LOU Fishing Report for Week Ending 5921
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY..
Mailing Address: 4708 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
Cell @ 240-447-2206 (Best Way). Kenpenrod@comcast.net
PLEASE—never communicate with me via Messenger. NEVER
WWW.penrodsguides.com; NEWLY constructed with lots of information. See the “About”, then “Galley” section for photos and “Programs” for club and youth camp information.
“See our Facebook Pages for Fishing Reports too.
First-Hand Reporting Since 1982—NOT part-time guess work.
Professional Guides Since 1982
Ken 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 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/)
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REMEMBER—We have eliminated our land-line phone so contact should be at 240-447-2206 or kenpenrodjr@gmail.com
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LOU Fish of the week:
TIE for Largemouth: Shane Velez & Kirk Rolen (19.25”)
Smallmouth: Tom Dvorak (19.5”)
Toothy Critter: Kirk Rolen
LOU Potomac River Largemouth Club:
Ken (2)
George Giammittorio
Shane Velez (2)
Kirk Rolen
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TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: ***1/2; colored; 65-70 degrees;
My first day back on my home water was Wednesday after a 7-week sojourn on the Susquehanna River in Duncannon, PA. I still hate the Beltway traffic. My ride-to-work in PA was 10-minutes. My ride to work in MD ranges from 45 minutes to 1.5 hrs. Governor Hogan could help his reputation by borrowing some road-strip pain from PA & VA to use on 495 toward Andrews. What’s with those little cars with little people driving like its Talladega? Most are so short you can’t see their head above the head rest.
AW—I digress.
I/we had a great week. Wednesday and Thursday we saw a total of 4 bass boats. Fri was a bit busier. Wednesday and Thursday was like the good ol’ days but Friday was fussier as the tide stalled. We scored a total of 6 “LOU Potomac River Largemouth Club” entries. A young man (21) tied for LOU Fish of the Week” and Kirk Rolen got a 10-pound snakehead and Toothy Critter notoriety—took it home and air fried it—called me to promise to keep them in the future.
We saw our first mommy goose with babies (early I think) and we caught three bass with tags in them (“VA/MD/DC Bass Fishery MGMT”) (I didn’t think those three could work together on anything) Two were on back to back casts. I called the number on the tags.
You have both post spawn and pre spawn activity now and it’s hard to tell the difference in the male behavior. One of the “almost 100%” is what we call “Pop & Drop,” which is when males just punishes or moves anything entering his/her circle of reproduction. The bass we are catching are in fairly shallow water with abundant wood or hard cover. There are many of these areas throughout the system. Turn your electronics OFF in the shallows because the sonar ping is obnoxious to aquatic inhabitants. If you remember my reports from last year where I bragged about the monster-crappie—well I’m bragging again. Lots of snakeheads and gar in fertile largemouth areas.
A lot of artificial will catch bass now but few will out fish the Case Magic Stik either Wacky Rigger or Texas rig
without weight where the 3/0 hook is the only weight.. I suggest the 6” Ken’s Stik or the green pumpkin/gold colors. Go to “Fishing Complete .com and find the Case Plastic pages. Use my discount code (KenP20) for a 20-percent discount. I’m using Ardent spinning tackle (Edge rod with C-Force) reel spooled with Bass Pro’s Excel 8# mono in green color. You “Type A” guys that can’t wait will catch bass on a Case Magic Swim on an RAB jig head; Campground tubes; Big Mouth Big Shakey; Crankbaits like Rapala DT6 or Bandit. When things get tough-go “small” like a 4” Mizmo grub or a three inch piece of Magic Stik on a Ned head.
Bass fishing is reliable from DC to Potomac Creek but there are primo spots and there are OK spots. I can no longer pin point small primo places because they just get pounded. My regular clients may call me for more specifics. Don’t use photo backgrounds either because we change scenes to photograph.
In the north—the Woodrow Wilson area is easily the sector with the most varied habitat, The old gravel pits bays, submersed wood barges, visible and submersed concrete and rocks and docks are solid places to fish.
The Middle Grounds such as Piscatway, Dogue, GreenWay, Pomonkey and Pohick are good choices.
In the south I like Mattawoman, Occoquan Complex; Chickamuxen and Aquia where new unseen vegetation is the magnet
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS, PA: ***; High 60s; some color; 6.2 at the Harrisburg gauge jumping to 7.1 by Tuesday. On the Juniata at Newport, it’s 5.2 now but 6.3 by Tuesday.
I do miss this mighty river and my friends in Duncannon and Riverfront Campground. Folks are just plain nicer here than in most areas of home. You can leave your truck unlocked and if someone messes with your stuff—well a sign in Johnny’s yard says it all: “There is nothing in here worth dying for.”
Captain Kerrigan stayed-on after I left and he had some kick-bass days too.
“Capt Dave Kerrigan reports that last week was the best of the season. The fishing was outstanding and the weather early in the week was delightful. Some heavy rain midweek did not dampen the fishing only the fisherman. However, those with quality rain gear like what we wear from Simms were only damp on the outside!! Sherman Creek was great but so was the fishing in the Juniata River and down the clean water banks on the main Susky. The muddy water “bump” that flowed on down from NY on the main river was starting to finally clear up but new rains will result in another surge of staining – particularly on the east shore. Our best baits this week were Big Mouth Spinnerbaits in Golden Shiner and Texas rigged soft plastics like those from Zman (Neds), Roboworms, and Case Magic Stix (cut in half worked best). We did catch topwater fish on Sammys and Whopper Ploppers and some also went for jerkbaits and square bill cranks. Just one of those awesome weeks where the fish were ready to rumble!! Capt Dave followed Kens lead and broke camp this week as well. A note of thanks first to Johnny Cunningham owner of Riverfront Campground – you always make our stay there great!! Also thanks to our sponsors! I was glad many times over the last 7 weeks to have those Power Pole Shallow Water Anchors, my trusty Lowrance Elite Sonar / GPS Units, Ardent rods and reels, Simms gear to keep me warm and dry, and our great tackle companies Campground Special Tubes, Big Mouth Baits, and Case Plastics. Also – to Brad and the team at Alumaryder; Due to the crazy year we had in 2020 I was not able to really appreciate just how great my new River Ryder 2072 was. After a full spring season I can happily say it is by far the best shallow water boat I have operated. All of my clients commented on how comfortable and easy it is to fish from and are amazed at the power and speed the Rotax engine creates. One very special person, my wife Sarah, deserves a very big thank you for “holding down the fort” while I was taking care of business in PA!!! And finally, to all of our great LOU clients and friends that joined us this year THANK YOU! I hope to see you all again next year!
To all our fisherman (and hunter) wives and Mom’s out there HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!! Thanks for taking care of everything while we chase the next opening day of whatever!!
Now – on to the OCMD saltwater for me…itching to get some tuna blood on my Xtra Tough Boots and break out the soy sauce and wasabi!
Capt Dave Kerrigan reports that last week was the best of the season. The fishing was outstanding and the weather early in the week was delightful. Some heavy rain midweek did not dampen the fishing only the fisherman. However, those with quality rain gear like what we wear from Simms were only damp on the outside!! Sherman Creek was great but so was the fishing in the Juniata River and down the clean water banks on the main Susky. The muddy water “bump” that flowed on down from NY on the main river was starting to finally clear up but new rains will result in another surge of staining – particularly on the east shore. Our best baits this week were Big Mouth Spinnerbaits in Golden Shiner and Texas rigged soft plastics like those from Zman (Neds), Roboworms, and Case Magic Stix (cut in half worked best). We did catch topwater fish on Sammys and Whopper Ploppers and some also went for jerkbaits and square bill cranks. Just one of those awesome weeks where the fish were ready to rumble!! Capt Dave followed Kens lead and broke camp this week as well. A note of thanks first to Johnny Cunningham owner of Riverfront Campground – you always make our stay there great!! Also thanks to our sponsors! I was glad many times over the last 7 weeks to have those Power Pole Shallow Water Anchors, my trusty Lowrance Elite Sonar / GPS Units, Ardent rods and reels, Simms gear to keep me warm and dry, and our great tackle companies Campground Special Tubes, Big Mouth Baits, and Case Plastics. Also – to Brad and the team at Alumaryder; Due to the crazy year we had in 2020 I was not able to really appreciate just how great my new River Ryder 2072 was. After a full spring season I can happily say it is by far the best shallow water boat I have operated. All of my clients commented on how comfortable and easy it is to fish from and are amazed at the power and speed the Rotax engine creates. One very special person, my wife Sarah, deserves a very big thank you for “holding down the fort” while I was taking care of business in PA!!! And finally, to all of our great LOU clients and friends that joined us this year THANK YOU! I hope to see you all again next year!
To all our fisherman (and hunter) wives and Mom’s out there HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!! Thanks for taking care of everything while we chase the next opening day of whatever!!
Now – on to the OCMD saltwater for me…itching to get some tuna blood on my Xtra Tough Boots and break out the soy sauce and wasabi!
UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: *1/2; some color, more coming; 4.2 at Point of Rocks falling to about 3.5’ by Tuesday.
Fortunately the river hasn’t been roughed-up much by spring flooding yet so the New Moon (11 May) will trigger some spawning and of course, the full moon of May 26 will be the “big one.”
Not many fishing here as bites are scarce and in-the-boat keepers are scarcer. It’s a shame how little NPS does for the launch sites along the river but they are first to remind you that they CONTROL access. Drug dealing, trash dumping and inconsiderate kayak groups are undisciplined and never approached by Park Police.
Just let me say that “fishing is better than it was last year” and that’s a plus. No, MD DNR didn’t do anything to improve unless you consider their feeble attempt at stocking.
This level is actually a good one because bass will be in or around shoreline current breaks where Campground tubes and square-bill crankbaits will score well. Whites Ferry, Edwards Ferry, Lander and Brunswick arte the best bets in the Piedmont sector.
Wear the damn vest.
Call your Mother.
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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 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; Maggie Penrod.