LOU Fishing Report for Week Ending 4520.
Office & Mailing Address @ 4708 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
Cell @ 240-447-2206 (Best Way), Office Device @ 30-937-0010. Kenpenrod@comcast.net
WWW.penrodsguides.com
“See our Facebook Pages for Fishing Reports, Photos and “Club” Activity.”
First-Hand Reporting Since 1982—NOT part-time guess work.
Professional Guides Since 1982
We Wrote “The Books” on Regional Fishing.
Licensed, Drug Tested, Commercially Insured, Time Tested.
Expert Fishing Instructors for:
Tidal Potomac River <> Upper Potomac River <> Susquehanna River
Juniata River <> Upper Bay <> Eastern Shore Tidal Rivers
Visit our other Facebook Pages below:
Notes: Our fishing reports and client photos will be posted to Ken’s Facebook Page, “Life Outdoors Unlimited” and our website, www.penrodsguides.com.
“Ken Penrod’s Life Outdoors Unlimited” (https://www.facebook.com/Ken-Penrods-Life-Outdoors-Unlimited-1436799496550830/)
Ken Penrod’s 20-Inch Smallmouth Club members at: https://www.facebook.com/Ken-Penrod-20-Smallmouth-Club-214057305623741/?notif_t=page_fan.
Sponsored by Ardent & Riverfront Campground.
LOU Lo-Po Club at: https://www.facebook.com/LOU-Lo-Po-Potomac-River-Largemouth-Club-1107431399330003/
Sponsored by Lowrance & Ardent.
LOU Magazine at: https://www.facebook.com/LOU-Magazine-942855415798908/
Camp Sycamore at: https://www.facebook.com/Ken-Penrods-Camp-Sycamore-215146332155566/
LATE BREAKING NEWS: go to the last paragraph in this report to see another back-door move by Pennsylvania Government and PFBC. Too dangerous to take two clients fishing but OK to flock thousands to trout streams—at the last second!!!
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In a nutshell—fishing has been restricted and or eliminated in many states within our region. In PA, we had to abandon our 38 year springtime smallmouth adventure period after much confusion including “Its OK to guide and Fish” statements by the PA Governor only to be followed up at 5;30 PM on Friday with a “HOLD IT GUYS—you may not guide any longer.” Based on his early conclusion that “guiding” and fishing was legal—we filled our six week schedule with clients and they in turn rented motels and purchased license and fishing tackle. It seems to me that they could be held liable for the losses we suffer as well as our clients.
There is/was no safer outdoors activity that meeting my guides at a private launch site, where only a few boats per day may use and sit in a 20-foot boat in the middle of a river where the closest you will ever get to another boat is 100-feet. Do the math—3 persons in a 20-foot boat and even the social distancing requirement is met. We were waylaid. Just like the unenforceable Arway Closure, our guides respected the intent—and we will honor this latest angler encroachment—but we don’t like it one bit. It seems like PA doesn’t understand bass fishing because most think that stocked trout is the only game in town.
We have ceased operations on the Susquehanna River until; further notice. We will be rescheduling clients to the tidal Potomac River where charter boats, as we are—may continue to operate. See MDs response below:
Governor Hogan has stressed that safely practiced outdoor recreation time is essential to health and well-being. Most Maryland state parks and other public lands remain open, and residents may engage in safe, isolated activities.
Under the executive order, no Marylander should leave their home except for an essential reason. Therefore, recreational boating is not allowed. Subsistence hunting and fishing — limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance — can continue, however social distancing must be adhered to strictly. No permits for fishing tournaments, including virtual tournaments, will be issued by the department until further notice. Commercial fishing is deemed essential and may continue since it is part of the food supply chain.
Anyone engaging in outdoor activity needs to follow social distancing and other CDC guidelines and state regulations. The department website includes a guide to social distancing and safe outdoor activity.
I realize that in the overall scheme of things that fishing and fishing livelihoods are tiny concerns although “traumatic to the fanatic” but let’s all do our part to get out from under this “latest” national emergency—such as it is.
Contact us should you wish to book a trip on the tidal Potomac River—because it’s safe-it’s beautiful-it’s so socially distanced and the fish are biting. You can keep all legal species except for black bass (my rule on the bass restriction) so now is the time to try that snakehead—and the crappies are slabs and delicious.
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: low 60s; wind stain in areas;
Depending on who you ask, and depending on time of day and date—fishing in Maryland is considered exercise but with restriction, especially maintain your distance (6-feet) and never in groups of ten. That is true for charter boats also and the guides at LOU are licensed USCG Captains and charter boat licensed so we may escort you and you may keep any legal fish you catch (except bass and stripers—and that’s my rule,)
Contact Ken at 240-447-2206 or kenpenrod@comcast.net and check us out at www.penrodsguides.com.
Remember, DNR and DC governments are closed and obtaining a fishing license is an on-line task for now.
The “good-for-you” part is that fish are biting very well, there are no tournaments and you can look for a spawn this week as the full moon dictates. The fishing permitted under the Stay at Home Rule is “subsistence” and exercise and you may do it from a boat but you MAY NOT boat for pleasure. Remember—all recent rules have been “moving target” so stay current on State mandated changes. It’s not use bitching to DNR about the fishing rules because it has come from the Governor.
The abundance of snakeheads and big, fat crappie are as prolific as I’ve ever seen and for those of you that prefer catfish—it’s a smorgasbord.
Largemouth bass and snakeheads share the same habitat and the same food sources and they readily strike Case Magic Stiks, Case Magic Swims, Big Mouth Lure Company vibrating jigs and spinnerbaits—and always, always have a Campground Special tube in the KP series tied to an Ardent spinning rod and reel.
LOU guide Captain Kenny Penrod 3 has been reveling in tidal water fishing and says “it’s a good right now as I can remember.”
FOR THE RECORD:
Upper Potomac River at Point of Rocks: 3.0 rising to 4.9 by Friday
Susquehanna River at Harrisburg: 5.5 and steady
Juniata River at Newport: 5.5 rising to 6.0 by Thursday.
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LOU Guides for 2020
Captain Ken Penrod: (National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame) Cell: 240-447-2206; kenpenrod@comcast.com; Facebook; LinkedIn; Instagram, Twitter @ken_penrod.
Tidal Potomac; Upper Potomac; Susquehanna River; Juniata River; Maryland Eastern Shore Tidal Rivers; George Stevenson Reservoir.
Captain Kenny Penrod 111, VP of Tidal Bass Operations @ 240-478-9055
Captain Dave Kerrigan, VP of Smallmouth Operations @ 301-252-5322;
Captain Brian Barnes @ 302-745-4668,
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Meet My/Our Partners.
The following are our sponsors and partners. Some are all encompassing within my group—and some are personal to the guide. All are valued.
RiverPro; Mercury; Lowrance Electronics; Ardent Outdoors; Big Mouth Lure Company; Yeti; Patagonia; Case Plastics; Kuiu; Simms Fishing; Costa; Power Pole; NRA; Zipper Worms; RAB Jig Heads; Campground Tubes; Riverfront Campground; Big Bee/River Rocket (KP3); AlumaRyder; (Dave Kerrigan); Columbia Design & Graphics; Guidefitters; NRA; Maggie Penrod.
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Thank you Redskin Bobby Mitchell for all the thrills and decency you exhibited.
Goodby “Virginian” (James Drury). RIP
Don’t forget to “lend-a-hand” to waitress, waiters and Restaurant works. A tip by mail!
Remember-this may be your fifth “end-of-humanity” projection in your life.
LAST MINUTE NEWS::
From PA
PENNSYLVANIA TROUT FISHING SEASON NOW OPEN
HARRISBURG, PA (April 7) – Effective 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), in consultation with the Office of the Governor, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) opened the statewide 2020 trout season.
This measure allows properly licensed anglers and youth to begin fishing for and harvesting trout. All regulations, sizes, and creel limits apply.
Anglers and boaters must abide by social distancing guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Governor Tom Wolf’s Stay-at-Home Order regarding COVID-19.
“We realize that this announcement is another disruption to tradition, but it is in the best interest of public health and safety,” said Tim Schaeffer, PFBC Executive Director. “We have already seen that anglers and boaters across the Commonwealth are willing to adapt their behavior to include social distancing, and we ask everyone to follow their lead while enjoying outdoor activities during this challenging time. The trout we have been stocking have had time to spread out, and so should you.”
Anglers and boaters should limit travel by fishing close to home, cover their faces with a mask or other cloth covering, keep a distance of at least six feet from others (the length of arm with an outstretched fishing rod is a good guide), only go fishing with members of their families living in the same household, and never share fishing gear with others. If another angler is in an area you intended to fish, move on to another spot.
Non-resident Pennsylvania fishing license holders should comply with the CDC Travel AdvisoryOpens In A New Windowurging residents in several states, including New York and New Jersey, to refrain from non-essential domestic travel.
The decision to open trout season immediately is intended to discourage concentrated gatherings of people that may have occurred on the traditional opening day, to minimize intrastate and interstate travel, and to reduce the threat of illegal poaching in waters that have already been stocked.
PFBC staff will continue to stock trout throughout the spring, but not all waters have been stocked at this time. To further discourage group gatherings, a stocking schedule and list of waters that have been stocked will not be provided to the public this season. Anglers should also be aware that public access to some waters may be restricted by the landowner or local municipal government.
Fishing and boating is permitted in Pennsylvania state parks and state forests, when social distancing guidelines are followed. DCNR is encouraging people to fish and conduct other outdoor recreation within 15 minutes of their homes. Anglers should note that state park facilities, including restrooms may be closed.
“Outdoor recreational activities, including fishing, lift our spirits and help relieve stress, but they need to be done with attention to social distancing guidelines to help protect ourselves and others, and slow the spread of COVID-19,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “That means practicing physical distancing of six feet, avoiding crowds and staying close to home, and being prepared with a mask and hand sanitizer.”
Regardless of fishing location, anglers should bring a bag with them and carry out their trash.
As a result of this action, a Mentored Youth Trout Day will not take place this season. The PFBC will honor all Voluntary Youth Fishing Licenses purchased in 2020 for all mentored youth fishing opportunities during the 2021 season.
To participate in trout fishing, anglers must have a Pennsylvania fishing license and Trout/Salmon Permit, both of which may be purchased online using the FishBoatPA mobile app for smartphones, or at www.fishandboat.com. Those who do not have the ability to purchase online and are unable to visit a retail location may call (814) 359-5222Opens In A New Window for purchasing assistance. Anglers may produce a digital copy of their license on their mobile device as proof of purchase. A signed, printed copy is not currently required to prove you own a valid license. If approached by a Waterways Conservation Officer in the field, an angler or boater may provide a digital image or receipt of their fishing license, and a digital receipt from their launch permit or boat registration. Anglers may still display their fishing license.
Practice Social Distancing While Fishing
In accordance with direction provided by the Governor, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the CDC, the PFBC recommends that anglers practice social distancing while fishing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
· Stay home if you do not feel well.
· Cover your face with a mask or cloth covering.
· Practice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet (the length of an outstretched standard fishing rod) between you and the nearest angler.
· Avoid crowds. If you arrive at a fishing spot that is already occupied, find another location.
· Keep children from wandering into the personal space of others.
· Do not share fishing gear.
· Do not carpool.
· Buy your fishing license onlineOpens In A New Window.
· Continue to follow CDC guidelinesOpens In A New Window, which include washing your hands or using hand sanitizer frequently, and not touching your face.
· If you are fishing at a state or local park, the restrooms may be closed. Use the bathroom before you visit or dispose of waste properly. Carry out your trash.
A video message containing social distancing recommendations while fishing can be viewed