Fishing Report For Week Ending APRIL 10, 2022
NEW Mailing Address: 1860 Robin Court, Lusby, MD 20657
Kenpenrod@comcast.net<>240-447-2206<>www.penrodsguides.com
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LOU Fish of the Week
Smallmouth
John Ennis (21,3/4) Current Club Leader
LADIES: Ticia
Largemouth:
LADIES: Ticia
Men:
Toothy Critter:
Jon Drever–Walleye
20-Inch Smallmouth Club
Ticia
John Ennis (2)
Ryan Ennis
Nick Hudson
Brian Rodgers
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SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS: * to ***; stained to muddy, near flood stage; 49 degrees; 9.9 at Harrisburg falling; 9.2 at Newport on the Juniata slowly falling.
Bang—a sucker punch from Mother Nature that included flooding, muddy water, windy conditions and even sleet covering the carpet on the boat.
Some poor fishing days and some great ones with limited opportunities as flooding dominated the week and limited the areas we could fish productively. We even postponed some trips as a result. It was really SIMMS weather and we thank them for such fine rain wear. I cant say enough about my new Lowrance trolling motor either.
Still, we broke a two day record by welcoming 5 “Ken Penrod’ 20-Inch Smallmouth Club” awards topped by Ennis Electrics CEO, John Ennis Jr’s 21-3/4” monster. This is an exclusive Club to recognize top performers in the smallmouth species and there are five ways to obtain entrance; You must be on a paid guide trip with LOU; fish of 20-inches are required; male adult‘s fish must be 20-inches long OR 5-pounds; Ladies and youngsters <16 enter with 18-inch minimums. This Club is sponsored by Ardent Outdoors and Riverfront Campground.
Captain Dave Kerrigan reports the past week to be real Susky spring!! We started off with a steady mostly clean river and by weeks end levels rose to near 10 feet and muddy water dominated both the Susky and the Juniata. On Thursday the weather really turned nasty and rain dominated the day. Fortunately, the river was still in good shape for the most part and we were able to catch fish everywhere we tried. Mike Jones joined the LOU smallmouth club that day with a 19 3/4” 5lb 4 oz hog caught in the Juniata on a Campground Special tube. By Friday the rising water took over along with the mud and floating debris. By Saturday the rivers were, for the most part, unfishable and we had to move to the tributaries for our annual Ennis Electric outing. Thanks to Johnny Cunningham for his usual taking it all in stride and launching us from the upper ramp at Riverfront Campground. With water temps hovering around 50 the tackle box was open and fish were caught on all plastics along with jerk baits crank baits chatter and spinner baits!! On Sunday the Juanita was clearing up and falling so good news for next week. A nod of thanks to the folks at Power Pole for the excellent anchors mounted on my Alumaryder. They make it very easy to lock down the boat, so our clients are in the best positions to work a pool or eddy!
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: ***; some color some places; vegetation blooming and fish biting.
It’s easier to say that fishing are cooperating from DC to Aquia and it seems like some year classes have really grown-up. Grasses in areas where it was absent last season is inviting to bait fish and guess who’s coming to dine.Top “Hot Spots” include Mattawoman coves; Belmont Bay; Pomonkey; Piscataway Creek. Belle Have Coves; Smoot Bay; Penrod Cove and DC marinas.
Top lures include Big Mouth spinnerbaits and vibrating Jigs; Case Magic Swims and Magic Stiks; lipless crankbaits and Campground Tubes. Ardent spinning feels with 8# test Bass Pro Excel monofilament is best for finesse presentation. I like 12 pound mono on my Ardent baitcasting reels.
I am a big fan of catch, photo, release but remember: bass can hold their breath about as long as you can. Keep them submerged until you are ready to pull the camera trigger.
UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: *** (it’s been a long time since I’ve given such a high grade); 6.8 at Point of Rocks—down from 9.5, and falling quickly to about 5 feet Wednesday
High, Muddy water for the time being but before the “rise,” smallmouth in quality and quantity were the new norm. The river is recovering from devastating summer floods of 2018 and without the help of MD and VA—she is growing newer, bigger smallmouth bass. Let her settle down a few days but spinning tackle (Ardent,) Tubes (Riverfront Campground,) paddle tail swim baits (Case Magic Swims,) and Wacky-rigger Magic Stiks (Case Plastics) are the tools. Have you tried the new Ghost (Lowrance trolling motor)? Do yourself a favor.
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LOU Guides for 2021
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; Drake Waterfowl, Fishing Division; Maggie Penrod.