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

WEEK ENDING August 31, 2008
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.  

Webmaster Brent Nelson: bbnelson@comcast.net

Guiding on fresh & brackish waters of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania & DC  

NOTES: Resident goose season will begin on Monday so anglers and hunters are urged to respect each-others rights. If you see a large group of geese on the water, stay away. Odds are good that they are decoys. Hunters, if you see anglers getting to close—shine your light at them.

This report is posted on Friday morning.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER : ****; clear, 1.1 at POR, low 80’s, much water grass.
Don’t look for much help from the recent rains as it will be mostly coastal. Smallmouth bass fishing has been extraordinary. We are catching all year classes and the numbers of legal-size bass beats all I’ve ever seen. We fish mostly between Edwards Ferry and Brunswick . It’s tough to get around because of the low water and the grass beds. Whites Ferry is best for now where we use Mizmo tubes and Case Magic Sticks on six pound test monofilament.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: ***, Normal , low 80’s, large algae load centered at Mattawoman.
The recent rains are welcomed but will have very little impact on our waters. Fishing has been pretty good this week with grass beds still the major pattern. In Washington , D.C. , we find smallmouth bass above Three Sisters Islands ; Key Bridge foundations; Virginia side of Roosevelt Island, Kennedy Center and Long Bridge foundations where Mizmo tubes, Luhr Jensen crankbaits and Case Magic Sticks do best. Largemouth activity was pretty slim this week except for the dropoff along Fort McNair and Blue Plains. In the Woodrow Wilson Bridge sector, we cast crankbaits (Luhr Jensen Hot Lips) to the concrete in Penrod Cove; Mizmo tubes to sunken barges above the bridge; tubes to new and old foundations and Big Mouth spinnerbaits to grass cover in Belle Haven Cove. Fishing has improved again this week. In the Mattawoman/Chickamuxen Creeks vicinity, the algae is disgusting but we manage to find bass in grass at the mouths of both creeks where frogs and Case Sticks do best. Pretty good bass fishing within the “6-MPH zone also.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, PA: ***, 3.1 at Harrisburg, mid-70s, clear.
This is no time to be running about the river but the fishing is awesome in many areas. The local river-rats are confined to certain areas where only their trolling motor is used. Lots of quality smallmouth bass between Fort Hunter and the Juniata and the guys are catching big musky and some large walleye. Mizmo tubes for the bass and big spinnerbaits for the musky. John Cunningham is shuttling his campers to launch sites upriver and they are crushing bass between Swagarts Island and the Juniata.

NANTICOKE RIVER: ***, normal tides, high 70s, murky
LOU guide, Captain Brian Barnes reports “pretty good bass fishing” during a falling tide where frogs and Case Magic Sticks were favored. “The bass are very tight to wood cover so concentrate your efforts on that habitat. Most productive areas were above Broad Creek.

POCOMOKE RIVER: ***, normal tides, high 70s, tannic.
LOU guide, Captain Brian Barnes is skipping frogs as far back under overhanging tree limbs as you can because the bass are between the shore and the vegetation. There is also a deep water drop bite on the outside edges of the spatterdock where Penrod Special spinnerbaits, blue fleck worms and Case Magic Sticks are recommended. Nassawango Creek is a good bet during the falling tide.

DEEP CREEK LAKE: ***, normal, low 70s.
LOU guides Brent Nelson (bbnelson@comcast.net) and Bret Winegardner reports “pretty good bass fishing” in the upper lake where boat docks and grass beds account for most action. Go to www.fishdeepcreek.com for details.

WEEK ENDING August 24, 2008
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.  

Webmaster Brent Nelson: bbnelson@comcast.net

Guiding on fresh & brackish waters of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania & DC  

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER : 
****, 1.2 @ Point of Rocks; 80-degrees; slightly murky

The river is extremely low and choked with grasses but smallmouth bass fishing is as good as I’ve ever seen it in more than 50-years of extensive experience.

At WHITES FERRY, come in and out of the launch area via the ferry lane (BUT do not interfere with the ferry and beware the cable that holds the ferry on course) to avoid the grass. It’s a $5 launch. I take my Mercury powered Xpress jet Boat (from Mare Inc, Thurmont, MD) upriver until I can see the smokestack from the Dickerson Power Plant. There are things (sunken trees and a few rocks) that you can hit at this level so stay alert. I have switched to 6# rest Excel monofilament (green) and we are doing better with Mizmo teasers on 1/8^th jig heads in Penrod Special, Camo Road Kill, Red Craw, Green Pumpkin, Irish Coffee and Juniata Treats. We caught nearly 200 smallmouth bass on Thursday—every one on tubes and we tried other lures.

At LANDER, the grass mats are tough to deal with but get to the holes and you have found the bass. The Huffman Ledge area, between the powerline and end of Bald Eagle Island, is full of bass best caught on tubes. The ledges below the Sawbuck, and below The Fence are great areas but it’s a bear to get through the grasses. The Brunswick Grass Flats (between the Fence and the bridge) is just blocked with grass growth. It’s a very worthwhile float from Brunswick to Lander though.

Lucian Romano fish Whites Ferry with Ken on Thursday. Nearly 200 smallmouth bass--all on Mizmo tubes.	Kenny Mallick made "Ken's 20-Inch Club" with this beauty that tried to eat a Penrod Special tube.
Of the nearly 200 smallmouth bass that visited the inside of Ken's Xpress jet boat, a good number of them were in the 15-17 inch class with one a little longer than 20-inches.	We use Mizmo tubes on Potomac River smallmouth bass, because they work.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER : 
**, Nearly 80-degrees; full moon tides; algae load.

The drought and heat are taking a big toll but bass fishing has been pretty consistent, especially for those that fish the late and early hours during low water.

In WASHINGTON D.C. you can catch young stripers in the Washington Channel by trolling Case Salty Shads on 3/8^th ounce jigs along the channel drop or over the humps below Long Bridge . The river between Key Bridge to Chain Bridge is giving up some nice smallmouth and even a few walleye. Use Luhr Jensen crankbaits (Speed Trap & Brush Baby). Some of our guides are catching big catfish in the channel and other places between the Anacostia and Bluer Plains on cut bait.

In the WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE vicinity, the bridge foundations (including the old, unseen ones), dropoffs in front of Penrod Cove and Fox Ferry Point holds some impressive bass but it takes patience. Nearby Belle Haven Cove, grass edges in Broad and Piscataway Creek and dropoff at the lighthouse are good stops. The Case Swimming Frog, Magic Stik and Big Mouth buzzbaits do best.

LOU guide Keith Barker is fishing MATTAWOMAN and vicinity and doing pretty good in spite of the horrible algae bloom. Keith is using frogs and buzzbaits in grass beds.

A Note from LOU guide Capt. Keith Barker: Aug. 24-Tidal Potomac River: "LOU guide Dan Grulke and I fished for Monster Blue Catfish today and boy did we find them.  We had 5 that weighed less than 10 # each.  3 more that weighed less than 20 # each.  The rest weighed between the mid 20’s and the low 40’s.  Can’t tell you how much the big one weighed for sure because I broke the scale when I tried to weigh him.  Total weight for the day was a little over 350 #.  Danny and I have trashed over a $100.00 worth of scales getting this technique dialed in.  These Blue Cats are an incredible fishery and very few people know how to catch them.  Danny and I have refined techniques he has used and techniques I used to use down at Santee Cooper in SC.  We have learned these tidal Monster Blue Cats are predictable, and they eat whenever they are hungry regardless of what the weather is doing."

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER , PA : 
*** , mid-70s; 3.3 @ Harrisburg ; very clear.

Bass fishing is good but boating the river is tough. Some aggressive musky fishing in the New Cumberland area. John Cunningham of Riverfront Campground is sending his guests on early morning shuttled trips between Montgomery Ferry and the Juniata where Case Salt Shads, Magic Stics, Mad Toms and Hellgrammites have been excellent baits for bass to three pounds. The lake ( Frederick ) offers deep water fishing for early risers but boat traffic on weekends is hectic.

KERR RESERVOIR, VA: 
LOU Associate Guide Tim Wilson (kickassbassin@aol.com) reports a “pretty low” lake level and fairly tough fishing. You can find some shallow bass in the morning by “running points” between town and Grassy Creek—then retrace your route when the sun climbs and use Carolina rigged plastics in the deeper water along those points.

WICOMICO RIVER , MD : 
The prettiest of all the Bay rivers and catch a falling tide—one of the more productive. LOU guide Brian Barnes is catching bass on Big Mouth spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and chatterbaits from spatterdock cover between Shad Landing and town. Nassawango creek may even be better.

DEEP CREEK LAKE : 
LOU guides Brent Nelson and Bret Winegardner are finding bass for their clients uplake in grass beds and under boat docks. Go to www.fishdeepcreek.com for this week’s details.

Pollution News

Shepherdstown WV Sewage Treatment Outfalls: Don Cosden, MDNR Chief of Inland Fisheries, sent some of his people to investigate the issue and reports: A document of an internet site lists “potential release of floating sludge” as a disadvantage to the type of plant Shepherdstown operates. This effluent is supposed to be treated with chlorine for disinfection. Shepherdstown admits that the plant is at “capacity” and no new hookups are permitted. A new facility is on the planning boards. The downriver foam is a plant fault but the foam overwhelms the baffles, twice a year—when college begins—and when it ends.

          I’m asking all the fishermen to monitor this outfall, and if you see material coming from that pipe that doesn’t fit the above explanation—get a sample in a plastic bag. We have another source that has gone to the Governor for explanation.

Mattawoman Creek may be further damaged by a new highway: I find it unacceptable that state and local authorities could plan such a large highway at the headwaters of this creek without an Environmental Impact Study.

          Who do I complain to?

Sonar and GPS expert Ken Penrod will be representing Navico/Lowrance/Eagle at the Cabela’s store in Hamburg , Pennsylvania Saturday and Sunday in conjunction with Cabela’s Great Outdoor Days. Find Ken at the Electronics section where he will demonstrate the use of sonar for the fishing crowd and GPS for anglers and hunters.

WEEK ENDING August 17, 2008
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.  

Webmaster Brent Nelson: bbnelson@comcast.net

Guiding on fresh & brackish waters of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania & DC  

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER : 
(eow @ 80 degrees; clear with algae; 1.2 @ Point of Rocks)

MARYLAND ’S RESIDENT GOOSE SEASON BEGINS THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER SO GET A DATE FOR OUR CAST & BLAST ADVENTURES.

The river is low and algae is present, particularly along the Virginia side of the river below the Shenandoah. At Lander it’s tough to get around because of the water grass but the big fish are stacked in certain holes and they must eat. We use Case Magic Sticks (green/gold) and Mizmo tubes (Penrod Special & Juniata Treat) cast on six pound test Excel monofilament. Those underwater ledges are the prime habitat and you can find plenty of targets both upriver and down. At Whites Ferry you must use caution if you fish downriver below the upper tip of Harrison Island because that riffle is very low. We stay in the middle of the river, upstream, and toss Case Magic Sticks and Mizmo tubes.

Does anyone have factual information concerning the sewage pipe downriver of the railroad bridge near the Shepardstown launch? We need to know the source; ownership; permit number and a photo would be great.

LOU Guide Mike Breeding holds a healthy Potomac River smallmouth caught on a Mizmo Teaser tube.	This beauty hit Clat Groft's Mizmo teaser tube.
Henry Groft of Pittsburgh, PA holds an 18.5" smallmouth bass that bit early morning  on a Case Magic Stick

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER , PA : 
eow @ 74 degrees; clear; 3.4 @ Harrisburg & rising)

Lots of thundershowers activity throughout the basin but no help as far as ground water and river levels.

Curwensville Lake , ( Clearfield , PA ): The weather has been much cooler than normal and thundershowers roll through each day. Use Sugar Shads near the launch; Case Magic Sticks in the grass beds near the old railroad bridge and troll crankbaits near the river channel for walleye.

Sinnamahoning Branch: The water is very low and quite warm in spite of below-average temperatures this week. Lots of sassy smallmouth bass in holes near the Wycoff Run confluence where Mizmo tubes remain our go-to bait.

Montgomery Ferry to Fort Hunter including Juniata : Look for a slight rise this week but it’s still to low for us to run our jet boats safely. John Cunningham reports really-good smallmouth and catfish activity in the Juniata River and upstream of the confluence. John will shuttle his guests to “Put-Ins” of varying distances and instructs them to cast Mizmo tubes, especially the Penrod Special.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: 
( Normal tidal levels; horrible blue-green algae; 80’s.)

Recent “cooling” trends have helped anglers but disgusting algae blooms throughout the river but particularly in the Occoquan/Mattawoman region are proof-positive that  the Chesapeake Bay initiatives have no chance for success because Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia simply don’t care—and the EPA is just another political farce. “Clean Waters Act my butt!” Remember this in the upcoming elections.

In the DOC sector we catch smallmouth on tubes at bridge foundations, mouth of Pentagon Lagoon, Arlington side of Roosevelt Island, dropoff at the Kennedy Center and the Maryland shore above Three Sisters Islands . There are still plenty of stripers in the Washington Channel, especially along the Fort McNair dropoff (don’t get to close to the wall) where firetiger color Brush Babys and Hot Lips do the deed. Some largemouth on that dropoff also but old wharf locations, old aqueduct foundations and Blue Plains are most productive.

In the WWB vicinity, pitch tubes and jigs to the bridge foundations (particularly the underwater remnants of the old bridge). Fox Ferry Point, Penrod Cove, WWB barges, grass in Charly’s Cove and mouth of Broad Creek will hold bass best taken with buzzbaits, Big Mouth spinnerbaits, frogs and Case Magic Sticks.

Mattawoman/Leesylvania vicinity provides visual evidence on just how polluted the “ownership” has allowed this grand waterway to become.

Much grass in Mattawoman, from the beginning to the end, and while we worry about blue green algae—I wonder about the sanity of the proposed highway construction at the head waters—WITHOUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY. Pitch Magic Stiks to grass edges upriver of Slavins and toss frogs into the spatterdock. We do best during an outgoing tide, but spend most of the high-water hours between Marsh Island and the mouth where grass bed edges are the key.

Chickamuxen Creek is one huge grass bed but during high water you can still fish over the grass or “punch” heavily weighted plastics through the mats.

DEEP CREEK LAKE : 
The guides are keeping their clients happy on this very busy lake by being “flexible.” They can teach bass tactics to those of interest or attach a live minnow to a hook for a youngster that just wants to catch a fish. Brent Nelson (bbnelson@comcast.net) and Bret Winegardner have a handle on this lake.  

POCOMOKE RIVER : 
Like any Eastern Shore tidal river, a falling tide is best. The patterns seldom change here during the summer. The big problem is the vast amount of cover the fish have. We use  Big Mouth spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, Case Magic Sticks, Luhr Jensen Brush Babys and Mizmo tubes. Best areas lie between Shad Landing and Dividing Creek where spatterdocks and wood are best. In Nassawango Creek, we fish the fall-downs, channel bends and spatterdock. A “big” bass here is four pounds. Lots of two+ fish through.

KERR RESERVIOR, VA: 
LOU Associate Tim Wilson (kickassbassin@aol.com) has been doing pretty well in spite of the weather and lake levels. Tim has been fishing very early when he has an opportunity for a topwater bite on points between town and Goat Island . Those same points are good stops when the sun climbs high and Tim touts the Carolina rig to about 25-feet. Best creeks have been Grassy and Nutbush—and look for stripers at the mouth of them also.

POLLUTION CONCENS & ALERTS: 
“Someone dumped a Porta-Potty into Four Mile Run and that’s why the water is polluted,” said the TV reporter last week. What a silly statement. Treatment plants don’t have to report spills of up to 5000 gallons—and this reporter thinks a 10-gallon Porta Potty dump has polluted this abused river. The Governor of Virginia has eliminated the funding for sewage treatment modernization. We need to create a fund for legal action.

          The signs are up in Mattawoman Creek: “Don’t Come in Contact With The Water.” The blue-green algae is so thick in the middle tidal Potomac that it can support some artificial lures. Is anyone accountable?

          “There was shit roaring out of it at high pressure. It looked like diarrhea. There is no way this can be legal. There is brown foam lining the bank down past Packhorse Ford and it smells like a sewer,” reports “Rocky” about a pipe some 80-yards downstream of the railroad bridge below the launch at Shepardstown WV , on the upper Potomac River . Who could allow that? Where is the law?

          Scientists can tell you to a moral certainty that prehistoric critters were vegetarians but can’t/will-not PUBLICALLY state the reasons why devastating fish kills on the Shenandoah occur.

WEEK ENDING August 3, 2008
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.  

Webmaster Brent Nelson: bbnelson@comcast.net

Guiding on fresh & brackish waters of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania & DC  

NOTES: Our summer youth camp is over for the year so we will ratchet-up our guiding schedule immediately. I know I missed a bunch of calls while away—but our cabin is very remote and without e-mail service.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: 
The “ Upper Potomac ” is the free-flowing sector from her beginning to Little Falls. The remaining 108 miles, from Little Falls to the Chesapeake is tidal. Most of the launch sites are on the Maryland side of the river. My book titled “Fishing The Upper Potomac River” is an invaluable aid.

          The river is summer-low and the grass growth is making boating difficult but smallmouth bass fishing is as good as it ever was. We specialize in the Piedmont and lower Mountain sectors. At Edwards Ferry to Dickerson (Whites Ferry) we simply seek out deeper water with chuck rocks and cast Mizmo tubes or Case Magic Stiks. At Whites Ferry, begin upriver (where you can see the Dickerson Power Plant smoke stack) and stay in the middle all the way to the ferry. It’s good fishing on the Maryland side of Harrison Island (downriver) but you may “bang” in the shallows at the top end of the island.

          At Lander, it’s really tough to get around because of the grass but downriver, use Mizmo tubes to the various submersed ledges and upriver, do the same but also cast Stiks to the grass edges.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER : 
It’s been hit or miss because of the heat and immense grass growth  but consistent action may be found in the lower sectors of Mattawoman and Chickamuxen Creeks where Big Mouth spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are favored in addition to frogs, Case Magic Stiks and Mizmo tubes.

          To the north, results have been “OK” in the DC sector where bridge foundations and dropoffs hold bait and bass best caught with Brush Baby or Speed Trap) crankbaits. Best places have been Long Bridge ; Washington Channel; Key Bridge and Aqueduct foundations.

          LOU guide Keith Barker and Danny Gruelke are kickin’-butt on Potomac River catfish where recently they boated 200-pounds in one outing. Keith will specialize in this type of fishing so book your trips soon.

          In the Woodrow Wilson Bridge vicinity, grass beds at the mouth of Piscataway , concrete in Penrod Cove and rocks and wood at Fox Ferry Point have been “fair.”

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER , PA : 
For those that have inquired—the Fort Hunter launch is open for business. The river is low with small chance for improvement but the smallmouth bass didn’t take a bus to another river. They bite very well in the morning and evening hours, on buzzbaits, Big Mouth spinnerbaits, Case Magic stiks and Salty Shads and Mizmo tubes in Penrod Special and Juniata Treat.

          In the Sinnamahoning Branch (tributary to the West Branch) we have been catching lots os smallmouth bass while wading between Driftwood and Renova, using Mizmo Teasers and Case Sweet P’s.

At Curwensville Dam (a dam on the West Branch near Clerfield , PA ) we fish grass beds above the public launch with Magic Stiks and buzz baits. This is a nice lake and a fine facility. Five dollars to launch and very few anglers during the week.

POCOMOKE RIVER : 
LOU guide Brian Barnes reports “pretty good” bass fishing, especially during falling water and spatterdock or wood is the target. We use Case Magic Stiks, Brush Baby crankbaits, Big Mouth buzzbaits and Mizmo tubes. Nassawango Creek and the main stem from Shad Landing to Dividing Creek is the most productive areas. Call us for guide service.

DEEP CREEK LAKE : 
LOU guides Brent Nelson and Bret Winegardner continue to please their vacationing guests on this busy lake. The guides know where to be when the traffic is heavy. Learn their secrets by calling us for guide service.

Ken Penrod’s Summer Youth Camp

Camp Sycamore , Ken’s 17-year old youth camp, just concluded their schedule for 2008 and what a year it’s been. I’ve hunted and fished all over the country, plus Mexico , Canada and Russia —and I’ve never had more fun or excitement. Consider this: The boys saw nine black bear; four rattle snakes; five coyotes; approximately 35 world-class bull elks; prehistoric looking porcupines; several flocks of wild turkey and many whitetail deer.

          They caught countless smallmouth bass to 16-inches long; brown trout to 21.5-inches long; dozens and dozens of brook trout; many largemouth bass; one walleye and one giant chain pickerel. 

WEEK ENDING July 27, 2008
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.  

Webmaster Brent Nelson: bbnelson@comcast.net

Guiding on fresh & brackish waters of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania & DC  

Ken Penrod’s  Camp Sycamore

    My wife Christy, my son Gus and I have been attending Ken’s youth camp for the past four years. Christy acts as camp mom for the eight boys. She cooks for eleven or twelve at least twice a day but also attends most of our activities. All of the kids are assigned chores to aid the camp mom.  I am supposed to be a camp councilor but I am really the ninth kid.

    These are some of best kid I have ever met. Their ages are from twelve to twenty-two. We fish from Ranger boats on two different lakes, fish for trout in streams and wade rivers for smallmouth. There is a shotgun day and we all shoot as many clays as we wish while learning gun safety. We have another day at a range and all shoot rifles and pistols. We scout for and find bear, elk, deer, rattle snakes, and end the week with a coyote hunt.

    We still find time to pick blueberries for the pancakes in the morning, go to the Elk Reservation to observe the elk and still receive free time. All the kids interact with each other and receive one on one time with adults in the training sessions.

    Ken is finishing his fourth straight week at youth camp with the last eight boys. This is his favorite time of year and he gives the kids his all. He really wants to do a week with girls but needs eight to make it work. Contact information is on this site so be sure to check it out.

WEEK ENDING July 20, 2008
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.  

Webmaster Brent Nelson: bbnelson@comcast.net

Guiding on fresh & brackish waters of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania & DC  

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER :  
Bass fishing has been quite good, despite the hot weather, at Lander, Whites Ferry and Edwards Ferry where Case Magic Sticks, and small topwater baits have been best by far. Upriver, Twin Sisters and The Fence pool provides more prime habitat. We use Teaser or Big Boy tubes, in green pumpkin, Penrod’s Choice; roadkill and Pumpkin/purple, attached to six or eight pound test Xcell monofilament and Gator Rods. Case Magic Stiks are deadly for summer smallmouth, particularly near water stargrass. Water temp near 80 degrees, clear on the MD side, and murky along the Virginia side.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER , PA :
The river reads 3.5 and steady at Harrisburg , which is normal for this time of year. You’ll need a 4.0 reading to safely navigate a jet boat. The main stem plus the Juniata River between Clemson Island and Fort Hunter is still providing plenty of smallmouth bass action, albeit a confining experience for larger boats. “Nice smallmouth bass in the morning on buzzbaits and poppers,” reports Mike Breeding. Good fishing from Swatara launch, especially upriver at—and near the short dam. John Cunningham of Riverfront Campground, Duncannon (717-834-5252) will shuttle you and your boat (or rent one from John) upstream to float back to the Campground.  Mizmo tubes, as always, are producing our quality fish with topwater lures garnering strikes from good bass in low light conditions.

KEN PENROD'S SUMMER YOUTH CAMP
Ken Penrod’s Summer Youth Camp is unique and first-class. The boys get to ride (and operate) beautiful Ranger bass boats powered by Mercury and Minn Kota trolling motors. Ken is a Ranger Pro-Staffer and highly recommends Mare, Inc, in Thurmont , Maryland , for those that want the best boat ride in the business. Ken’s 2008 model (Z-21/Verado 250) is for sale in the fall. Reach Brian Lancaster at 301-898-3717. This may be the best deal in the region.

Brian Ennis caught this Curwensville Dam (PA) bass aboard his father’s boat—once owned by Ken, while attending Ken’s summer youth camp.	Conner Mckissick with three nice brown trout caught from Wycoff Run.
Josh Muncey used a Big Mouth buzz bait to catch this Stevenson Dam largemouth bass.	Blair Jenet with an enpoundment bass causght on a Case Magic Stik.
Week One at Ken's Summer Youth Camp--and a day on the lake in Cameron County.	Captain Dave Kerrigan served as a camp counselor last week and the boys show their results from Curwensville Lake.
Josh Muncey used Big Mouth buzzbaits to catch these Curwensville Lake bass aboard Ken's Ranger.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER:
District of Columbia water, Mattawoman Creek and bridge structure near Leesylvania provided our best action this week. In the District water, some respectable largemouth bass at Key Bridge and Long Bridge . Smallmouth bass across from Washington Harbor --and windows three through six at the Kennedy Center . The Washington Channel dropoff along Fort McNair and old underwater piers between the Anacostia and Bolling have been pretty good (we use Hot Lips crankbaits, Case Magic Stiks and Mizmo tubes). In the WW Bridge area we use deep diving crankbaits in front of the Spoils, parallel to the barges. Piscataway and Broad Creeks have been fair but we still manage to take some quality bass during high water with Case Magic Sticks. Pomonkey Creek was just “OK” this week where algae growth hinders lure placement. Mattawoman Creek was very good near the mouth. The grass and wood cover within the “6-MPH” zone was excellent (Bigmouth buzzbaits, Case Buzzin Frogs & Case Magic Sticks).  Chicamuxin grass was perhaps our best stop with topwater frogs and Case Magic Stiks on weed line edges.  Grass at select areas on Arkendale Flats and grass near Quantico are worth your while.

UPPER BAY :
The grass beds on the flats near the Battery Islands are holding some quality bass. The river continues to give up quality smallmouth, above Port Deposit and along portions of Garrett Island . Grass beds near Garrett Island are holding good numbers of largemouths where we throw topwater lures in the morning and Case Magic Stiks and Mizmo tubes as the sun rises.

NANTICOKE RIVER :
This eastern shore tidal river has been doing quite well recently, but you still need low water to hook decent bass. The Marshyhope was stingy but spatterdock, near channel drops, upriver from Broad Creek—and boat docks, have been fair to good.

POCOMOKE RIVER :
Nasawango Creek has been the best especially during the last few hours of falling water (buzzbaits, Case Sticks, Buzzin Frogs & Big Mouth Spinnerbaits). Fish average 2-pounds but we catch a 3-4 pound bass every trip. Between Shad Landing and Pocomoke City we find spatterdock with wood cover or a tidal gut as our high percentage areas.

KERR LAKE , VA :
”Water Temps are running 85-90 degrees. Water level is 298.4, main lake and creeks clear, while rivers remain stained,” reports LOU associate guide Tim Wilson. Fishing has been average. Most of the bass are suspended near baitfish, and in their mid-summer haunts. Topwater presentations are working in the early AM. After that, Tim goes to a Rattletrap as the sun rises.   Stripers are deep and can be caught from Henderson Point to the dam. Trollers are scoring best trolling spoons and bucktails. Good sized crappie are on deep brush and 1/16 ounce jigs are working well. Catfish are biting great in the rivers.

DEEP CREEK LAKE :
This has become our most popular summertime destination and Brent Nelson (bbnelson@comcast.net) and Bret Winegardner are pleasing their substantial clientele with catches of pan fish and bass. Largemouth bass fishing has been tough this week but smallmouths are cooperating in low light conditions.  Topwater poppers and Bigmouth buzzbaits are producing. www.fishdeepcreek.com