LOU Fishing Report for Week Ending 102719.
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/
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NOTES: This will be our last “regularly” scheduled report but we will post “Hot-Spots” from time to time as well as industry and related news. This doesn’t mean that we are done—to the contrary, because there is plenty of the best ahead. Don’t forget to book your spring Susquehanna trips asap because we sell-out quite early. The same goes for the tidal Potomac.
Bass Boat for Sale: Brother Bill Penrod passed away this week and his boat is for sale. Serious inquires to Ken Penrod at 240-447-2206 or kenpenrod@comcast.net.
1999 Ranger 519 VS Comanche (well-kept and low hours) with 1999 225 HP Mercury EFI. Dual console with tandem axel RangerTrail trailer; new Minn Kota 112 Fortrex; in dash Lowrance Flasher; Lowrance sonar/GPS on console.
$20,000. Boat may be seen by appointment only.
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UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: *; <50; clear; 1.8 at the Point of Rocks gauge.
Bass “catching” has improved some since the water has cooled and recreational traffic has subsided. Don’t’ forget the warm water influence downstream of Dickerson where MD side water temps are a few degrees above ambient—all the way to Edwards Ferry.
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS: **; <50; 4.5 at the Harrisburg gauge rising to 5.6 by Wednesday; 4.2 at Newport on the Juniata rising to 5.1 by Tuesday.
It’s not like years past but its STILL the best smallmouth river in the region-by far. The rise will help and the “chilling” has helped already. It’s still good topwater action but jerkbaits and Campground tubes outshine all. The Amity drift to the Confluence is pretty productive and Montgomery Ferry to Sherman Creek is better.
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: ***; 60ish; much floating grass
Captain Kenny Penrod III (240-478-9055) provided the following tidal Potomac report – Last week we had beautiful weather, calm winds and morning outgoing tides. My Big Bee Rockproof was not limited and I fished from DC to South of Quantico. The water temperatures on the main river are still hovering around 60. The smaller stripers (with occasional keeper 19”) are schooling and chasing bait as are the crappie (btw- there is a limit of 15). The bass fishing was a little disappointing but I didn’t give them my full attention because of the excellent crappie fishing. I did catch some bass on Friday from hard cover channel turns using dropshots. I continue to look for schools of largemouth but the traditional spots have not produced for me. Those big bass have got to be somewhere but it’s difficult to find the energy to make a million casts and trust that you will be in the right spot at the right half hour to catch 5 bass when I can catch other fish with little effort. My guiding season is closing and it’s time to repair boats, fix equipment and use my time on the water to prepare for next spring. It’s a great time to use your Lowrance units to mark drops, wood, and drains. Look for north winds and go out to find stuff because those winds will result in lower tides and make the invisible- visible. Remember that those pads and grass edges won’t be visible in the early spring so it’s a good idea to mark tracks and routes to not only locate fish but so you don’t beach your boat. This year I guarantee I spent more time on the water than most anybody and the one thing I learned is that most everyone fish the exact same way in the exact same spots. I have come to appreciate the attention to detail that is required to fish a water that has primarily become a pressured tournament water (primarily because there is nowhere else to go). The attention to detail might encompass casting (skipping a bait under pad edges), or multiple casts to different spots on a log (they will it in a specific spot and strike zone is very small), downsizing or finesse ( 2” Campground Tube, weightless Or wacky Magic Stik). I always laugh when a “tournament” guy messages me and asks if I try chatterbaits. Of course I try chatterbaits and swim jigs blah blah blah. The Bigmouth Big Shakey is the best Chatterbait on the market and I use it a lot because it catches bass. It catches them on the Potomac, on the Susquehanna, on Lake Toho – it catches them everywhere. However, I’m a fishing guide who takes relatively inexperienced fishermen out to catch fish so I work to find specific spots with accessible fish so if I’m power fishing then I may have not done my homework or I’m in trouble because my spots didn’t produce. When I’m fishing by myself – that Big Shakey is used to find them and then the Magic Stik is used to establish if I’m on the spot that will be a guiding spot. I look for details because if I don’t then I’m like everybody else – put the trolling motor down and cast to grass (which works). I just try to be more efficient – so if I don’t move from a spot (there’s a reason) or if I’m not taking a guy that’s fishing in a club or tournament (there’s a reason) or I’m not fishing docks or under trees or punching (there’s a reason). In guiding – simple is good.
In DC – I fished rocks, points, bridges, coves, wood and docks with limited success. I still do Not see bait against the banks so perhaps the water temp isn’t right. The crappie were in the Spoils, mouth of oxen creek, and Fox Ferry.
South – I fished for crappie and striped bass. The crappie were caught in lay downs on channel turns using a 2” chartreuse grubs. The schoolie stripers were utilizing points and I caught them on Johnny Cunningham’s White/silver swimbaits. The bass should be hitting and I expect that I catch them this coming week if I can force myself to fish for them considering the excellent Striper/crappie fishing. I will concentrate on hard stuff but pad edges as well as remaining grass edges will be explored. On Friday – I found bass on hard cover but they were not chasing moving Lures (for me).
I’m going to the Susquehanna on Tuesday. I wonder if they ever found the alkaline issue near the confluence? There was definitely an issue before PA disclosed the issue because the Fishing told you.
I’m still fishing and available if you would like to take a trip before you can only wish you were fishing.
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Meet our Guides/Fishing Instructors
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; Power Pole; NRA; Zipper Worms; RAB Jig Heads; Campground Tubes; Riverfront Campground; Big Bee (KP3); Columbia Design & Graphics; Guidefitters; NRA; Costa; Simms, Lance Carowick (Website Design & Consutant) & Maggie Penrod CFO & MFB
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BOOKS by Ken Penrod
Pursuing River Smallmouth Bass ($25)
Fishing the Upper Potomac River (Out of print)
Ken Penrod’s Top Ten for DEMARVA ($25 short supply)
Fishing Lake Anna ($50, only 10 left)
Tidewater Bass Fishing ($50, only 9 left)
Send checks to PPC Publications at 4708 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705. Be sure to specify the title/titles.
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2020 Camp Sycamore Dates
July 6-10
July 13-17
July 20-24
July 27-31
Our summer camp for boys between the ages of 12 & 18 will fill up quickly so dn’t hesitate to contact Ken about attendance. Our website WWW.penrodsguides.com pretty much describes our 38 year old program, but most important is that we ONLY want boys that are totally into fishing, shooting and woods & water activity. This is not a camp for disabled (bless you) or undisciplined boys. We require a face-to-face interview to ensure that we are all on the same page—for the good of your son, and our camp. Ken is a well know outdoorsman, author, guide, hunter and Hall of Fame angler. Our counselors are top=of-the-line, experienced, certified and wonderful—as in Alan Mullis, Christy Mullis, Maggie Penrod and Brandie Sherry.
Seldom met a kid I didn’t like—but some parents cancel that.
There is nothing like this in the USA. Only 6-8 per session, conducted from my lodge in North PA, alongside a trout stream—adjacent to a wilderness area. We meet in Ken’s house on Sunday eve and you just promise to retrieve you son on Friday evening—unless he is staying for Two weeks.
Fee is $1000 per week and $2300 for two weeks (stays the weekend).
There is an application process. With mandatory deposit, then our interview. Once accepted—there is no refund for any reason.