LOU & CAMP SYCAMORE Fishing Report for Week Ending 71821
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/)
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.
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REMEMBER—We have eliminated our land-line phone so contact should be at 240-447-2206 or kenpenrodjr@gmail.com & kenpenrod@comcast.net
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LOU FISH OF THE WEEK
(CAMP SYCAMORE)
Smallmouth Bass: Aiden aka “Little Bud”
Largemouth Bass: Aiden
Rainbow Trout: Aiden
Toothy Critter: Charlie aka (Professor)
Brook Trout:Charlie
Brown Trout: Colin aka (Gadiver)
Gogglr Eye: Colin
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UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: **; 80ish; too clear; 1.7 at Point of Rocks and slowly falling
Not much to brag about and not much help on the horizon as Maryland’s Forgotten River (along with Monocacy) becomes summer low and hot. This is good wading or float-fish conditions as long as you do it very early in the day or the evening hours. Expert jet-boat operators can work various sectors safely and effectively but EARLY is the key-word.
I like Lander (up and down); Whites Ferry (up); Seneca (up) and Edwards Ferry (up and down.) It’s time for 6-pound test “green or clear” monofilament (Excel) on medium action spinning rods (Ardent Edge and C-Force reels). A lot of artificial lures will work but Whopper Plopper (low light hours), Campground Tues in the KP Series on RAB jig heads; Case Zipper Worms/Grubs/Magic Stiks/Case Magic Swims are all I need—but don’t drive through the best water and wonder why the fish aren’t biting.
Low water means bacteria so keep the river water out of your mouth and away from open wounds. Carry some of those “wipes” you have become accustomed to during the ChinaFlu.
TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: **; mid to high 80s; algae in areas; mucho hydrilla
It’s simply too hot for good things to happen all day but those early hours with topwater lures can make y0u glad you are alive.
In WASHINGTON DC, some hydrilla is sprouting but bass are scarce. The bridge foundations are the most reliable where tubes and Bomber Firetigers do best. The Washington Channel is a disappointment but you catfish guys will grin. Rip rap both sides of the river below the Anacostia is “decent” where Big Mouth spinnerbaits, Case Magic Swims and Bandit crankbaits can catch you a limit.
WOODFROW WILSON BRIDGE vicinity is hit or miss because of the huge amounts of food available to the fish. I like to concrete in Penrod Cove; the barges between the cove and the bridge; Fox Ferry Point at low water; Hog Island and Piscataway grass. You can’t beat the Case Magic Stik in and around grass.
POMONKEY CREEK & GUNSTON COVE are solid summertime efforts especially on an outgoing tide. Big Shakey vibrating jigs and D Bombs are good choices.
MATTAWOMAN & CHICKAMUXEN CREEKS are “ok” for bass and better for snakeheads—so “heavy-up” and find thick junk to twitch frogs in.
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS and UPPER WEST BRANCH: *1/2 to 21/2; 80s; rising some areas and falling others; 6.1 rising to 7.8 Tuesday at the Harrisburg reporting station; 4.3 and fairly steady on the Juniata at Newport; 5.5 at Sinnamahoning Creek falling slowly to about 4-feet Thursday.
Big storms, local and up-basin, has provided a surge of water to the main stem in the Harrisburg station while the Juniata remains rather summery-flow. The water is bathtub hot and that’s not good for man nor beast so release those fish quickly and wear Drake or Simms long sleeves and duffs. The high water brings some welcome color to the water so I suggest spinnerbaits and Big Shakeys on main stem shorelines
I spent the entire week with my summer camp boys on West Branch tribs including Sinnamahoning Crek; Wykoff Run; Jerry Run, First Fork and G Stevenson Dam. We had some wicked storms that cut electric service for ½ a day and muddies up our trout streams and blew-out Sinnamahoning Creek. Sinnamahoning Creek was our go-to for years for smallmouth bass but in 2006 the Norfolk Southern Railroad Co dumped 86,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide into the creek killing everything f0r 10 miles and harming inhabitants all the wat to the West branch. It’s never been the same.
PFB and even a few outdoor writers try to0 “spin” a recovery but that’s just bullcrap. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat and PA Dept. of the Environment received about 13 MILLION DOLLARS in restitution and I can’t see where any of it was spent in the impact area.
Trout fishing was superb, again (good job PFBC) but the lake at Sinnamahoning State Park, G B Stevenson Dam, is but a shadow of herself since they drained the lake to dredge. Come on PFBC!!
See the LOU Fish of the Week credits above to see how welly boys did. This is my 39th year of teaching well behaved boys the arts of shooting and fishing. We do this from my lodge in Cameron County, PA, set alongside Wycoff Run. There isn’t anything like this in the USA.
Thanks to our sponsors and supporters: Case Magic Stik; RAB Jig Heads; Campgrond Tubes; RiverPro boat; Ardent Outdoors; NRA; LOWRANCE Electronics/Ghost Trolling Motor; Drake; Yeti; Weinhardt Remodeling; Sinnamahoning Sportsmen Club; Remington; Shooters Choice; Counselors Maggie Penrod, Christy Mullis and Alan Mullis.
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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.