Ken Penrod’s LOU Fishing Reports for 2022
Our 41sth Year!
Ken is enshrined in to: The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide.
Angler Alerts, Fishing Advice & Conservation Concerns.
Week Ending August 21, 2022
Mailing Address @ 1860- Robin Court, Lusby, MD 20657
Ken’s Cell @ 240-447-2206 (best way) Kenpenrod@comcast.net
www.penrodsguides.com. Facebook. Twitter: @ken_penrod. Instagram. LinkedIn
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
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Notes: Our fishing report will be posted to Ken’s Facebook Page, “Life Outdoors Unlimited” where Clients may see their photos.
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“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/
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LOU POTOMAC RIVER LARGEMOUTH CLUB;
Sponsored by Lowrance Electronics & Ardent Outdoors
Current Club Leader: Dr. Dave, 21.75”
Ken Penrod 20-Inch Smallmouth Club
Sponsored by Ardent Outdoors and Riverfront Campground
Current Leader: John Ennis, 21.75”
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Smoot Sand & Gravel Company
Actually transformed the face of the tidal Potomac River particularly in the DC to Piscataway Creek sector.
The Virginia-District of Columbia boundary, defined by the 1791 shoreline, was transformed by the 1940’s after fill dirt was deposited in the marshes and National Airport was constructed. There’s much more to this story but suffice it to say that “smoot Sand & Gravel created dynamic largemouth bass habitat that in some areas is under attack by “bird-watchers” that want those great gravel pits reclaimed.
More each week.
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Source: Library of Congress, Topography of the federal city, 1791 (by Don Hawkins, 1990)
When the first US Congress agreed to move the national capital from Philadelphia to a location on the Potomac River, the new District of Columbia was designed to include 100 square miles of Federal territory. The new District would include land on both sides of the Potomac River, plus all of the river where it flowed through the new jurisdiction.
Maryland transferred jurisdiction over its portion of the new District of Columbia, about 67 square miles, to the Federal government on December 19, 1791. In addition to the land, Maryland transferred all of the Potomac River that it owned inside the surveyed square, to the edge of the Virginia shoreline.
The Virginia General Assembly had agreed to cede over 30 square miles of land to create the District of Columbia in 1789. The state actually transferred the land in 1801, when the Federal government physically moved from Philadelphia.
Virginia owned none of the Potomac River after 1632, so Virginia could not transfer any of the Potomac River submerged land or islands to the Federal government in 1801. Title to the islands in the river, including what is now known as Theodore Roosevelt Island, was transferred by the Maryland government. Virginia never ceded any of the Potomac River to the Federal government; the colony’s right to the river ended when Maryland was chartered.2
Virginia did not cede its land to the Federal government at the same time as Maryland. Between 1791-1801, the Federal government controlled only 2/3 of the territory that the two states had promised would be given for the new capital. For a decade, the District of Columbia included Maryland’s cession, both land and water to the “further Bank of the said River,” but not the land beyond the southern bank in Fairfax County that Virginia had promised to cede.
The 1791 cession of a slice of Maryland to the Federal government created the first Virginia-District of Columbia boundary. It was on the southern edge of the Potomac River (not in the middle of the river), stretching north from Jones Point towards Little Falls for roughly 12 miles.
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The summer of 2022 is coming to a close but there is still more heat and more struggle ahead, yet, do you realize what a great area you live in? The greatest estuary in the world (Chesapeake Bay) along with two of the best largemouth bass factories in the universe (Upper Bay & Potomac River) not counting the numerous tidal tributaries, various municipal reservoirs, the greatest smallmouth river in the country (Susquehanna River) and don’t get me started on the sika, whitetail, turkey, geese, ducks and turkeys. How far are you from the coast? Do you know that a man won 4.5 million dollars off the coast of Ocean City a few weeks ago—a RECORD?
GET INVOLVED—GET OFF OF THE COUCH.
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UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: note that we only speak to opportunities in the Piedmont sector (Brunswick to Seneca) but my book, titled “Fishing the Upper Potomac River” is still the go-to for any serious river angler that hunts smallmouth bass. It’s hard to find—but so are they-sometimes. Water temp near 80; color is algae green; level at Point of Rocks is 1.9 and that’s BUMPY so plan your day well
I’ve been fishing this river since 1963, professionally from 1982. I’m not a casual visitor. I know when it’s good and I know when it’s bad—and I usually know why. The last few years have been the low-point in my career and without doubt—the summer floods of 2018 did the damage. A “normal” guide-year for me would yield about 50 trips and a poor day (depending on lots of things) was 25-50 smallmouth bass plus other feisty gills. Trips of 100-200 were no uncommon. The last few years it was about 10-20. Now, you can expect 20-30 if you are in anyway proficient.
This is the time of year when I choose a launch site where I can run upriver and slowly, slowly, fish it well, on the way back. Good places to do that:
Whites Ferry (Up is best)
Edwards Ferry (Up is best)
Seneca (Up is safest and best)
Lander (either direction)
Brunswick (I prefer down)
Tools: 6 footish, medium action Ardent spinning rods with Ardent Bolt, Wire, C-Force reels with 6 or 8 pound test Bass Pro Excel mono—filled to within 1.8th inch of the rim. WWW.ARDENTREELS.COM . Guys—you can massage your ego if you need to-and buy a 500-1000 combo, but remember this: “a thousand dollar baseball bat doesn’t fix a 5-dollar swing.” Ardent has 3-year warranty. I can have any rod/reel sponsor I want. I got t. AEDENT.
Lures: IF you can obtain live stone cats, do it, even hellgrammites, but I’d almost rather jab myself in the eye with a sharp stick as fish with anything other than “trick-‘em” artificial. My buddy Butch Ward was a master of stonecat fishing and we had so many memories.
• For youngsters, minnows under a bobber, worms on the bottom, or in-line spinners.
• The Good Stuff: (early AM) Obie buzzbaits, Berkly Chopo; Whopper Plopper; Rico popper; Case Magic Stick on a 3/0 hook; or Wacky; Campground Tube on an RAB jighead; Big Mouth spinnerbait—the Penrod or Golden Shiner.
• Plastic grubs, on 1/8th ounce RAB jig heads will save your day. Get some Mizmo 4”, some Zipper or Case Pin Tails
• I do appreciate crankbaits now also, but when my clients “snag” more than catch—I simply change plans. If you like, I like: 1/8th ounce lipless, Minus 1; KVD.
Summer, hot-water bass fishing, is contrary to other cooler seasons when it comes to locating co-operative smallmouth bass. Calmed water is short on dissolved oxygen. Now I want moving, but deeper water, with chunk rock, and low sunlight.
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: sick grass in areas; 80ish; algae; typical; no help from upper Potomac; **-*** for bass; *** for snakes; **** for catfish
The Chesapeake Bay is fed by many rivers and tide affects the majority. The Potomac is easily the best largemouth fishery but the upper Bay is a close second. Are affected by moon stages and wind and it’s sound advice when I say “be a tide student.” In NEVER venture out without knowing the highs and lows of the sector I intend to fish—and those facts will make me alter my plans almost as much as wind velocity does. Most up-to-date sonar/GPS units have that information and use your Google Machine if yours doesn’t. I prefer outgoing water for the most part but will deal with any phase by “thinking like a fish.” That’s another story for another time.
If you have read any of my books or set-in on any of my seminars you know that I classify river sectors by launching facilities. It’s a silly man that launches at DC to fish Aquia Creek—so get that “tournament” mentality out of your head UNLESS you are tournament restricted. I’m going to launch where I intend to fish.
In District of Columbia (WW Bridge kinda to Little Falls) is about 11-12 miles. That’s the only interruption in ownership too. I usually choose Gravely Point, a no-fee, lots of parking, decent in & out, National Park facility. My other option is Belle Haven Marina in Alexandria, a pay-to-use, scarce parking, and my favorite of all.
In a nutshell, but a big nut, I’ll fish main river rip rap at the airport and along the military bases with crankbaits (Bomber Firetiger or Rapala DT-6 Hot Mustard), I’ll never fish a day without casting Campground tubes and it’s a rare day when I don’t finesse a Case Magic Stik or scout with a Case Magic Swim, Big Mouth “Penrod” spinnerbaits or Big Shaky. You “gotta” try topwater but don’t die with it.
Washington Channel: Fort McNair side from mouth of Anacostia to police station.
Railroad Bridge: first three foundations on VA side, then 1-6 on the DC side of the ship channel.
Entrance rip rap into Pentagon Lagoon—and test the SW corner.
Kennedy Center, shelf and dropoff from window #4 down.
Key Bridge VA side foundations and underwater foundations of a former C&O Canal aqueduct.
If I intend to fish further up the river, I will start here and spend the day treating it like a smallmouth water.
The Belle Haven or WW Bridge sector is probably my favorite and if you fish everything you should one mile up and two miles down in a day—you missed a bunch of stuff.
There is a tremendous amount of habitat, man made for the most, and wow—the food choices for fish is off the chart—which, at times, makes the “catching” a chore.
I’m launching at Belle Haven and pretending I’m Steve Chaconas by never leaving sight of that gorgeous Woodrow Wilson Bridge. This area was almost totally sculptured by Smoot Sand & Gravel and they actually deserve our thanks contrary to what the Dyke Marsh groupies think.
For high water I’m staying in the Belle Haven Coves to Hog Island area. For falling to low water I want Smoot Bay, Penrod Cove. Fox Ferry Point, Blue Plains dock, and Broad Creek barges. Look for grasses here too.
Pomonkey Creek and Pohick Bay are my favs in the Middle Sect and it’s all about wood and vegetables. Belle Haven isn’t that far away but Pohick Regional Park and Marshall Hall launch facilities are closer. If I could call any trib my own—it would be Pomonkey, shallow as it is. Most of it is no wake. It is loaded with snakeheads too.
Big Mouth spinnerbaits and Case Magic Stik for wood and veggie edges. Keep a buzz bait tied on at all times. A 6” zipper worm is one of those “secrets” I often fail to share.
That Mattawoman to Aquia area is a big-one, so decide your “plan” based on tides nd wind. I love Slavins in the upper Mattawoman, but Smallwood State Park and Leesylvania State Park are just boat-minutes away. Remember, I’m visiting from MD—many of you live in VA.
I want the 6-MPH creek for outgoing tide—but TOURNAMENT WEEKENDS take that away—actually, this entire sector. That’s OK—I have DC, but should any fisheries resource manager allow spawn-time bass fishing and >85 degree tournaments? Most of the states around us don’t—but MD says “come on in.” sound anti-tournament? Get your ego out of your butt guys. Most of you are “clubbers, buy your boats and trucks, wear logos that don’t pay you a dime and pretend to be someone.” The cost of our obsessions should not penalize the tax paying good guy—much like Biden’s college DEBT rebate that make YOU the sponsor.
Easy to tell I’m in a kick-ass mood?
Hey, there is vegetation in this area but it’s hurting now. Those ugly, green scum grass/algae clumps in Mattawoman, Chickamuxen and others are havens for snakeheads—and big bass. Unfortunately, the snakes and blue catfish are eating our kids (bass) food and that-HURTS. Hats off to the bow anglers that make-a buck killing snakeheads—but we need a “Blue Catfish Incentive” too. Hey DR. What-Ya-Gonna-Do except NOTHING?
MD has an opportunity to elect a Governor that isn’t influenced by liberal, criminal favor, greedy natural resource influences. I know how that works first hand, I’ve been there, on the front lines, for many years. I was threatened by commercial fishermen that were convicted of “Illegally capturing and selling 80,000 pounds of POTOMAC River largemouth bass from Mattawoman Creek and surround—yet that “leader”, is and was on the MD Sportfish Advisory Committee—and The POTOMAC RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I received a license to carry after threat. By the way, I rescued a commercial fisherman named Grinder just a few year ago. Karma
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS: **; <80; Clear with algae stain; 3.5 at Harrisburg and look for a jump to 4.7 on the Juniata at Newport
Low and slow but fishing is decent in the early and late hours
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LOU Guides for 2021
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 and trout streams in Cameron County, PA-near Sinnamahoning..
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; AlumaRyder; (Dave Kerrigan); Guidefitters; NRA; Drake Waterfowl, Fishing Division; Maggie Penrod.
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