LOU Fishing Report for Week Ending Easter.
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/
The “Current State of Affairs” as it pertains to various STATES can best be summed up as SNAFU. It does seem like the various state governors are conducting a Big Penis Contest as it pertains to recreation; exercise; understanding; and discrimination. For instance, PA issued clarification as to fishing and guiding TWO times and both time either were ok to indulge in. We filled our schedule with returning clients and rented rooms, purchased license. Took time off from their jobs and ordered fishing tackle.
Hold-it, on a Friday evening, April 3, at 5:30 PM they rescinded that. What the hell? Who is going to pay for that lost revenue? What about the people in transit? What about the motel rooms we have rented until April 30? What do they think happens on a guided trip? In our case, we meet our clients at a private launch in a remote areas and abide by standard distancing practices at all times. With three in a 20-foot boat, that 6-foot ruler is easy. We motor to various places on the Susquehanna and Juniata, both of which is between 200 yards and a half-mile wide. Our clients don’t troll, toss bobber, use live bait or shoot bows. They work their butt off often casting a thousand times a day (talk about exercise.) If we EVER get closer than 100-feet to another boat—it’s a passing event. There is no safer recreation area in the state.
PFBC is often referred to as the Pennsylvania Trout Commission because that is their biggest seller, largest budget expense and demands the most Conservation Officer time.
NOW, at 8AM on April 6, the PFBC announced that “Trout Season is Open.” Have you ever seen a PA trout stream on the first week of the season? It’s a zoo, with throngs of should-to-shoulder anglers. My isolated trips are not allowed but bring on the trout guys.
Now, I’m not minimizing health concerns at all. Although in my opinion, this one is out if control, but I am saying that how the hell can fishing the way we do it—be a health risk. We ask all clients if they have fever—we keep hand wipes aboard and all are asked to use their Buffs if they get closer than 6 feet. Latex gloves are available and no one shares lunch or drinks. We do not allow alcohol on our boats.
Restaurants are closed so we prepare food for a few of us in crock pots or grill. Lunches are made in our rooms. Breakfast from carry out establishments. Everyone has their own rods and tackle.
MARYLAND is just as confusing and the Governor’s rules are a constantly moving target. You may fish but for food only. Charter boats, such as we are, are allowed to operate. There is NO pleasure boating permitted and that’s crazy because Maryland is a big pleasure boat state.
All of this will pass but not before we become pawns rather than free citizens and not before we economically fall on hard times similar to the depression era.
We are accepting bookings for tidal water specifically the tidal Potomac River.
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REGIONAL RIVER LEVELS and Temperature
Upper Potomac River at Point of Rocks: 4 feet rising to 7.8 Wed. 60ish
Susquehanna River at Harrisburg: 5.4 rising to 7.8 Wed. near 60
Juniata River at Newport: 5.5 rising to 7.7 Wed. low 50s
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TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: ***; some color; 60ish; full moon tides
The good news for the “sustenance” anglers is that catfish, crappie and snakeheads are plentiful in lots of sectors and there are both white and yellow perch galore
Largemouth bass seem fat and happy and the 60 degree temps have males seeking territory for spawning ritual.
Look to southern tributaries for snakeheads where Big Mouth Spinnerbaits, Case Magic Stiks and Magic Swims do the deed. Giant crappie eat Campground tubes and small curly-tail grubs.
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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.
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; Simms Fishing; Costa; Power Pole; NRA; Zipper Worms; RAB Jig Heads; Campground Tubes; Riverfront Campground; Big Bee/River Rocket (KP3); AlumaRyder; (Dave Kerrigan); Columbia Design & Graphics; Guidefitters; NRA; Maggie Penrod.