LOU Fishing Report for Week Ending 6720
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 Bass: Dr Dave
LOU Potomac River Largemouth Club
(Sponsored by Lowrance Electronics and Ardent Outdoors)
Current Leader: Mike Stoker @ 20”
Dr. Dave @ 18.5’
KP @ 21.75”
Ken Penrod 20-Inch Smallmouth Club
(Sponsored by Riverfront Campground & Ardent Outdoors)
Current Leader: Michael Day @ 20 1/8th
DC Slam & Grand Slam
NONE yet
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UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: (Brunswick to Seneca); ½ (the lowest rating ever); mid 70s; perfect color; 3.8 at Point of Rocks with a little up and down next few days.
Thursday was the “perfect day” for fishing; partly cloudy, steady levels, superb water color, barometer under 29.8, no traffic, aquatic hatch and this river level offered every conceivable pattern. I know every spot on this section, every one.
I had a very good, river-savvy client with me and we caught TWO smallmouth bass.
I’m asking DNR Secretary Jennie Haddaway-Riccio to immediately take the following actions:
Immediate Catch & Release until smallmouth bass and other aquatic inhabitants stabilize; thorough and complete investigation into disease and sexual capability of smallmouth bass spawning ability; restocking plan and official explanation of last year’s failed stocking attempt that included smallmouth bass caught by DNR from the Potomac, taken to DNR hatcheries to spawn—and “0” results.
You can help this cause by calling her at 410-260-8101.
MD doesn’t have a plan for any resource except the Chesapeake Bay—and if you noticed, those resources are in more trouble. Rockfish are limited again, geese are limited again, oysters are, well, ruined and watermen are running all over black bass spawning sites to catch anything. They are desperate too.
The Potomac is 385 miles long, all Maryland property, except for 11 miles deeded (mistakenly) to the District of Columbia. MD DNR does nothing to protect this river and other waters UNLESS, it’s for the “Cash Cow Bay.”
I have given up on working with MD DNR Fisheries after so many years of successfully protecting MD water resources. They deflect their inability by using “Committees” that simply are incompetent. Their Black Bass Advisory Committee is a slap in your face.
I call all of you out also because fishermen are the first to bitch on social media but the last to act on doing something of consequence about it. PA’s fishing license sales are dismal, bass boat sales are in the tank and if you haven’t noticed, MD’s top bass boat dealer, Mare Inc, has closed his Thurmont business. MD does nothing for inland fishing (other than trout) and related business.
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: ***; mid 70s; some stain in some areas; boat traffic increase
The recent heat spell has river water in the mid to high 70s and that heat up will breed algae pretty quickly yet bass fishing has been good to strong in a lot of areas including major tribs such as Aquai, Chickamuxen, Occoquan, Mattawoman and on the main stem in DC, WW Bridge, Greenway, Pomonkey and Pohick. It’s full blown summer pattern now so check the vegetables first and look to wood if that fails.
Buzzbait and Whopper Plopper assaults are increasing but our standbys include the 6” Case Magic Stik on a 3/0 hook; Big Mouth “Penrod” spinnerbait and bluegill-color Big Shakey. The Case Magic Swim on a ¼ ounce RAB swim jig head is deadly and the old’ standby, Bomber Firetiger, belongs on a rod.
I hate to pinpoint areas but if you get the chance—try upriver of Key Bridge.
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS (Harrisburg to Montgomery Ferry; Lower 10 miles of Juniata): **1/2; 70s; color some areas; 4.8 at the Harrisburg station with 6’ ups and downs thru Tuesday; 4.9 on the Juniata at Newport and slowly falling.
It’s rare to have this much water into June but that’s a good thing and boat traffic reinforces that.
Just about any of the standard bass baits will work but those Big Mouth spinnerbaits that Johnny Cunningham stocks are deadly—and the Case Magic Stik; Campground tubes; Case Magic Swim on an RAB swim jig head; Zara Spook and jerk baits will score. Keep a square bill crankbait handy too.
Thank the fish Gods the smallmouth have redistributed from small tribs to main river ledges and submersed island brush.
Remember guys—you may not be on plane within 100 feet of a shoreline.
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Ken Penrod’s Summer Camp for Boys
After 28 years of uninterrupted your camp sessions, we must cancel the 2020 season due to Covid restrictions and potential liability. This camp is and has been my favorite endeavor over my career and it is painful to see this intrusion, especially knowing that my lodge is probably one of the safest places in the country—but complying with face mask, social distancing and the remote chance that someone could be a “carrier” is reason enough—for now.
I may offer a week or two in August if things settle down so stay tuned.I
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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.