers in the Nutbush to the Dam area best caught by trolling. A very large catfish (62 pounds, Goat Island area) was caught this week.

POCOMOKE RIVER : ***; 70 degrees; tidal clear.

Bass fishing has been sporadic on this beautiful tidal river, but fish a day when you have a low tide early or late in the day and it’s awesome. We fish from Shad Landing most days but the launch at Snow Hill is an option i9f the “tide” works for you. There is so much habitat on this river, so you have to find the hot spatterdock fields and/or stump fields. Penrod-Special spinnerbaits by Big Mouth Lures, Case Plastics and Rattlin’ Rapala are the real deal. Skip Mizmo tubes or weightless plastics under cypress trees or brush for exciting strikes. The bass here are not large by Potomac standards but fish the “good” days and you will be impressed. This is my second-favorite tidal river. Our guide, Captain Brian Barnes, is an absolute expert on this river.

From Shad Landing to Pocomoke City , find spatterdock where a tidal drainage empties. In the Nassawango, fish the current breaks or spatterdock edges.

Fishing Report June 21, 2009
4708 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
Office: 301-937-0010. Fax: 301-931-2040. Cell: 240-447-2206
E-mail: ken kenpenrod@comcast.net
Websites: www.penrodsguides.com
www.fishdeepcreek.  

Captain Brent Nelson: LOU Guide, Webmaster & VP of Deep Creek Operations: 
bbnelson@comcast.net  

NOTES: I feel more like a weather reporter than a fishing reporter. This month, to date, our region has received 5-inches of rain and the average is less than 2-inches. The Upper Potomac will rise substantially and the tidal Potomac will receive another wave of flotsam and dirty water.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER : **; 65 degrees; 5-feet @ Point of Rocks & rising; muddy.

Pretty good fishing early in the week when the level at Point of Rocks was under 3-feet but as of today (June 19) it rose to 5-feet and there is more coming from upstream. Paw Paw measured 10-feet, down from 15. Call 703-996-2200 and follow prompts for river conditions.

            At LANDER, small crankbaits (X-Rap Shad Shallow Surset & Luhr-Jensen Speed Traps), Mizmo tubes and Case Magic Stiks were well accepted, upriver of the launch, where underwater ledges and shoreline pockets held nice bass. Best areas include the Catoctin holes; the Wall eddies; The Fence holes and ledges between the Fence and Burkharts Riffle.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER , PA : ***; clear/stain; 4.3 @ Harrisburg and 4.5 @ Newport and rising. 65-70 degrees.

LOU guide Mike Breeding reports pretty good fishing on the main tem above Riverfront Campground—and in the lower Juniata, where topwater baits did well in the morning but Case Salty Shads, Mizmo tubes; Campground Special tubes, Big Mouth Spinnerbaits and Rattlin’ Rapalas were the favored lures. “The fish are scattered throughout the river but find deeper holes and grass beds and you have found the fish,” says Breeding. Call 1-888-881-7555 for river conditions.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER : ***1/2; stained; 70ish.

Very good fishing on those days when lightning and thunderstorms were absent. The cold fronts didn’t hurt fishing production because the barometer stayed below 30 much of the week. Easterly winds cause higher than normal tides and two days saw small-craft warnings.

In the WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE vicinity, LOU guide, Captain Keith Barker reports good action in coves near Belle Haven Marina and grass beds and docks on the Virginia side, across from Broad Creek. Keith says that Case Magic Stiks were the most reliable offering. There is a lot of grass in Piscataway Creek but find the “good” area and it’s “game-on.” The grass beds between Bryans Point and Bulltown Cove are also worth the efforts and a pretty good buzzbait bite was welcomed.

In the MATTAWOMAN CREEK vicinity, LOU guide, Captain Brent Nelson and guests counted over 80 bass caught early in the week from grass beds near Smallwood State Park and the north point. Brent also reports that Magic Stiks, cast to grass edges, was most productive. Grass beds in the Occoquan; Chickamuxen and Chopawamsic vicinity have been reliable.

Elliott Burka (Great Falls) with Chris Richardson (Ellicott City) with four  of the 80 plus bass they caught in Mattawoman Creek with LOU guide Capt. Brent Nelson on Tuesday.

DEEP CREEK LAKE:**

The Maryland Bass Federation Nation held their 2009 State Qualifying Tournament on this lake over the weekend.  Fishing was tough and the weather brutal. Heavy downpours and 40mph winds made for tough conditions for 120 bass anglers.

Largemouth bass are relating to weed edges in the backs of coves and smallmouths seek the shade under pontoons and docks.  Walleyes and perch will take fuzzy jigs with a minnow attached in 8 to 12 feet of water near stumps and rocks.  See our complete report at www.fishdeepcreek.com.

Hunter Nelson (UM), son of LOU guide Brent Nelson with a  respectable largemouth he caught on a Case Magic Stik  on Deep Creek Lake on Friday.

OCEAN CITY to GARGATHA:

I spent much of the week fishing for flounder between OC and Gargatha where we catch as many as 70 and as few as 5 in a day. Alan Mullis accounted for 38 flounder during of 70-fish day. No magic to it—just double hook rigs, one to 1.5 ounces of lead and killifish minnows. I’ve heard that 90,000 kept flounder from the OC area last year was responsible for the shortened season.

Captain Bob unhooks a nice flounder caught by Gus Mullis.	Bobby Mullis with a nice Ocean City flounder caught during the OC Air Show.
"keepers" are hard to come by in the Ocean City area. Of the 135 flounder we caught, just two were long enough to filet.

I just received 10, 6’-3”, Pen-Rods from Gator Rods and I offer them for $120 each (shipping to you not included.) This is the rod we helped develop, a good all around stick but top-notch for tubes and sticks. Call me (240-447-2206) or e-mail me at kenpenrod@comcast.net.

I have two openings for my summer youth camp for week two (July 13-17.)

We will be offering a four-hour (5:30-9:30 AM) top water opportunity for anglers on the tidal Potomac River for $300 for one or two anglers. 

Fishing Report June 14, 2009
4708 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
Office: 301-937-0010. Fax: 301-931-2040. Cell: 240-447-2206
E-mail: ken kenpenrod@comcast.net
Websites: www.penrodsguides.com
www.fishdeepcreek.  

Captain Brent Nelson: LOU Guide, Webmaster & VP of Deep Creek Operations: 
bbnelson@comcast.net  

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER : **; muddy; 5.5 @ Point of Rocks; 65 degrees

Fishing was tough to poor all week due to the muddy, high water conditions—and recent heavy rains may keep this destination off of our menu for another week. Call 703-996-2200 for river conditions.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER , PA :***; stained; 4.4 and rising @ Harrisburg ; 65 degrees

Fishing was pretty good all week but look for rising conditions for the early week. The Juniata is rising a little also measuring 4.8 at Newport .

LOU guide Mike Breeding has been fishing both the main stem and various sectors of the Juniata . The smallmouth bass are in summer pattern which simply means that they are spread out throughout the river. Big Mouth spinnerbaits, Campground Special tubes and Mizmo tubes account for most bass caught. On the main stem, bass are found upriver of the Juniata in pools and current breaks. The submersed islands and associated grass beds near the Buffalo Ledges is most reliable. Call 1-888-881-7555 for recorded river conditions.

Barry Bonovich used a spinnerbait to catch this Mattawoman bass while fishing aboard Ken's new Ranger Z21.	Dr. Dave Giammittorio fished with Ken on Wednesday caught this Belle Haven area bass on a Case Magic Stik.
Ken used a Case Magic Stik to catch this bass near Belle Haven Marina.	LOU Capt’n Keith Barker’s neighbor Eric with a 6 # + Snakehead he caught while fishing with Keith.
LOU Guide Dan Grulke with a 4 # 15 oz Largemouth he caught while fishing with LOU Capt’n Keith Barker.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER : ***1/2; stained; flotsam; 70 degrees.

Bass fishing has been good throughout the river in spite of severe thunderstorm activity. The headwaters of most creeks are stained and the upper Potomac River is sending down a lot of debris and dirty water.

In the WASHINGTON D C vicinity, pretty good fishing in the Washington Channel where Big Mouth spinnerbaits attract bass to four pounds on the Fort McNair side as well as near the causeway.

In the WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE sector, good fishing results at Fox Ferry; bridge barges and old foundations; north end on Smoot Bay; coves near Belle Haven; Broad Creek grass; boat docks and grass south of Belle Haven and areas in Piscataway Creek. Our most productive baits have been: buzzbaits, Case Magic Sticks and Mizmo tubes.

The “Middle Grounds,” (between Piscataway and Mattawoman) have been pretty good, especially Bulltown Cove grass beds (directly across from Mount Vernon ); Pomonkey Creek; grass in Gunston Cove and shoreline grass between the Navy Marina and Mattawoman Creek. Weightless plastics, frogs, buzzbaits and spinnerbaits do well. Try flipping jig and pig combos or large tubes to grass clumps. In Mattawoman Creek we catch quality bass on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and Case Plastics. The 6-MPH zone and the grasses near the mouth are equal. LOU guides Brent Nelson, Keith Barker and Danny Grulke have done very well near the State Park and mouth of the creek. A guest caught another snakehead.

DEEP CREEK LAKE , MD : ***; 60 degrees; clear.

LOU guides Brent Nelson and Bret Winegardner report good fishing results for bass in the grass and under boat docks. See www.fishdeepcreek.com for more detail. 

Fishing Report June 7, 2009
4708 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
Office: 301-937-0010. Fax: 301-931-2040. Cell: 240-447-2206
E-mail: ken kenpenrod@comcast.net
Websites: www.penrodsguides.com
www.fishdeepcreek.  

Captain Brent Nelson: LOU Guide, Webmaster & VP of Deep Creek Operations: 
bbnelson@comcast.net  

NOTES: I’m posting this report on Friday, June 5, knowing full well that recent heavy rains will negatively impact most of the waters we fish and report upon. Be sure to consult with river condition stations before your trip. You can find that information by” clicking” on the appropriate box on our website.

This smallmouth bass was caught on the Shenandoah River recently—and it’s easy to see that it is abnormal. Some “break-through” as to the reasons for fish kills have been offered lately. The fact remains; something has negatively affected smallmouth bass in the Shenandoah River and even parts of the upper Potomac River that have caused disease and sexual change. I remind all that many persons, perhaps family members in the region, drink Potomac River water.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER : **; 70 degrees and falling; staining quickly; rising quickly, level near 5-feet at Point of Rocks.

We haven’t had a “great” day here since March and I have blamed the up and down levels and lower than normal water temperatures. The river is “coming-up” again and that means high dirty water for awhile. Call 703-996-2200 for reordered river conditions.

At WHITES FERRY, we do “fair” downriver from the launch, especially the Maryland side of Harrison Island and Balls Bluff. Shoreline cover such as rocks and wood have been the most productive and we find that Mizmo tubes have been our most productive offering. Near EDWARDS FERRY, the ledges just downriver, mouth of Goose Creek and the Maryland shoreline upriver near the power line have been best. At LANDER, we still recommend the upriver opportunities, especially the “Wall,” the “Fence” and ledges between the Fence and Burkharts Riffle.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER , PA : ***; 65 degrees; stained; rising slowly; near 5-feet at Harrisburg —4.6 at Newport ( Juniata .)

The Susquehanna basin didn’t receive the amounts of rain the Potomac basin did. Expected rains over the weekend may change that fact. Call 1-888-881-7555 for recorded river conditions.

LOU guide Mike Breeding has been fishing the main stem above Duncannon as well as the lower portion of the Juniata . On a good day, with skilled anglers, he averages 25-30 bass per day. The spinnerbait-bite has been consistent, especially from grass beds associated with submersed islands. Other lures that produce include Mizmo tubes, Case Salty Shads and Luhr-Jensen Speed Traps.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER : ***; stained; 70-degrees; flotsam.

The river was quite stained much of the week and that will only increase as the upper Potomac swells. Fishing has been pretty good in most sectors.

In WASHINGTON D C water, we have dodged flotsam most of the week but the Washington Channel and Pentagon Lagoon was quite productive. Case Magic Stiks, Mizmo tubes and Luhr-Jensen Hot Lips crankbaits (on drops) accounted for some nice bass. There are still some mid-size stripers in the Washington Channel.

In the Woodrow Wilson Bridge area, we do best in coves near Belle Haven Marina, boat docks to the south on the VA side and grass beds at Broad Creek, Piscataway Creek and Bulltown Cove. The lower barometer and cloudy skies were conducive to a really good buzzbait bite but we also do well with tubes, Case Stiks and Big Mouth spinnerbaits.

In the MATTAWOMAN CREEK sector, good topwater bite from grass beds near the mouth, plus grass in Chickamuxen and near Chopawamsic Creek. Lower tides within the 6-MPH zone offer good “frog” action from spatterdock cover.

Dr. Dave fished with Ken recently and we found Case Magic Sticks to be productive on the tidal Potomac.	David and David did very well near Belle Haven with Case Sticks and Mizmo tubes.
Virginia Tech graduate and Shooting Team member David Giammittorio was quite proud of the bass he caught recently.	A very good buzzbait bite along vegetation edges adjacent to Mount Vernon.

KERR LAKE , VA : ***; muddy/stain uplake; 302 level; 70-75 degrees

The lake above the Route 58 bridge is still pretty muddy but find suitable water throughout most of the lake. LOU Associate Tim Wilson (kickassbassin@aol.com) says the early and late hours will provide a good topwater bites but for the most part he is doing well on mainlake points where suspended bass are caught on crankbaits and Football Head jigs.

Tim says there is a pretty good night-time striper bite near Ivy Hill where stripers can be caught on redfins and live-lined shiners.

DEEP CREEK LAKE , MD : ***; clear; 60-65 degrees.

Fishing Report May 31, 2009
4708 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
Office: 301-937-0010. Fax: 301-931-2040. Cell: 240-447-2206
E-mail: ken kenpenrod@comcast.net
Websites: www.penrodsguides.com
www.fishdeepcreek.  

Captain Brent Nelson: LOU Guide, Webmaster & VP of Deep Creek Operations: 
bbnelson@comcast.net  

NOTES: Remember, this is a “report,” not a prediction, so consider that recent heavy rains will affect virtually all of the waters that we report on. I list phone numbers that you call for river conditions in the various report waters but you can obtain much information from our website by clicking on the appropriate heading on our front page.

I received a report of a rather large fish kill in the mouth of Mattawoman Creek. I fished there two times this week and saw no evidence. Can anyone shed some light on this reported kill? I post this report on Friday so rain over the weekend can cause more problems.

Understand my grading system: One (*) is poor fishing. Five (*****) is the best possible—for that body of water. I do not compare one water to another but rather grade the rivers/lakes on their own merit based on past history expectations.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER : ***; rising; stained; 70 degrees.

As of Friday, the river was rising and pretty dirty. The level was about 5.5-feet at Point of Rocks. I can’t determine how much this will increase so be aware. Call 703-996-2200 for more information.

Fishing was pretty good much of the week. The higher water moved fish some but we found no large groups of bass. At LANDER, we prefer the upriver ledges, especially the pools below the Fence. Mizmo tubes and Case Magic Stiks were the preferred lures. There is substantial SAV throughout this sector.

MARFC Stage Hydrographs

In the WHITES FERRY/EDWARDS FERRY sector, we are not doing as well as we have in the past upriver of the ferry. The best areas continue to be the Maryland side of Harrison Island , Balls Bluff and the fall-downs along the Maryland side adjacent to the power lines.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER , PA : ***1/2; stained main stream/muddy Juniata; rising; 6.0 at Newport ( Juniata ), 5.5 and rising main stem. 1-888-881-7555.

LOU guide, Mike Breeding reports a “very good bite” on the main stem above the Juniata River where Big Mouth spinnerbaits, Mizmo and Camp Special tubes and Luhr-Jensen Speed Traps account for most bass. “We are catching 25-35 big, fat smallmouth—even on those windy days,” says Mike. “We caught a bunch of big bass in Sherman Creek last week but the recent rains will ruin that for a while,” says Breeding. We offer guide service all year, with super guides that are intimately knowledgeable of this fish factory. Mike Breeding and Chris Sanno await your bookings.

In addition, John Cunningham, operator of Rent-A-Boat and Riverfront Campground, operates a unique campground and tackle shop where all of the lures and rods we recommend are available, including Gator Rods; RAB jigs heads; Campground Special tubes; Mizmo tubes and all the snacks and drinks you will need for a fishing trip. He also rents boats and canoes—and will shuttle you to upriver areas on the main stem and Juniata --where you can float, fish and enjoy the day.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR: ***; 70-degrees; staining and rising a little.

LOU guide Danny Grulke reports “Pretty good crappie fishing where they are spawning in grass beds in the shallows.” Dan likes to cast 2-inch, Mizmo, curly-tail grubs on 1/16^th ounce jig heads.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER : ***; stained; 70-degrees; flotsam

Recent rains and on-shore winds have caused staining and higher than normal tides throughout the basin aided by consistent on-shore (easterly) winds. Flotsam was fairly heavy in the upper tidal-fresh sector and most headwaters of the tributaries spewed dirty water.

In the WASHINGTON D.C. sector, pretty good bass fishing in the Washington Channel and Pentagon Lagoon where tubes, Rattlin’ Rapalas and Big Mouth spinnerbaits account for most strikes. The main river was pretty dirty.

In the WW Bridge area, we do fairly well in coves south of Belle Haven Marina; Piscataway Creek and Bulltown Cover with Case Magic Stiks and Penrod Special spinnerbaits. Grass beds in Gunston Cove and Greenway Flats are worth some tine also. TIP: many large females have moved to deeper drops where Luhr-Jensen Hot Lips crankbaits may reward. Fort Washington Lighthouse is a good bet.

Snake Heads have been caught in the WW Bridge area as well as the coves near Belle Haven Marina. This fish is extending her range rapidly—and I’m told my many that it’s a good menu item.

MATTAWOMAN CREEK and adjacent areas were pretty productive in spite of high and dirty water. In the 6-MPH zone we use Big Mouth spinnerbaits and frogs to catch some nice bass from spatterdock above Slavins Launch.

By the way, there is a nice business adjacent to Slavins where kayaks and bikes can be rented. This is a cool operation and offers access to the best tributary in the entire Chesapeake Bay system.

Grass beds near the mouth of the creek were just “OK” this week but I blame high tides and easterly winds on this “just OK” rating.

Some pretty good results in grass beds in the Occoquan system—as well as grass beds at Arkindale Flats and the mouth of Aquia Creek.

Larry DiJoseph with 3 nice bass caught while fishing with LOU Capt’n Keith Barker.

DEEP CREEK LAKE : ***; Clear; 60-degrees

Fishing has been very good according to our guides Brent Nelson and Bret Winegardner. Bass have been spawning but that’s just about over. LOU Guide Danny Grulke reports that the “bank between the bridges is producing smallmouth and largemouth bass on Penrod Special tubes—and the boat docks are another focus for anglers.” This is a great body of water, nestled in the mountains of the panhandle of Maryland . Google this water and see how many citations and state records she provided. In addition to black bass, walleye, trout, pan fish and pickerel are cooperative. Most of our business on this water comes from vacationing individuals and if you are planning to be in the area—please contact us early so that we don’t disappoint you. See our special website at www.fishdeepcreek.com for more information.

Linda Bradley, from Parker PA, boated this big spawned out Deep Creek Lake largemouth bass aboard Capt. Brent Nelson's Ranger boat on Tuesday.  The fish took a brush hog on a rocky point near the State Park.

POCOMOKE RIVER , MD : ***; staining; high tides; 70-degrees

A pretty good week but coastal rains and easterly winds caused very high tides. Best areas have been Nassawango Creek on falling water, and the areas adjacent to Shad Landing where spatterdock is the key to success. Big Mouth spinnerbaits, Big Mouth Chatter Baits and Case Magic Stiks have been far and away the best offerings. You really need a day with an outgoing tide to appreciate this fishery. The average bass is just about 2-pounds but there are some fine bass in this system. We like the Shad Landing launch.

KERR LAKE , VA : no report from our associate Tim Wilson this week.

Ken Penrod’s Summer Youth Camp:

We are very close to “full” for this our annual youth camp series that is conducted from my lodge in northern Pennsylvania . I’m looking for a few boys between the ages of 12-16 that are: completely into fishing and shooting arts; well behaved; free of physical and emotional handicap and good students. See my website at www.penrodsguides.com for additional information. This camp is conducted during the month of July only—with no more than 6-8 attendees per weekly session. There is an application process—and a mandatory interview between the parents and me. We cannot accept troubled boys.