Ken Penrod’s LOU Fishing Reports for 2022
Our 41sth Year!
Ken is enshrined in to: The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide.
Angler Alerts, Fishing Advice & Conservation Concerns.
Week Ending August 14, 2022
Mailing Address @ 1860- Robin Court, Lusby, MD 20657
Ken’s Cell @ 240-447-2206 (best way) Kenpenrod@comcast.net
www.penrodsguides.com. Facebook. Twitter: @ken_penrod. Instagram. LinkedIn
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
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Notes: Our fishing report will be posted to Ken’s Facebook Page, “Life Outdoors Unlimited” where Clients may see their photos.
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“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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LOU POTOMAC RIVER LARGEMOUTH CLUB;
Sponsored by Lowrance Electronics & Ardent Outdoors
Current Club Leader: Dr. Dave, 21.75”
Ken Penrod 20-Inch Smallmouth Club
Sponsored by Ardent Outdoors and Riverfront Campground
Current Leader: John Ennis, 21.75”
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I live in Lusby, MD now, just a short cast from Solomans where lots of Bay charter boats operate out of. Talking to one of the captain’s the other day I inquired why he wasn’t working much lately and he mumbles “covid, economy, fuel prices, shitty limits and can’t make a living off of white perch.”
It’s no surprise to anyone that the Bay’s bounty is but a shadow of her former self and we have to wonder, outload, how the hell did this happen—again? My answer to that questions is and has been—MD Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries, needs an overhaul and it starts with the GOODBY HOGAN theme.
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TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: ** bass; *** catfish; *** snakeheads; 80ish, yellowing vegetation; salt wedge near DC; algae blooms
This summer is quite similar to any summer I’ve encountered so don’t jump to any conclusions just yet. I will state for the record that if we don’t get a handle on the blue catfish invasion, quite similar to Biden’s Boarder Pass, we could go through what the Chesapeake Bay is. The Bay’s most popular fish, rockfish, is on the brink, and black bass could be if we don’t get a much better conservation plan. Blue catfish could be the dominant fish in a few years and DNR can fix that with pen. They make it so hard to commercialize this cat—and a huge market awaits. Hot weather and spawn time restrictions for tidal bass are just as important. Choose your next governor wisely.
I always like the DC sector when things tighten-up on the remainder because it’s fairly tournament traffic free; has more fishable habitat than any other sector; very convenient launch locations; every brand of fish in the system and most of the fishable portions are “wake-free.” Yep, it can be noisy. Right-the big boats chop-up the surface (but usually after noon) and you can always go above Key Bridge where few ever do.
I acknowledge the many of you that thank me for the lure and tackle advise and I always think about the lessons I learned by attending so many Bass Masters Classics as an observer. My “guy,” during one of the several James River events, was in an elevator with Mag and I when a well know outdoor writer got in and immediately went to work. “You had a marvelous day today Mr. Person and my readers would love to know what you were throwing and colors. “I caught most of my bass on a spinnerbaits that Strikeking and I are working on Mr. Person announced.” He looked at me quickly, then went on rambling.
I was in his boat all day and he never used anything but a worm. I promised myself that I would never do anything like that to people that trusted me—and I never did.
Summertime on the Potomac is “just about any lure can work” time but as I always say: “while you are changing lures I can get in a dozen casts—and casts to good spots equals more bass than fiddling with knots.”
Case Magic Stik for warm/hot water without much current cannot be improved upon. Case Magic Swim to open water with deep vegetation of other habitat is a no-brainer; Campground tubes on 8# Excel monno, on medium action Ardent rods and reels would be my choice if I could only have one-for all seasons. Big mouth spinnerbaits, Big Shakey’s, jigs and buzzbaits are my “vegetation/shallow wood/submersed barges and emergent vegies choice. Bomber 7-A, Rapala DT-6 and KVD square bill crankbaits have a kill zone and you have to understand that.
DC Sector: the rip rap between the Anacostia River and Bolling; the rip rap along Reagan Airport; Washington Channel from entrance to the Police station; entrance to Columbia Island Marina; Long Bridge; Key Bridge; rocks and islands from Three Sisters to Little Falls.
I-95 Sector: Fox Ferry Point when you can see the piling tops; Blue Plains and dock; concrete in and out of Penrod Cove; North and south points of Smoot Bay—and docks; Belle Haven Marina coves; rip rap below Hog Island; Fort Washington point.
Middle Fresh; Pomonkey Creek on an outgoing tide; Pohick Bay anytime; Greenway Flats vegetation;
South to too much salt: Occoquan channel edge and coves before marinas; old railroad bridge wood at Neabsco and Powells and Leesylvania rip rap, Mattawoman (6MPH) and veggies from Marsh Island to main stem, Chickamuxen points and grasses. Aquia points and veggies.
UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: **1/2; very low and bumpy; 80ish and cooling; algae and bacteria levels very high;
I hate the current conditions that include very low flow, high bacteria count; low dissolved oxygen—BUT I like the “rebound” of smallmouth bass stocks—with “0” thanks to MD DNR—or Virginia—or West Virginia, the border states that demand equal rights but no responsibility for fisheries.
The upper Potomac River, as I’ve known it since 1964, is a marvelous geographic gift, but a forgotten one as far as fisheries protection goes and that may have more to do with Maryland’s obsession with the Chesapeake Bay—which looks more like the Potomac every day but for different reasons. Don’t feed me that noodle-soup about MD stocking bass after the 2018 floods because I know what a failure that was.
She is a red-headed step child—but she has “we the conservation minded” on her side. I do know from many years of participation, 40 of them as a full time, catch & release, professional guide—that lean-times mean a man-made or climactic disaster participated—and that usually means LESSER use of the river—and that’s not all bad. Spin as much as we like but man made pollution from upstream—continue to be totally unacceptable.
My guys and clients say—“hey, we are seeing lots of small bass, even YOY, and wow—we are catching fish again.” Even though the “Tube-Hatch” has taken over most launch sites, the fishing is better and we are even seeing Canada geese again. Remember, the LOU “Cast & Blast” season begins Sept 1 where we fish for smallmouth and shoot at geese—a “blast” of-a-kind not available at many places. Imagine fighting a feisty smallmouth on light line and a goose flies over! You put the rod on the bottom of the boat—pick up you gun, and shoot-a-goose, maybe,” and reel in that fish. The photo will be treasured—and shared.
It’s summer-low guys and that means stupid people think jet boats are rock-proof and we see them very often—full of water. That same ass that waked you is asking for help.
You can float-a-boat from launch to launch but just not any boat. Canoes, Yaks and tin will do it but dress to get wet because you may have to help the boat get you home. Hey, that’s part of the fun.
The upper Potomac has several impounded areas where motor boating is safe—for a distance, but I don’t trust water that doesn’t move for smallmouth bass.
Good floats include: Brunswick to Lander; Lander to Point of Rocks; Whites Ferry to Edwards Ferry. Remember, professional guides, with commercial insurance, may/will know their limitations and can “run” safely. Never hesitate to ask a guide for his license and proof of insurance. If you are paying a person to fish or boat, and he has recreational insurance—and he has an accident—you are not covered. Yep—you can litigate, but who are you kidding jow?
Get yourself a few, if you can, Ardent Edge spinning rods, medium action, with Ardent Bolt or C-Force spinning reels, and add Bass Pro Excel (green: monofilament) line. Hey dummy—expensive rods don’t make you a better fisherman. They just make you feel superior. Remember this; a thousand dollar baseball bat does not make you a better hitter.
Go early and get-off early, unless you are not welcome at home. High sun makes for low catch especially during low water.
The biggest mistake I see low water anglers make is fishing too long in unproductive waters and blowing through the good stuff. Oxygen levels during summer are really low, so fishing calm water is a test of your intelligence. Yep—we catch our best bass in cool water in calmed habitats, but look to moving water, near “rest areas” in hot water.
I like our chances in the Piedmont region sites including Seneca, Edwards Ferry, Whites Ferry Lander and Brunswick. It’s a good time for wet wading too.
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS, PA: **1/2; 80ish; clear with bottom and floating algae; clear; 3-feet at Harrisburg and 3.5 at Newport on the Juniata
The river is summertime-low and that doesn’t bode well for long boat rides but the smallmouth are biting quite well in the mornings and evenings as aquatic hatches offer menu changes for fish that love crawfish more than anything.
Consider day floats and Johnny Cunningham at River front Campground has the rental boats and shuttle service to do this for you.
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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.
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