Ken Penrod’s Fishing Reports
44-Years.
Captain Ken Penrod; Captain Dave Kerrigan; Captain Brian Barnes; Zak Marinkov
Ken Enshrined into 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 June 16, 2024
Fish of the Week
Smallmouth: Parker Funk, 18.75”
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Ken Penrod 20-Inch Smallmouth Club
For Clients catching a smallmouth of 20 inches & up or 5 Pounds and more.
Sponsored by Ardent Outdoors, Riverfront Campground, Big Mouth Lure Company and The Cunningham Family
Current Leader: Sean Grow (21.5”)
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Ken Penrod Potomac River Largemouth Club
For clients catching a Potomac bass 18 inches and longer
Sponsored by Lowrance Electronics, Big Mouth Lure Company and Ardent Outdoors
Current Leader: John Ennis (18.75”)
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SUSUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS, PA: ***; 80s; clear; low; 3.8 at Newport on the Juniata and 3.8 at Harrisburg on main stem.
It’s summer-low and SUMMER DANGEROUS as far as reckless boating goes but also be aware that these conditions breed bacteria that can make you extremely sick. Don’t lick your line and clean-up with wipes before eating.
Remember, RIVERFRONT CAMPGROUND rents boats and canoes and will shuttle to upstream for great float trips back to the campground. You can also buy most of the lures we use for smallmouth bass as well as snacks and drinks for your day. Reach them at 717-8934-5252.
Zak Marinkov has been wackin’ them all week in spite of low water and heat. He reports:
The river has had a slowly falling trend over the past week and a half without any significant rainfall. The fish are definitely in their summer pattern with the biggest fish seeming to be in a recovery mode. The largest fish are visible in the ledges and are spooky and reluctant to eat in the low clear water. Long casts are crucial and it is important to get away from the crowd and fish that have been pressured to find the biggest fish. A weekend lunker club tournament out of Harrisburg with 44 participants had a 19.5″ fish for the biggest of the day. The 20 inchers that were prevalent in the Spring season are hard to entice right now but a couple of the half day trips last week produced solid numbers over 50 fish an outing. That purple tail campground special tube from Riverfront Campground has been on several of my rods since March. The topwater bite before the last little cold front this weekend had fish exploding on the surface up to 5 or 6 times per cast trying to gulp down whatever floating bait we threw. Get on the schedule for a summer trip before it’s too late- the bass are hungry and time is running out to see what the summer action is all about! 717-507-5053 to get on Zak’s schedule!
UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: ***; 80ish; low and clear with algae; 1.5 at Point of Rocks
If you are going to be dumb—you better be tough, because this river is just waiting to bust-up your boat. It’s summer low and getting lower so “easy” does it. Consider floats from launch to launch. Wet wading is ok but beware the high bacteria that can get you sick or infect open wounds.
I almost hate to say this but this river is fishing like the good ol’ days in spite of the flow.
Jay George and Jason Penrod report 50-80 bass a day outings and while most are small, some big chunks bite every day.
Just about anything you cast will work but if you want to beat your partner’s butt use Case Magic Swims, Campground tubes and don’t forget that whopper plopper or buzzbait in the mornings.
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: ***; clear with salt wedge almost to DC; 80s
The water is hot and tournament activity is ridiculous and it makes you wonder just who MD DNR is working for. They have allowed our rockfish population to become critically depleted and seem hell-bent on doing the same for tidal bass on the Potomac and Upper Bay.
Bass fishing has been “decent” is some areas and “good” in others if you can find a [place to fish near Smallwood.
In DC find some rockfish in the Washington Channel and some smallmouth on the bridge foundations. The Navy rip-pap is holding some nice largemouth as so is Blue Plains and Fox Ferry Point. I’m liking the Case Magic Swim and Big Mouth spinnerbaits.
Other decent areas include Pomomkey Creek, upper Mattawoman and and shoreline below Chickamuxen.
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Meet Our Guides:
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
Zak Marinkov (717-507-5053)
Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers in PA
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2024 LOU Sponsors and Partners:
#lowrance; #ArdentOutdoors; #CasePlastics; #ZipperWorms; #Case Magic Swim; #CampgroundTubes; #RABjigheads; #Simms; #Costa: #Yeti; #RiverPro; (AlumaRyder-Captain Kerrigan); #RiverfrontCampground; #Ghost; #BigMouthLures