Fishing Report for Week Ending July 3, 2022
Independence Day in America
NEW Mailing Address: 1860 Robin Court, Lusby, MD 20657
Kenpenrod@comcast.net<>240-447-2206<>www.penrodsguides.com
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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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Tidal Potomac River; ***; 80ish; some color; some algae; hydrilla take-over; lonely river
Aside from bass tournament activity, the river is pretty much abandoned as Brandon’s economy practices make most choose between family and pleasure. The “Clubbers” are going no matter what because they have a chance at a few club points or a few bucks.
In Washington DC, the rockfish activity is as good as I can remember. Troll or crankbait the 10-12 foot contour along Fort McNair or the lumps near the railroad bridge on the main stem. The Case Magic Swim on a 3/8th ounce jighead—on 12 pound test monofilament—on medium heavy Ardent Edge baitcast rod with Ardent Summit Hawk reels is my go-to and I monitor the contours on my Lowrance. Drop an icon every time you hook a fish and soon you can cull much of the yardage.
You need a fishing license: go on line to DC Fishing License.
More helpful DC information:
Licensing and Regulation
Fishing licensing and regulation allows for more effective protection for species and their habitats. The ability to better protect, conserve, and enhance fisheries and wildlife resources is crucial for our native species. DOEE develops and enforces regulations in coordination with the District’s Metropolitan Harbor Police and the Capital Park Police. This has contributed to the tremendous water quality improvements in the Potomac River and signs of improvement in the Anacostia River resulting in an increase in the numbers of game fish, including bass, crappies, and yellow perch.
Fishing regulations have helped to minimize the exploitation of the District’s fisheries resources. The District introduced regulations that limit the size and number of a select fish species that anglers are allowed to keep. Surveys of migratory and resident fish, fish habitat, fish health, and anglers’ practices are conducted. These activities provide valuable information to better understand and advance the efforts to increase the number and diversity of fish in its waters.
– Learn to Fish! – DC Fish Field Guide – Regulated Fishing Activities
Recreational Angling Records Program
To report your significant angling achievement(s), contact Chris Campo at christopher.campo@dc.gov.
• See complete instructions and official rules
• Submit a potential record fish for weigh-in by filling out the Angling Records Intake Form
Fish Consumption Advisory
DOEE urges limited consumption of Anacostia and Potomac river fish. PCBs and other chemical contaminants have continued to be found in certain fish species caught in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers and their tributaries, including Rock Creek, within the Distric’s boundaries. Because of these findings, DOEE advises the general public to limit consumption of fish from all DC waters, as follows:
• Do not eat: Eel, carp or striped bass.
• May eat: Four servings per month of sunfish, or three servings per month of blue catfish or white perch, or two servings per month of largemouth bass, or one serving per month of brown bullhead catfish or channel catfish
• Choose to eat: Smaller fish of legal size.
• The practice of catch and release is encouraged.
To prepare, skin the fish and trim away fat. Cook fish and drain away fat because chemical contaminants tend to concentrate in the fat of the fish. These recommendations do not apply to fish sold in fish markets, grocery stores, and restaurants, since commercial fishing is prohibited in DC waters; thus fish from these venues will not be from the Potomac nor Anacostia Rivers.
– More information is available in the Fish Consumption Advisory and Fish Preparation Guidelines. The fish consumption advisory is also available in Amharic, Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese in the attachments section below.
Reporting a Fish Kill
Anglers and the general public are asked to report a fish kill. If you see 50 or more dead fish floating on the surface of the water, please contact the DC Fisheries and Wildlife Division at (202) 535-2260 with the following information: exact location of the floating fish, date, time, and the extent of the fish kill.
The DC State Fish
American Shad, the DC state fish, migrates into DC waters every year to spawn. Thanks to improvements to water quality, habitat, and rehab efforts, the @ChesBayProgram has declared the Potomac River shad population restored.
Download your commemorative shad postcard!
Contact
For more information please contact DOEE at 202.535.2260 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. You may also email the Acting Associate Director, Acting Associate Director Jeffrey Seltzer.
Attachment(s):
Fish Consumption Advisory – 353.5 KB (pdf)
Fish Preparation Guidelines – 39.8 KB (pdf)
To the south, Pomonkey, Pohick’ Mattawoman and Chickamuxen, bass fishing is decent to good but snakehead action just about dominates. I hate to kill anything that we will not eat or gift so the flip flops on DNR and USFW confuse the issue. Snakeheads and blue catfish have no business in our waters—that’s my bottom line. I’m not putting either back in the water. You can always find someone back at the launch that will accept either for table fare.
Largemouth and snakes use the same hunting methods—same habitat—and same preferences for food. They will be WHERE THE FOOD IS. Thick vegetation is a sure thing—unless the food items have been eaten.
I carry specific set-ups for snakes: Ardent 7-foot heavy action Edge rod with Summit Hawk reels with 50-60 pound test braid—and frogs. Fish the heaviest vegetation and the edges of any vegetation.
Of the above areas, bass success is best (for now) in Pomonkey, Mattawoman and Chickamuxen where Case Magic Stiks, Big Mouth vibrating jigs and early morning buzzbaits cut to the chase.
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Upper Potomac River (Brunswick to Seneca): **; near 80 degrees; 1.5 at Point of Rocks
The river is low, hot and lonely but smallmouth action has remained pretty much improved. Don’t get real excited though because the “healing” after the 2018 floods will be slow and unaided by the border states.
Our reporter, Jay George did two trips in the Brunswick to Fish Pots (Lander) sector and his best 4-hour (dawn to 10:30) resulted in 25 smallmouth between 7 and 16 inches long. A prior trip using crankbaits netted 13. His return trip was old-school—Campground tubes in the KP series.
NPS wants you to know that they control access to the upper Potomac but they don’t want to visit the launch sites very often. Some of those areas have become drug traffic havens, dumping rounds and haphazard launch ethic schools for unregulated tubers and canoe groups. They completely dominate the launch sites and are begging for confrontation. NPS allow Canal hikers to park in boat launch spaces too and some for days on end.
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Susquehanna & Juniata Rivers in PA: **; summertime hot and low; clear but algae blooms many places; 3.5 at the Harrisburg gauge and 3.7 at Newport on the Juniata pronounced june e atta.
Very good topwater action for smallmouth in the early hours where Spooks, buzz baits and Rico poppers make your heart beat fast.
Not the time of year to run about much so go with an expert or schedule floats at Riverfront Campground (717-877-2704).
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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.
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,
##
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.