Ken Penrod’s Fishing Reports
43-Years.
1997 National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame-Legendary Guide.
(Mailing Address) 1860 Robin Court, Lusby, MD 20657
kenpenrod@comcast.net <> 240-447-2206 <> penrodsguides.com
Fishing Report for Week Ending May 21. 2023
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LOU Fish of the Week
Paul Winner—19.5” largemouth
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Ken Penrod 20-Inch Smallmouth Club
Sponsored by Ardent Outdoors and Riverfront Campground
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LOU Potomac River Largemouth Club
Sponsored by Lowrance Electronics and Ardent Outdoors
Paul Winner
Ken
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HOT HOT HOT: Lures of the Week
Case Magic Stik—fished on spinning gear with 8# mono.
Campground Tubes in KP Series on 1.8th ounce RAB jig head
Case Magic Swim on an RAB 1/8th ounce swim jig.
Big Mouth Spinnerbait (Penrod) with Magic Swim trailer
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: **1/2; 70ish; tidal clear; good tide week
The “catching” part of our trips this week tightened up some but our numbers were good and the size was satisfactory. Outgoing tide for much of the daylight hours was a bonus and the water maintained its temperature.
Blue catfish populations soar and little is being done about it including commercializing the flesh. They are as aggressive as bass and while I hate killing and not eating—I’m going to kill all I catch.
From DC to Chickamuxen you can and will catch bass from submersed vegetation, docks, rocks and man-made cover. The truth about your lure choice is—just about anything will work—some are much better than others.
UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: **1/2; 70ish;clear; 2.3 @ Point of Rocks
Lots of good reports on smallmouth activity and even some walleye are being caught. Jay George has 14 smallmouth bass an d a nice walleye from the Dickersom area pf the river. Popular launch locations such as Seneca, Edwards Ferry, Whites Ferry and Lander aren’t seeing much traffic but smallmouth results are in the “good” range. I like Case Magic Stiks, Case Magic Swims, Campground tibrs, Rico poppers and white buzz baits. .
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS: ***; high 60s; clear; low; 4-feet at the .Harrisburg gauge and 4 feet at Newport on the Juniata
LOU guide Zak Marinkov (717-507-5053) reports: The gauge at Harrisburg is reading 4.08 feet and with the rain we aren’t having, it is steadily falling. The water temperature is at 64 on the main river and around 60 on the tributaries with clear on the west shore and a stain on the east shore.
Zak is available for summer AM and PM guided trip[s and you may even split your day and do one of each. Summer time sun and heat is not conducive to productive smallmouth fishing especially in shallow water.
Zak reports:
What a great Healing Rivers event run by Dave Holmes and the Healing Rivers group. I had the pleasure of taking out an Army veteran for the day and spend some time catching a bunch of smallmouth including his largest he ever caught. Thanks to everyone for a great event as it has been for the past 7 years but most of all thank you to all our service men and women who have sacrificed for our freedom and this great country.
You can find post spawn fish eager to eat a spinnerbait in the current and behind the grass on main river islands and current. The last batch of spawners are getting ready and swiping at moving baits like a Case Salty Shad and you can count on catching them anywhere on campground special tubes where I prefer the 2.75″ size and RAB weedless jigs from Johnny at the Riverfront Campground.
LOU GUIDES FOR 2023
United States Coast Guard Licensed Captains
Captain Ken Penrod (Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, Legendary Guide)
Susquehanna River, Juniata River, Tidal Potomac River, Eastern Shore Tidal Rivers;
Upper Potomac River; Stevenson Dam; Cameron County trout
Captain Dave Kerrigan, VP (301-252-5322)
Susquehanna River, Juniata River, Upper Potomac River, Tidal Potomac River
Captain Brian Barnes (302-745-4668)
Upper Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, Nanticoke River, Choptank River, Wicomico River, Pocomoke River
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2023 LOU Sponsors and Partners:
#lowrance; #ArdentOutdoors; #CasePlastics; #ZipperWorms; #Case Magic Swim; #CampgroundTubes; #RABjigheads; #Simms; #Costa: #Yeti; #RiverPro; (AlumaRyder-Captain Kerrigan); #RiverfrontCampground; #Ghost; #BigMouthLures