LOU Fishing Report for Week Ending Mothers Day, 2020

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/

LOU Client Celebration Clubs and Attaboys:

LOU Fish of the Week:
Largemouth: Dr Dave, 19.25” with Ken
Largemouth, Junior Division: Jaylen (18.5”)

LOU Potomac River Largemouth Club (LoPo)
(Sponsored by Lowrance Electronics and Ardent Outdoors)
Twelve this week
Dr Dave (2)
KP (three)
Jon Drever
Jaylen (three)
John Ennis
Jacob (2)
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MD Governor Larry Hogan bowed to pressure and released the public to fish and boat in a state that fishes and boats a bunch. I know he has hundreds of advisors including criminals on fishery boards—but whoever advised him that fishing and boating were dangerous gathers of disease infected scoundrels needs a spanking.
A wild, often nasty Full Moon week with major tide swings, big wind, shirt-sleeves, then Simms gear, ending on Moher’s Day with small-craft warnings. The May full moon is usually the major spawn period on the tidal Potomac but up and down water Temperature and barometer and wind from every direction has stunted it—so look for more. The “bucks” were working their fins off trying to protect their address but the wiser mommies will back off or download just a sample.
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Regional waters we serve and their conditions:
Upper Potomac River at Point of Rocks: 5.4” falling slow at mid-50s (some color)
Little Falls: 5’ falling slow (some color)
Susquehanna @ Harrisburg: 6’ falling slow in mid-50s (clearing)
Juniata River at Newport: 6’ and falling slowly in mid-50s (clearing)
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Our weekly fishing reports are posted on our website (www.penrodsguides.com) and our Facebook page (Life Outdoors Unlimited) and their clients can find their photos and “Club membership” for LOU qualifying clients.
LOU Fish of the Week, is just that, for clients, in categories such as Largemouth, Smallmouth, Toothy Critters and juniors.
Ken Penrod 20-Inch Smallmouth Club celebrates LOU clients that catch a smallmouth bass measuring 20-inches long or more. This Club is sponsored by Ardent Outdoors and Riverfront Campground. Current leader is Michael Day.
LOU Potomac River Largemouth Club are made up of clients catching a Potomac largemouth measuring 18 inches long or more. Current leader is Dr Dave at 19.5’. This club is sponsored by Lowrance Electronics and Ardent Outdoors.
DC Slam goes to boat clients that catch a largemouth, smallmouth, rockfish and catfish on same trip.
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UPPER POTOMAC RIVER; The Governor has FINALLY blessed you with permission to fish. The river is finally “down” to safe (safer) levels with nice color and decent water temperature although not “spawn-perfect” and May is generally the month for major spawning on and around the full moon. I’m hoping they didn’t spawn earlier because flooding could have ruined this year class also.
There is no magic to catching river smallmouth. Use out time-tested Campground Tubes; Case Magic Stiks; Big Mouth spinnerbaits, square bill crankbaits, under-spins; Case Lil Magic Swims and grubs. You will improve your catch with quality fishing gear such as the Ardent Edge rod and Ardent C-Force reels. I really like and trust Bass Pro’s Excel monofilament in the green color.
For now-concentrate on the current seam along eddies, blocker-rocks, ledges or points.
Good areas for this level include Seneca, Edwards Ferry, Whites Ferry, Lander and Brunswick.
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS, PA: PA Governor’s painful decision to allow guided fishing trips starting May 1 was met with major flooding but the rivers are safe and fishable—and doing well again.
From Harrisburg to Halifax the deal is the same. Fish current breaks or tribs with Campground Special tubes in the KP Series from Riverfront Campground; Big Mouth Spinnerbaits or vibrating jigs also available at Riverfront Campground.
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: Hogan cudos for “permission” to not kill bass and other species we prefer to release alive. Now what will the “Keyboard Crickets” have to POW wow about?
The main river in the upper reaches was a virtual mine field with most of western Maryland’s debris headed toward the Bay. The full moon created big tides, in both directions and of course, 2020’s wind nemesis continues. The tribs remained fairly clear in spite of heavy and frequent rains and lack of boat traffic and anglers made it pretty enjoyable. Still, it’s nice to see the dads and kids fishing again.
The first part of the week was “stingy” but after that, the catching was fun and brisk—although not up to historic May standards. Strong winds continue to alter our approach and presentation—and those every changing weather fronts are a bear.
Bass have made a few attempts at spawning and the males were run ragged trying to preserve their addresses.
The not-so-surprising good news for the season are the abundance and size of the crappie population with many in the 12”+ range. scale them (tip: use a spoon) and fry them or filet and do same. (Quick and easy) Put one filet in a cup with a dab of butter, salt and pepper. Microwave on high two minutes.
Best baits continue to be Campground tubes, Case Magic Stiks. (www.fishingcomplteteinc.com) , Case swim baits on 3/16th ounce RAB swim-jig from Riverfront Campground (717-877-2704) and the Penrod Special spinnerbait by Big Mouth Lure Company (302-745-4668).
We are splitting time between Mattawoman, Occoquan, Pohick, Piscataway and the WW Bridge.
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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.